Inflatable Safety Helmet with Gel Skull Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle helmets are bulky and inconvenient to carry when not in use, which discourages cyclists from wearing them due to their large size and weight, while existing inflatable helmets lack the necessary impact resistance to meet safety standards.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable and collapsible helmet design featuring air inflatable chambers made of durable urethane material with integrated impact-absorbing gel-like skull caps that can be deflated and folded for compact storage, providing both protection and portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hard composition bicycle helmets are used, then head protection and impact resistance are sufficient, but the helmet becomes bulky and heavy, making it inconvenient to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the helmet material from solid rigid structure to inflatable gas-filled chambers. The helmet transitions from a hard composition shell to air-filled lobes that can be inflated when needed and deflated for storage, fundamentally altering the density and volume parameters while maintaining protective function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin elastomeric material to form the helmet structure instead of rigid hard composition shells. The thin elastomeric lobes are inflated with air to create the protective barrier, allowing the helmet to be both lightweight and protective when needed, and easily collapsible when deflated
2Reliability
If conventional hard composition bicycle helmets are used, then head protection and impact resistance are sufficient, but the helmet occupies large volume, making it inconvenient to store and carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the helmet from a rigid fixed-volume structure to a flexible variable-volume structure by using inflatable chambers. When deflated, the helmet occupies minimal space; when inflated, it expands to provide the necessary protective volume and impact resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic inflation using air-filled lobes to create the protective helmet structure. The inflatable chambers expand to provide the necessary volume and protective characteristics, then can be deflated to reduce volume for convenient storage and transport
3Ease of operation
If inflatable helmet design is used, then the helmet becomes lightweight and compact for carrying, but impact resistance is insufficient to meet safety standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite protective system combining multiple elements: thin elastomeric material for the helmet structure, air-filled chambers for lightweight portability, and integrated gel-like impact-absorbing material to enhance impact resistance. This composite approach allows the helmet to meet safety standards while maintaining ease of carrying
4Volume of stationary object
If inflatable helmet design is used, then the helmet becomes collapsible and occupies smaller volume, but the structure complexity increases with valves and inflation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inflation mechanism from the main helmet body by using simple externally accessible valves that can be quickly opened or closed. The complex inflation process is separated into a simple valve operation, allowing the helmet to be inflated or deflated without complicating the overall device structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The helmet effectively absorbs and distributes impact forces, meeting safety standards while being lightweight and compact, making it more likely for cyclists to carry and use the helmet due to its convenience and reduced volume when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
the air inflatable lobes forming a helmet-like shape with a cavity for the head made of an elastomer material that will hold air
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric, inflatable lobes
Implementation Method 3
the skull cap is made of an impact absorbing and dissipating material, namely a flexible gel, a semi liquid, a liquid or combinations thereof
Data Source
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AI summary
An air inflatable and thus collapsible when air is removed, safety helmet preferably comprised of multiple inflatable lobes with a head conforming and surrounding inflatable ring and separate or integrated skull cap, for wear by the user, for placement on top of the lobes and/or for location within the chamber(s) formed of the lobes, or worn by the wearer directly upon the head, made of flexible, force absorbing and dissipating material. The lobes and ring are provided with quick release air inflation and deflation valves. The safety helmet can simply alternatively comprise air inflatable lobes with a minimally elastic outer covering to encase and minimize the movement or air within the chambers during a collision.