Inflatable Neck Protection Garment for Compact Impact Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable protection devices for the neck are not sufficiently safe, comfortable, structurally robust, and cost-effective, and their manufacturing processes are complex and prone to malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A neck protection device with an envelope that can inflate to provide impact protection, featuring a compact and robust design with a ratio of surface extensions between deflated and inflated states, made from sheet materials with varying elastic properties, and a simple manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the inflatable bag is housed directly in a garment pocket with layers facing inner and outer garment layers, then the protection device can be integrated into the garment, but the device becomes bulky and uncomfortable to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable bag is nested within a pouch that is itself integrated into the garment structure. The pouch contains the deflated bag in a compact form, and upon activation, the bag inflates within the confined space of the pouch, providing protection without requiring the garment to be substantially bulky.
2Reliability
If the inflatable bag is constrained at peripheral edges and housed in garment pocket, then the bag can be positioned in the garment, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and prone to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch and the inflatable bag are merged into a single integrated component rather than separate parts. The pouch is formed by joining sheet material layers that simultaneously create the containment structure and the inflation chambers, eliminating the need for separate constraint mechanisms and reducing manufacturing steps.
3Ease of operation
If the protection device is made compact and comfortable, then it is easier to wear, but the structural robustness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The protection device transitions from a compact, flexible state when deflated to a rigid, protective state when inflated. The pouch structure maintains robustness through its layered construction that can contain the inflated bag, while the deflated state remains compact and comfortable for wearing. The structural integrity is dynamically adjusted based on the inflation state.
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 device offers enhanced impact protection, stabilizes the neck during falls, ensures comfort, and is cost-effective with a streamlined assembly process, preventing abrupt movements that could lead to trauma.
Implementation Method 1
at least one inflatable element (2) housed in the compartment (V) of the envelope and configurable between a deflated and an inflated condition
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable protection device for a neck of a human, the wearable protection device including: an envelope having a compartment and configured to delimit a seat that accommodates the neck, and an inflatable element housed in the compartment of the envelope and configured to have a deflated condition and an inflated condition.