Protective Hood With Elastic Strap For Head Size Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective garments with hoods struggle to accommodate varying head sizes, often obstructing vision due to hoods that are either too large, as they lack effective adjustment mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The protective garment incorporates resilient straps made of elastic material, secured to the inside of the hood, which extend across the back and can stretch to fit the head, ensuring a secure and upright position without obstructing vision, with optional additional stabilizing straps for enhanced fit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a one-size-fits-all hood is used in protective garments, then manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness are improved, but the fit and vision for users with different head sizes deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfit for different head sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hood incorporates resilient straps that can dynamically adjust to different head sizes through elastic deformation. The straps are secured to the inside of the hood and can stretch to accommodate various head circumferences while maintaining a secure fit, allowing a single hood design to adapt to multiple users with different head dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient straps utilize elastic material properties to change their dimensional parameters (length and tension) based on the head size they accommodate. This parameter change allows the same hood structure to provide appropriate fit for different head circumferences without requiring multiple sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the hood is made larger to accommodate bigger heads, then adaptability to different head sizes is improved, but vision obstruction for smaller heads worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of head size variationsVSAvoidvision obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient straps enable the hood to dynamically conform to the wearer's head size rather than forcing a fixed size. The elastic straps adjust their tension and position based on the head circumference, allowing the hood to fit snugly on smaller heads without obstructing vision while accommodating larger heads through the stretch capability of the elastic material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing adjustment mechanisms (press buttons, elastic straps) are added to the hood, then adaptability to different head sizes is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehood size adjustmentVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses resilient straps made of elastic material that are simple to attach to the inside of the hood. These straps provide an effective adjustment mechanism without requiring complex assemblies of multiple components. The elastic nature of the straps allows them to be secured with simple attachment methods while still providing reliable size adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 elastic straps effectively adapt the hood to the wearer's head, providing a secure and comfortable fit that prevents obstruction, improving the usability of protective garments across different head sizes.

Implementation Method 1

the back side further having an first resilient strap secured to the inside of the back side of the hood, extending from the first side portion to the second side portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3062891B1Protective garment having an improved hood
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 EI DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO
  • EP3062891B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3062891B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3062891B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

This invention relates to a protective garment comprising a hood comprising an outer protective apparel fabric, the hood adapted to be worn on a user's head and including a face side provided with hood portions for covering the front side of the head and defining an opening for the face; a back side provided with hood portions for covering the back side of the head and comprising a hood crown portion and first and second side hood portions, the first and second side hood portions meeting along the centerline plane of the hood; the back side further having an first resilient strap secured to the inside of the back side of the hood, extending from the first side portion to the second side portion, the resilient strap positioned perpendicular to, and centered on, the centerline plane of the hood.