Layered Impact-Absorbent Material With Offset Holes for Hand Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impact and vibration protective materials, such as gloves, fail to effectively absorb and dissipate forces, leading to significant transmission of impact and vibration to the wearer's hand, which can cause injuries and discomfort, and are inadequate in transferring maximum impact force to objects without increasing hand exposure.
Innovation Solution
A layered composition of flexible polymeric and closed-cell foam materials with offset thru-holes, allowing for increased deflection and absorption of impact and vibration forces, enabling improved force transfer to objects while minimizing hand exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional protective materials are used, then the hand is protected from impact, but significant impact and vibration force is transmitted to the wearer's hand
Solution Approach 1:
The protective material is divided into multiple layers with different properties (flexible polymeric layer, closed-cell foam layer, fabric layer) to handle different aspects of impact and vibration absorption, with each layer contributing to overall protection while minimizing force transmission to the hand
Solution Approach 2:
The material structure varies at different locations and depths, with harder closed-cell foam providing structural support and softer flexible polymeric material providing comfort and vibration absorption, creating localized properties optimized for different protective functions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If thicker protective material is used to reduce impact transmission, then hand protection is improved, but impact force transfer to the object is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective material is designed to dynamically respond to impact forces, remaining flexible during normal use to allow force transfer but activating absorption mechanisms during high-impact events, enabling adaptive behavior that balances protection and performance
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties are optimized to change their effective stiffness and damping characteristics based on the magnitude of applied force, allowing maximum impact force transfer during normal operation while providing enhanced protection during high-impact events
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 material effectively absorbs and dissipates impact and vibration forces by deflecting into holes in adjacent layers, enhancing protection and force transfer efficiency, outperforming existing materials by allowing greater impact force to be delivered to objects without increasing hand impact.
Implementation Method 1
a second layer of a closed-cell foam material
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of holes are provided in at least certain ones of and, preferably, all the layers thereof... the holes in one layer will be offset from the holes in the other layer
Data Source
AI summary
An impact and/or vibration absorbent material and protective articles making use of said material. An impact and/or vibration absorbent material of the present invention has at least two material layers. The individual layers of the impact and/or vibration absorbent material may be of the same material, or of different materials. Each material layer preferably contains a number of holes. The holes in one layer are located and arranged to be offset from the holes in an adjacent layer. The combination of inherent material properties and the inclusion and arrangement of holes renders such a material highly impact and/or vibration absorbent. Through use of a protective article of the present invention, the effects of impact and/or vibration forces on a user of the protective article can be minimized.