Modular Protective Glove With Removable Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective sports gear lacks customizability and efficiency in manufacturing, as pads are typically integrated into a universal harness, limiting the ability to produce custom padding systems and requiring separate manufacturing for each size and type.
Innovation Solution
A protective glove design featuring removable and replaceable pads housed in elastic pockets, allowing for easy customization and assembly by using a base pad system with interchangeable pads of varying sizes and types, which can be manufactured separately and assembled at a local point of sale or distribution center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pads are integrated into a universal harness, then manufacturing is simplified, but customizability and efficiency in producing different pad types and sizes are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective gear is divided into separate modular components: a harness with pockets and removable pads. Each pad can be independently selected, removed, and replaced based on specific protection needs, enabling customization without redesigning the entire harness system.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness is designed with universal pockets that can accommodate multiple types and sizes of pads. This multi-functional design allows a single harness to provide different levels and types of protection by simply changing the pads, rather than creating specialized harnesses for each pad type.
2Productivity
If pads are integrated into the harness, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing efficiency and order fulfillment speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Pads are pre-assembled into complete protective gear units at the distribution center or point of sale, allowing for rapid order fulfillment. The modular design enables quick assembly of different pad configurations without time-consuming integration processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad insertion process is simplified by extracting the pad from separate packaging and placing it directly into the harness pocket. This extraction approach eliminates complex integration steps and enables rapid assembly while maintaining structural integrity through dedicated pocket designs.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate manufacturing for each size and type is required, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into independent production lines for harnesses and pads. Harnesses are manufactured once with universal pockets, while pads are produced separately in various sizes and types, then assembled together. This segmentation eliminates the need to manufacture complete custom gear for each variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system accommodates different pad sizes and types by changing the pad parameters rather than redesigning the entire protective gear. The universal harness pockets are designed to accept pads with varying dimensions, materials, and protection levels, allowing flexible parameter changes without affecting the base harness structure.
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
Enables rapid order fulfillment and customizability of padding systems, reducing lead times and manufacturing costs by allowing different pad types and sizes to be easily integrated into a standard glove design, improving both protection and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of raised pads applied to an external surface of the hand body, where the plurality of raised pads includes foam attached to the external surface of the hand body with a heat-welded layer
Data Source
AI summary
A glove may include a hand body, the hand body being at least partially elastic, where the hand body defines a hand pocket configured to receive a user's hand, and a wrist body. The glove may also include a hand pad pocket formed in the hand body and configured to removably receive at least one hand pad, where the hand pad pocket is separated from the hand pocket by a separator, as well as a wrist padding pocket formed in the wrist body configured to removably receive a wrist pad. The hand pad pocket may be positioned in an interior of the glove.