Integrated Mouthpiece Operating Handle for Avalanche Rescue
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Avalanche rescue systems face ergonomic issues with their operating handles and fail to provide adequate ventilation for buried winter sports enthusiasts, leading to suffocation risks.
Innovation Solution
An operating handle designed with a mouthpiece integrated into the handle, allowing for single-handed operation to trigger ventilation and inflate buoyant elements, featuring a T-shaped design with an air channel for improved ergonomics and ventilation, and a flexible connection piece for optimal mouthpiece positioning, along with additional features like length-adjustability and haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate mouthpiece and triggering mechanism are provided, then ventilation and triggering functions can be performed, but the operation requires multiple hand motions which increases complexity and reduces survival chances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mouthpiece and triggering mechanism into a single integrated operating handle. The mouthpiece serves dual purposes: as a breathing device and as the triggering mechanism. When the user bites down on the mouthpiece, it simultaneously activates the triggering mechanism to inflate the airbag while providing ventilation. This merging eliminates the need for separate components and multiple hand motions, directly resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the mouthpiece is rigidly connected to the handle, then the structure is simple, but the mouthpiece cannot be optimally positioned in the oral cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible connection between the mouthpiece and the handle, allowing the mouthpiece to be dynamically positioned and adjusted by the user. The flexible connection enables the mouthpiece to move and adapt to the user's oral cavity shape while maintaining the triggering function. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction between optimal positioning capability and structural simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the mouthpiece is made from highly resilient material, then it is comfortable to bite, but it can be fully compressed which prevents ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the mouthpiece be made from material with limited resilience, carefully selecting the material properties to balance comfort and functionality. The material is soft enough to be comfortable for the user's teeth and gums during biting, yet maintains sufficient structural integrity to prevent full compression and ensure continuous ventilation flow. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between comfort and ventilation reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An operating handle for an avalanche rescue system, with at least one functional element, is arranged to be coupled to the at least one functional element of the avalanche rescue system. The operating handle is used to trigger the functional element. The operating handle is designed on one end as a mouthpiece or embodies such a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece of the operating handle can be coupled to a ventilation functional unit.