Lacrosse Glove Segmented Backhand Panels for Impact and Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lacrosse gloves face a trade-off between impact resistance, flexibility, and comfort, as existing designs often restrict hand and wrist movement while providing inadequate ventilation and excessive heat due to thick impact alleviating members and wear-resistant materials.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates suspended movable protective backhand panels, a suspended wrist cuff, multi-piece flex thumb, breathable fabric on the backhand, and spiked finger pieces with foam structures for enhanced flexibility and ventilation, allowing for better grip and impact resistance without compromising maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick impact alleviating members and wear resistant material are used, then impact resistance is improved, but flexibility and ventilation are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The backhand protective structure is divided into multiple separate panels (first protective panel, second protective panel, third protective panel) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each panel to flex and move with different parts of the hand during athletic movements, maintaining flexibility while providing comprehensive impact protection across the entire backhand area.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective panels are designed to be movable and flexible rather than rigid and fixed. The panels can dynamically adjust their position and orientation to match the natural movement of the hand, wrist, and fingers during athletic activities. This dynamic design maintains protection effectiveness while accommodating full range of motion.
2Strength
If thick impact alleviating members are used, then impact resistance is improved, but ventilation and comfort are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the glove are assigned different material properties and protective qualities. The protective panels use impact-resistant materials in areas requiring protection, while breathable mesh or fabric materials are used in areas requiring ventilation. This local differentiation allows the glove to provide both impact resistance and thermal comfort simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The glove incorporates porous or mesh materials in the breathable portions that allow air circulation while maintaining structural integrity. These porous materials enable ventilation and heat dissipation in areas where thick protective materials would otherwise block airflow, preventing overheating and improving comfort during intense athletic activity.
3Strength
If wear resistant material is used, then protection is improved, but ventilation is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The glove structure is segmented into protective zones and breathable zones. Wear-resistant materials are concentrated in areas requiring maximum protection (such as the backhand panels), while breathable materials are used in areas where ventilation is prioritized. This spatial segmentation resolves the conflict between protection and ventilation by applying each material property where it is most needed.
4Strength
If thick impact alleviating members are used, then impact resistance is improved, but weight is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single thick impact alleviating member covering the entire backhand, the protection is segmented into multiple thinner panels distributed across the backhand area. This segmentation reduces the total amount of protective material needed while maintaining comprehensive coverage and protection effectiveness, thereby reducing overall glove weight.
Solution Approach 2:
Impact protection is applied locally only where and when needed, rather than uniformly across the entire glove. The protective panels are positioned to cover specific high-impact areas, allowing the use of lighter materials in low-risk areas. This localized approach to protection reduces overall material usage and glove weight while maintaining adequate protection in critical zones.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a glove comprises a main body adapted to receive a wearer's hand and a wrist cuff suspended over the main body. The main body further comprises a plurality of finger parts and a back hand part. The back hand part comprises a first protective panel hingedly connected at one end to the main body so that the first protective panel is suspend over the main body and slidably overlapped with a second protective panel. As the first protective panel slides over the second protective panel following the bending action of the fingers, a coordinated movement of the hand can be achieved. The second protective panel is also hingedly connected to the main body suspended over the main body and the wrist cuff, which allows for more coordinated rotating movement of the hand and the wrist following the bending action of the fingers.