Joint Stabilizer Valve Layout for Faster Motion Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for stabilizing body joints and supporting sports equipment face limitations in reaction time and reliability due to incomplete closure of the passage opening, leading to irregular behavior and longer reaction times when blocking movements.

Innovation Solution

A device with a receptacle filled with a filling medium, featuring a first body slidably arranged within, and a second body elastically coupled via a coupling element, where the second body overlaps the first body in the displacement direction, ensuring complete closure of the passage opening and guiding the first body, and a pretensioned coupling element to adjust the reaction threshold and reduce relative displacement paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the passage opening is not completely closed, then the device allows movement, but the behavior becomes irregular and reaction time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebehavior regularityVSAvoidreaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional valve closure approach by having the first body (valve body) overlap the second body (valve seat) in the displacement direction. This ensures that the passage opening is completely closed when the first body moves against the second body, eliminating irregular behavior and reducing reaction time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If the coupling element is not pretensioned, then the device is simpler, but the reaction threshold cannot be adjusted and relative displacement paths are longer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling element configurationVSAvoidreaction threshold adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is pretensioned in advance to create a predefined reaction threshold. This preliminary action allows the device to respond only when external forces exceed a specific threshold, enabling adjustable reaction characteristics without complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the first body and second body do not overlap in displacement direction, then the structure is simpler, but the passage opening cannot be completely closed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebody arrangementVSAvoidpassage opening closure

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This configuration enhances the device's reaction time and reliability by ensuring complete closure of the passage opening, reducing the reaction path, and allowing for a higher reaction threshold to external forces, resulting in improved stability and reproducibility.

Implementation Method 1

The flow rate of the filling medium depends crucially on the cross-sectional area perpendicular to a relative direction of displacement of the receptacle and the pull-out body. This cross-sectional area available for the flow of the filling medium is also referred to as the hydraulic diameter and is ultimately decisive for the reactive behavior of the device when external forces are applied.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic resistance: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

a second body for interacting with the filling medium, which is arranged displaceably in the receptacle, the second body being elastically coupled to the first body via a coupling element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic coupling: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3890664B1Apparatus for stabilizing body joints and/or supporting items of sports equipment

Publication Date: 2023.01.25 BETTERGUARDS TECH GMBH

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4B

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for stabilizing body joints and/or for supporting items of sports equipment, comprising: a receptacle (20), wherein the receptacle (20) is filled with a filling medium (30), a first body (40) for interacting with the filling medium (30), wherein the first body is displaceably arranged in the receptacle, a force transmission body (50) for transmitting an external force to the first body (40), a second body (60) for interacting with the filling medium (30), which is displaceably arranged in the receptacle (20), wherein the second body is elastically coupled to the first body (40) via a coupling element (70), wherein the second body (60) and/or the first body (40) has at least one passage opening (64), through which the filling medium (30) can flow, and wherein the first body (40) forms a valve body and the second body (60) forms a valve seat, such that a flow of the filling medium (30) through the passage opening (64) can be permitted or inhibited as a function of the valve position, wherein, in a displacement direction relative to the first body, the second body overlaps therewith.