Interlocking Edge Sports Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective equipment for contact sports, such as American football, while reducing injuries, is often uncomfortable, restricts motion, and negatively impacts performance, leading to resistance from athletes who may still be at risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
A protective device comprising interlocking components made from semi-rigid, impact-resistant materials that conform to the anatomy, with mechanically and frictionally retaining interlocking edges allowing for flexibility and movement, providing improved impact protection without compromising comfort or mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If protective equipment is made from compressible materials such as foam, then impact protection is provided, but comfort and range of motion are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is divided into multiple interlocking components that can move independently relative to each other. Each component is shaped to conform to specific anatomical sub-portions, allowing the overall device to flex and adapt to body movements while maintaining impact protection at each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking edges between components allow for dynamic movement and flexion while maintaining connection. The components can rotate and adjust relative to each other, providing a dynamic protective structure that adapts to the wearer's motion rather than restricting it.
2Strength
If protective equipment is made rigid for impact resistance, then protection is improved, but flexibility and mobility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the protective device into multiple rigid components connected by interlocking edges, each component can maintain its rigid structure for impact resistance while the connections between components allow for flexion and adaptation to body contours and movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking edge design creates a flexible connection mechanism between rigid components, allowing the overall structure to bend and conform to anatomical shapes while individual components maintain their rigid protective properties.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protective equipment covers large body areas, then protection is improved, but comfort and mobility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is divided into multiple components that can be distributed across large body areas. Each component is shaped to conform to specific anatomical sub-portions, allowing comprehensive coverage while maintaining comfort through anatomical conformity and independent component movement.
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 protection for large muscle areas and other body parts, reducing the risk of injury during contact sports while maintaining comfort and mobility, thus addressing the limitations of existing protective gear.
Implementation Method 1
Interlocking edges of components may mechanically and/or frictionally retaining the components together along the interlocking edge(s)
Implementation Method 2
Components of a protective device may be fabricated from semi-rigid, impact resistant materials
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~3
AI summary
Interlocking protective devices may comprise components that are joined by interlocking edge connections formed by mating interlocking edges of individual components. Components may be made of impact resistant materials that are semi-rigid. Interlocking edge connections may provide a degree of flexibility for the protective device while mechanically and/or frictionally retaining components together.