Neck Brace Pivoting Collar Rear Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing neck braces for motor racing are uncomfortable, overly restrictive, and difficult to adapt to the body, making them unsuitable for everyday wear and incompatible with other protective clothing, while also being cumbersome to fit with a rider's suit.

Innovation Solution

A neck brace with a collar member and a rear member that utilize pivoting means to adjust the angle between them, allowing continuous shape adaptation, featuring an aerodynamic hump to stabilize the position and engage with the collar member, and incorporating adjustable and detachable components for improved fit and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid collar is used to limit head movement and provide protection, then protection capability is improved, but comfort and ease of head movement deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidcomfort and head movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is designed with a resilient material that allows dynamic deformation. The collar can deform elastically during normal head movements to maintain comfort, while still providing protective support during impact events. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between rigid protection and comfortable movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a neck brace extends up to the chest and back to maximize stability, then stability is improved, but adaptability to body and ease of fitting deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidadaptability to body

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The neck brace is divided into a collar portion and a separate rear member. The collar can be fitted around the neck independently, while the rear member extends to the chest and back for stability. This segmentation allows the collar to adapt to different neck sizes while the rear member provides the necessary stability support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collar is made of resilient material that can flex and conform to different body shapes and sizes. This flexibility allows the collar to adapt to various neck circumferences while maintaining its protective function, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If a fixed-angle collar structure is used to provide stable protection, then protection reliability is improved, but adaptability and ease of fitting deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting connection between the collar and rear member allows the angle between them to be adjusted dynamically. This enables the neck brace to adapt to different body geometries and fitting preferences while maintaining stable protection when properly positioned. The dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between fixed-angle stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2117481B1Neck brace

Publication Date: 2011.11.16 ALPINESTARS RES SRL

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AI summary

A neck brace (10; 110; 210) having a -collar member (12; 212) to be arranged around a wearer's neck, and a rear member (14; 214) extending from the collar member and to be abutted on the wearer's back. The brace comprises pivoting means (37, 38, 40; 276a, 276b, 278, 280a, 280b, 280c) for pivoting the collar member and the rear member relative to each other about a pivoting axis (X; Y) which, when in use, is substantially parallel to the wearer's shoulders.