Protective Padding With Venting Channels For Heat Dissipation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shoulder pad padding systems are inadequate in managing heat and moisture during contact sports, leading to increased weight and player fatigue.

Innovation Solution

A padding system featuring a foam layer with a cantilever shape, incorporating vertical and diagonal depressions, and slotted apertures that intersect with these depressions, designed to enhance heat and moisture dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If relatively thick padding systems are used to counteract high forces, then protective capability is improved, but player movement is limited and heat dissipation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective capabilityVSAvoidplayer movement

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The foam layer is segmented into multiple sections with vertical depressions that divide the continuous foam structure. This segmentation creates channels for moisture and heat transfer while maintaining protective coverage, allowing the padding to be less bulky yet still effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foam layer incorporates a porous structure with vertical depressions and slotted apertures that create pathways through the padding material. This porous design enables heat and moisture to pass through more easily while maintaining the protective function of the foam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Strength

If relatively thick padding systems are used to counteract high forces, then protective capability is improved, but heat dissipation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective capabilityVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The foam layer is segmented into multiple sections with vertical depressions that divide the continuous foam structure. This segmentation creates channels for moisture and heat transfer while maintaining protective coverage, allowing the padding to be less bulky yet still effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foam layer incorporates a porous structure with vertical depressions and slotted apertures that create pathways through the padding material. This porous design enables heat and moisture to pass through more easily while maintaining the protective function of the foam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If padding systems absorb moisture, then protective function is maintained, but weight of the equipment increases and player fatigue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidequipment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts moisture from the foam material by incorporating hydrophobic materials or moisture-wicking layers that pull moisture away from the foam's interior. This prevents moisture accumulation within the padding, maintaining protective function while reducing weight gain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The foam layer incorporates a porous structure with vertical depressions and slotted apertures that create pathways through the padding material. This porous design enables heat and moisture to pass through more easily while maintaining the protective function of the foam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 padding system effectively manages heat and moisture, reducing player fatigue and improving mobility by directing moisture away from the body through a network of depressions and apertures.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the inner face and the outer face includes at least one vertical depression extending between at least a portion of the top bottom and the bottom of the foam layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the at least one depression interesting with the at least one slotted aperture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

designed to enhance heat and moisture dissipation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12336576B2Padding for protective equipment

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 XTECH PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT LLC

AI summary

A pad for protective equipment is provided, the pad includes a foam layer having a generally cantilever shape with an inner face and an outer face opposite the inner side, a top and a bottom opposite the top, and a medial end and a lateral end opposite the medial end, wherein at least one of the inner face and the outer face includes at least one vertical depression extending between at least a portion of the top bottom and the bottom of the foam layer, and extending through to the bottom of the foam layer, the foam layer further having at least one a slotted aperture therein extending through the inner face and the outer face, the at least one depression interesting with the at least one slotted aperture.