Pivotable Mandible Guard for Helmet Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mandible guards on helmets often restrict airflow and hinder normal activities like eating and drinking, as they are typically either permanently mounted or require full removal, which can be inconvenient and unsafe in high-risk environments.

Innovation Solution

A helmet assembly with a mandible guard that includes two attachment arms, allowing the guard to be secured to one side of the helmet while the other side can be detached and moved away from the face, enabling partial or full access to the mouth area without removing the guard entirely, with a pivotable design that allows for easy attachment and detachment using one hand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mandible guard is permanently mounted to the helmet, then protection is continuously maintained, but airflow is restricted and normal activities like eating and drinking are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection continuityVSAvoidaccess to mouth area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mandible guard is divided into two independently detachable sides (first side and second side), allowing one side to remain attached while the other is removed. This segmentation enables partial access to the mouth area while maintaining protection on the opposite side, resolving the contradiction between continuous protection and ease of access for eating or drinking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the mandible guard is fully removed from the helmet, then access to the mouth area is completely achieved, but protection is lost and safety is compromised in high-risk environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to mouth areaVSAvoidprotection level

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the mandible guard into two separable sides that can be independently attached or detached, the system allows the wearer to remove only one side for activities requiring mouth access while the other side remains attached to provide continued protection. This eliminates the need to fully remove the guard, maintaining safety while enabling access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If traditional mounting methods are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but tool-free operation and one-handed adjustment are not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidtool-free adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system replaces traditional tool-based mechanical fastening with a quick-release mechanism featuring detachable arms and corresponding mounting points. This allows secure attachment that can be easily detached and reattached without tools, enabling one-handed operation while maintaining reliable attachment security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11889881B2Mandible guard

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 GALVION LTD

AI summary

A helmet assembly having a helmet, a mandible guard, and an accessory attachment system that is used to selectively attach and secure the mandible guard to the helmet is disclosed. In some embodiments, the mandible guard is arranged to be detached from a first side of the helmet while remaining secured to a second side of the helmet. In such embodiments, the mandible guard may be moved outwardly and away from a wearer as the mandible guard pivots around the accessory attachment system attached to the second side of the helmet.