Oblique Tube Array for Localized Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional body protecting devices, such as safety helmets, often provide uniform energy absorption, which is inefficient as impacts frequently occur at specific areas and some body parts are more prone to severe injuries, making it costly to produce high protection across all locations.
Innovation Solution
A body protecting device featuring an array of energy absorbing cells with tubes arranged at oblique angles to the impact surface, providing deflecting means for lateral deflection and varying stiffness, integrated with a core and outer layers for enhanced energy absorption and localized protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform energy absorption is provided across all locations, then protection level is consistent throughout the device, but production cost increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the density and arrangement of energy absorbing portions specifically at locations prone to frequent impacts or severe injuries. The liner includes between two and ten portions of varying density, with higher density materials positioned at critical impact zones rather than uniformly across the entire helmet, thereby providing enhanced protection where needed while reducing material costs in less critical areas.
2Reliability
If high level of protection is provided at all locations, then user safety is maximized, but device complexity and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by concentrating high-density energy absorbing portions at specific locations identified as prone to frequent impacts or severe injuries, while using lower density materials in other areas. This localized approach maximizes user safety at critical zones without requiring the entire device to be constructed with complex, high-protection materials throughout, thereby reducing overall device complexity and production difficulty.
3Device complexity
If conventional hard foam material is used for energy absorption, then device structure is simple, but impact energy absorption efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional hard foam material with additional energy absorbing portions of varying density arranged in specific patterns. This composite structure integrates the simplicity of foam manufacturing with the enhanced energy absorption efficiency of strategically placed high-density portions, achieving superior impact energy absorption without substantially increasing structural complexity.
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 oblique arrangement of tubes in the body protecting device allows for controlled and steady energy absorption, reducing impact force and increasing protection at critical areas, outperforming conventional designs by distributing the impact over a longer time period and providing optimal protection without substantial wastage.
Implementation Method 1
metal columns exhibit a multiple local buckling and folding failure mode which is effective in absorbing impact energy
Implementation Method 2
metal columns exhibit a multiple local buckling and folding failure mode which is effective in absorbing impact energy
Implementation Method 3
The rigid outer skin acts as an impact surface to transmit an impact load more evenly to the inner skin which absorbs the energy imparted by the impact load
Implementation Method 4
the longitudinal axis of the tubes of one or more of said cells is arranged at an oblique angle to the impact surface... provides deflecting means for lateral deflection of the impact of an impacting object
Implementation Method 5
Columns tend to produce a relatively constant level of energy absorption as the column is progressively buckled or crushed
Implementation Method 6
distributing the impact over a longer time period... controlled and steady energy absorption
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3a
Figure 3b
AI summary
A body protecting device for wearing by a user comprising: an impact surface; and an array of energy absorbing cells, wherein each of said cells comprises a tube, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the tubes of one or more of said cells is arranged at an oblique angle to the impact surface.