Palm Protector Chain Mail Pad for Shellfish Shucking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand protection methods for shellfish shucking, such as gloves and pads, are either penetrable, inhibit dexterity, or become contaminated and difficult to clean, failing to provide effective protection for the palm while allowing finger manipulation and easy sanitation.
Innovation Solution
A chain mail pad with adjustable loops for the thumb and forefinger, allowing the pad to drape over the palm without encumbering the fingers, providing impenetrable protection and easy sanitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a leather glove is used for hand protection during shellfish shucking, then the hand is protected from cuts, but the glove can be penetrated by a knife and becomes sticky and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a porous PTFE (Teflon) membrane material that provides cut protection while maintaining non-stick properties. The porous structure allows the material to be impermeable to liquids and contaminants while remaining breathable and easy to clean, directly resolving the contradiction between protection and ease of cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining PTFE membrane with foam backing and knit fabric layers. This composite material provides both the cut resistance of the PTFE layer and the comfort/stretch properties of the foam and knit layers, while the PTFE surface remains non-stick and easily cleanable
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a leather glove is used for hand protection, then the hand is protected from cuts, but the dexterity of the fingers is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is segmented into multiple functional zones: full coverage on the palm and wrist for protection, while the fingers are partially exposed or have reduced coverage. This segmentation allows the protected areas to have heavy-duty protection while the finger areas maintain dexterity and tactile sensitivity
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the glove have different levels of protection and material properties. The palm and wrist areas use thick PTFE membrane for maximum protection, while the finger areas use thinner materials or have openings to preserve dexterity, creating local quality variations that optimize both protection and operation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a leather glove is used for hand protection, then the hand is protected from cuts, but the glove absorbs juices and accumulates dirt during use
Solution Approach 1:
The PTFE membrane is a porous material that is impermeable to liquids and contaminants. Its unique pore structure allows it to block cut-resistant protection while preventing absorption of juices and dirt, and the non-stick surface allows easy rinsing and cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The glove is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable item due to the economic advantage of the PTFE membrane manufacturing process. This allows users to discard contaminated gloves and use fresh ones, eliminating the problem of juice and dirt accumulation
Data Source
AI summary
A chain mail pad has at least one substantially straight side into which two loops are formed to encircle two of the fingers, preferably the thumb and forefinger. When the two loops are placed over these fingers and the pad draped over the palm, the palm and proximal portions of the inner surfaces of the fingers are protected from puncture and cuts that would otherwise be caused by slippage of a shellfish shucking knife.