Neck Collar with Rigid Shell for Impact Energy Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neck collars for helmet wearers often fail to effectively absorb and disperse impact energy from the helmet's rigid lower edge, leading to potential neck injuries and discomfort due to suboptimal fit and localized energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
A protective neck collar design featuring a compressible pad with a rear shoulder shelf and a rigid shell that disperses impact energy over a larger area, combined with a back support brace and adjustable harness for improved fit and comfort, allowing for effective absorption and distribution of impact forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a foam neck collar is used to absorb impact of the helmet, then neck movement is limited and some protection is provided, but the foam does not disperse energy well over a large portion of the body causing localized point contact injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional foam pad to a three-dimensional shell structure that envelops the neck and shoulders. The shell creates a volumetric impact dispersion zone that distributes forces across multiple body areas (shoulders, back, chest) rather than concentrating them at single contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines rigid shell material with softer padding materials to create a composite structure. The rigid shell provides structural integrity for broad impact distribution, while the softer padding layers provide comfort and additional energy absorption, creating a multi-material system that addresses both protection and comfort requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a neck collar with back brace is used to provide support, then neck stability is improved, but it may not fit a wide range of wearers depending on upper body thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable elements including removable padding inserts and adjustable straps that allow the collar's dimensions and firmness to be dynamically modified. This enables the same collar structure to adapt to different user body types and thickness requirements while maintaining neck stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is divided into modular components including separate padding sections and adjustable fastening systems. This segmentation allows users to customize the fit by adjusting individual components rather than requiring a completely different collar size, thereby expanding the range of applicable body types.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid shell is used to disperse impact energy over a larger area, then energy distribution is improved, but the collar structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the shell, padding layers, and fastening systems into a unified collar assembly where components work together as a single protective unit. This merging reduces the number of separate pieces the user must handle and assemble, simplifying the overall system despite the sophisticated internal 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
The collar provides enhanced protection by reducing neck strain and injury risk while maintaining necessary freedom of movement, through effective energy absorption and distribution across the shoulders, chest, and back, and ensuring a comfortable, adjustable fit for various body types.
Implementation Method 1
The pad is formed of compressible material
Implementation Method 2
absorb impact of the helmet against the body
Implementation Method 3
The pad may be elastic within its normal range of use
Implementation Method 4
The shell may be situated for at least intermittent contact with the lower edge of the helmet upon use. The helmet impacts the shell, which disperses impact energy to a larger area
Data Source
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AI summary
A neck collar (10) interfacing with a lower edge of a helmet of a wearer. The collar (10) includes a pad (12) and a shell (14). The pad is formed of a closed-cell foam material and forms a loop to be secured about the neck of the wearer. A plurality of shell components (14a, 14b, 14c) are secured to portions of the upper face of the pad. The shell is more rigid than the pad to spread the energy of impact with a lower edge of the helmet over a larger region of the pad. The shell and pad each include a chest portion having a split for opening the pad for putting the collar on and taking it off. The shell components are discontinuous at at least one lateral portion of the pad to allow flexibility of the pad for separation of the pad at the split.