Pivot Assembly for Headgear Using Cam Surfaces and Spring Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pivot mechanisms for headgear, such as helmets and visors, often require complex assembly, external tools, and additional locking means, and can be cumbersome, lacking a simple and efficient way to pivotally move the visor or faceshield between open and closed positions.
Innovation Solution
A pivot assembly comprising a housing, a socket, a post, and a spring, where the socket and post engage with each other through cam surfaces and biasing features, allowing relative rotation while maintaining the visor or faceshield in desired positions without external tools, and enabling easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If detent-type hinge mechanisms, threaded engagements, or mechanisms requiring external tools are used, then the shield can be maintained in desired positions, but the assembly and disassembly become complex and require external tools
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot assembly is divided into distinct functional components: a housing attached to the headtop, a shield with a post, and a spring mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while simplifying the overall assembly process, as components can be attached independently without complex interdependencies
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism automatically biases the post into engagement with the housing, providing self-locking functionality without requiring external tools or additional locking means. The shield's weight and the spring's biasing force work together to maintain engagement, eliminating the need for complex detent mechanisms or threaded engagements
2Reliability
If additional locking means are used to maintain the shield in a desired position, then position stability is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides biasing force to maintain engagement, acts as a locking mechanism through the interaction between the post and housing, and enables easy assembly and disassembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate locking means, reducing the overall number of components while maintaining position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The post serves multiple functions: it acts as a pivot axis for rotation, engages with the housing to maintain positional stability, and interacts with the spring mechanism for automatic locking and easy assembly/disassembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components
3Ease of operation
If cam surfaces are used to allow relative rotational movement, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surfaces are designed with curved geometries that facilitate smooth rotational movement between the shield and headtop. The curved surfaces of the post and corresponding housing features create a natural cam action that guides rotation while being tolerant of reasonable manufacturing variations, avoiding the need for extremely precise cam profiles
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 pivot assembly provides a slim, low-profile, easy-to-install solution for headgear, allowing smooth movement between open and closed positions, enhancing usability and reducing complexity in assembly and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring dimensioned to be received in the interior of the housing to engage the post and to bias the plurality of second engagement features into engagement with the plurality of first engagement features while allowing relative rotation between the post and the socket
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the plurality of first engagement features and the plurality of second engagement features can include at least one cam surface configured to allow relative rotational movement between the socket and the post
Data Source
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AI summary
A pivot assembly for use with headgear that includes a headtop and a shield, and a method for coupling the headtop to the shield using the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly can include a housing, a socket dimensioned to be received in the housing and having a plurality of first engagement features, and a post having a plurality of second engagement features adapted to engage the first engagement features. The pivot assembly can further include a spring dimensioned to be received in the housing to bias the first engagement features and the second engagement features into engagement, while allowing relative rotation between the post and the socket. A method can include moving the socket in a first direction into the housing, moving the post in a second direction that is different from the first direction toward engagement with the socket, and moving the spring in the first direction into the housing.