Offset-Protrusion Damping Material for Wearable Vibration Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration damping materials for wearable garments are complex to manufacture and still transmit significant vibrations to the body, failing to adequately reduce impact and vibration exposure.
Innovation Solution
A vibration damping material featuring a sheet of flexible material with protrusions arranged in a uniform, equidistant pattern on both sides, offset from each other, which absorbs and cancels out vibrations through local movement, facilitating reduced vibration transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing vibration damping materials with multiple air bladders or complex multi-layered structures are used, then vibration absorption capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The material is segmented into multiple functional layers: a base layer, a vibration damping layer with protrusions, and an optional comfort layer. The damping layer itself is segmented into multiple zones with different protrusion densities and patterns, allowing different regions to handle different vibration frequencies and amplitudes independently
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration damping layer incorporates a porous foam material structure with controlled cell sizes and distributions. The foam provides inherent vibration damping through its cellular structure while maintaining flexibility and breathability. The porosity allows for energy dissipation through air movement within the cells during vibration cycles
Solution Approach 3:
The invention combines multiple materials with different properties: a flexible base material (such as elastomer or textile), a porous foam damping material, and potentially additional functional layers. This composite structure leverages the advantages of each material - the base provides structural integrity, the foam provides vibration absorption, and the combination achieves superior damping performance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing vibration damping materials are used, then some vibration reduction is achieved, but significant vibrations are still transmitted to the body
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the damping layer have locally optimized properties: high-density protrusion zones for high-impact areas, low-density zones for flexibility and breathability, and varying protrusion heights and shapes tailored to specific vibration frequencies. This local optimization ensures maximum damping effectiveness where needed while maintaining overall comfort and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are designed to be flexible and dynamic rather than rigid, allowing them to deform and return during vibration cycles. The material properties are engineered to provide different damping characteristics for different vibration frequencies and amplitudes, adapting to the dynamic nature of impact and vibration forces
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protrusions are arranged in uniform equidistant pattern on both sides offset from each other, then vibration cancellation through local movement is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion patterns on both sides of the damping layer are merged into a single integrated molding process. The offset pattern is built-in during manufacturing rather than requiring post-manufacturing alignment, eliminating the need for high-precision assembly and ensuring consistent vibration cancellation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion parameters (size, shape, height, density) are optimized to provide effective vibration damping within a range of positioning tolerances. The design is robust to manufacturing variations, maintaining effectiveness even with moderate deviations from ideal positioning
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 material effectively reduces vibration transmission to the wearer by utilizing an offset pattern of protrusions on both sides of the sheet, enhancing absorption and deflection capabilities, thus improving comfort and reducing the risk of disorders associated with vibration exposure.
Implementation Method 1
the protrusions on the first side of the sheet are arranged to be offset with respect to the protrusions on the second side of the sheet of flexible material... the effect of impacts and vibration is considerably reduced compared to known structures and materials
Implementation Method 2
local movement of the sheet in opposite directions to cancel out the vibration
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration damping material suitable for use in a wearable garment, comprising a sheet of a flexible material with a first and a second side, both comprising a plurality of protrusions arranged in a predetermined pattern, wherein the protrusions on the first and/or second side of the sheet are arranged to be equidistant from adjacent protrusions, wherein the protrusions are distributed in a substantially uniform pattern throughout the first and/or second side of the sheet of flexible material, wherein the protrusions on the first side of the sheet are arranged to be offset with respect to the protrusions on the second side of the sheet of flexible material. A wearable garment comprising such a vibration damping material is also disclosed.