Overlapping Shoulder Pad Panels with Elastic Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shoulder pads do not conform to the upper body's shape during different positions, resulting in inadequate protection and limited mobility for sports players.
Innovation Solution
The shoulder pads feature overlapping protective panels connected by elastic bands, allowing panels to move between extended and retracted positions, providing adjustable coverage and enhanced mobility while maintaining protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional shoulder pads use fixed protective panels, then protection coverage is maintained, but mobility and adaptability to body movement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder pads incorporate elastic bands that allow the protective panels to dynamically adjust their position and overlap based on body movement. The panels transition between extended and retracted positions, maintaining protection while adapting to the player's movements during sports activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective panels are divided into multiple separate sections (first and second panels for each shoulder area) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each panel to adjust independently while maintaining overall protection through controlled overlapping.
2Reliability
If protective panels are made rigid for better protection, then protection effectiveness increases, but mobility and flexibility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses elastic bands to create a dynamic connection between rigid protective panels. This allows the panels to maintain their structural integrity and protection effectiveness while enabling controlled movement and flexibility through the elastic connection, accommodating various body positions and movements.
3Area of stationary object
If panels overlap more to increase protection coverage, then protection area increases, but mobility and range of motion are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The overlapping panels are connected by elastic bands that allow the overlap distance to vary dynamically. During movement, the panels can extend to reduce overlap and increase range of motion. During stationary or low-movement states, the panels maintain greater overlap for enhanced protection coverage, automatically adjusting based on movement requirements.
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 design offers improved protection and mobility by allowing panels to adjust their overlap, ensuring optimal coverage and flexibility during various sports activities.
Implementation Method 1
said first and second left and right front panels being connected together by a front elastic band allowing movement of said first left and right front panels relative to said respective second left and right front panels
Data Source
AI summary
Shoulder pads for protecting a sports player having a thorax with left and right front regions and left and right rear regions. The shoulder pads comprising first and second left front separate protective panels and first and second right front separate protective panels for covering at least partially the respective left and right front regions of the thorax, the first left front panel at least partially overlapping the second left front panel and the first right front panel at least partially overlapping the second right front panel, the first and second left and right front panels being connected together by a front elastic band allowing movement of the first left and right front panels relative to the respective second left and right front panels between an extended position, wherein there is a first front overlapping between the respective first and second left and right front panels, and a retracted position, wherein there is a second front overlapping between the respective first and second left and right front panels, the second front overlapping being larger than the first front overlapping.