Pivotable Head and Neck Support with Sliding Helmet Clip
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Head and Neck Support devices for racing drivers do not adequately protect the head and neck from impacts, particularly from the top, and restrict movement during crashes, leading to potential spinal cord injuries and hinder rapid vehicle egress.
Innovation Solution
A Head and Neck Support device with a pivotably mounted arm and slidably-mounted element connected to a helmet clip, featuring a resistance block for energy transfer and a protective pin that can be cut during a crash, allowing controlled sliding and limiting excessive head movement with internal braking elements and a rotation limiter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed mount of helmet to vehicle chassis is used, then head and neck protection is improved, but head and body movement during crash is restricted causing whiplash injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the fixed mount with a movable arm that can pivot and slide. The arm is mounted to the vehicle chassis but can move relative to it, allowing the helmet to follow the natural movement of the driver's head and body during a crash while still providing protective restraint. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by enabling both protection and movement.
2Reliability
If a fixed helmet restraint system is used, then head movement is controlled, but rapid vehicle egress is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system is segmented into movable components (arm, slidably-mounted element) that can be quickly released. The connection between the arm and vehicle chassis, and between the slidably-mounted element and helmet clip, are designed as separable joints that allow rapid disengagement, enabling fast vehicle egress while maintaining head movement control during normal operation.
3Reliability
If rigid protection structure is used, then impact protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the protection structure by using controlled movement ranges and resistance forces instead of complete rigidity. The arm has a defined pivot range and the slidably-mounted element has a controlled slide distance, providing impact protection through regulated mechanical parameters rather than through complex rigid structures.
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 device effectively protects the head and neck from impacts by transferring forces to the vehicle chassis and limiting head movement, reducing the risk of spinal cord injuries while allowing for safe egress during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
a resistance block configured to transfer energy into a vehicle chassis when the arm hits the resistance block
Implementation Method 2
a slidably-mounted element configured to slide out of the arm, in a controlled manner, when conditions indicating a crash have been met
Data Source
AI summary
A head and neck support and protection device includes an arm that is pivotably mounted, at a first end, to a support and has at a second end a slidably-mounted element connected to a helmet clip. The helmet clip engages a helmet pin. A resistance block transfers energy into a vehicle chassis when the arm hits the resistance block. The slidably-mounted element slides out of the arm, in a controlled manner, when conditions indicating a crash have been met.