Rate-Sensitive Wearable Articles for Rotational Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective gear for sports and military activities often fails to adequately absorb rotational energy and reduce musculoskeletal stress, leading to injuries such as concussions and fatigue, particularly in the head and neck regions.
Innovation Solution
Development of wearable articles incorporating rate-sensitive materials integrated with a force-directing frame that diverts internal contortion forces to deformable regions, providing increasing resistance and energy absorption in response to applied forces, thus reducing the impact of rotational acceleration and musculoskeletal strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional protective gear is used, then basic impact protection is provided, but rotational energy absorption is insufficient leading to concussions and whiplash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes non-Newtonian materials that change their mechanical properties based on the rate and direction of applied force. These materials become stiffer under rapid rotational acceleration (protecting against concussions and whiplash) while remaining flexible during normal motion, thus resolving the contradiction between rotational energy absorption and protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures combining rigid force-directing frames with deformable non-Newtonian material regions. This composite approach allows the rigid frame to provide structural support while the deformable regions absorb rotational energy, simultaneously achieving both basic impact protection and enhanced rotational energy absorption
2Strength
If rigid protective structures are used, then impact resistance is improved, but freedom of motion is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic materials that adapt their rigidity based on the applied force characteristics. During normal athletic movements, the non-Newtonian material remains flexible allowing full range of motion. Upon impact, the material stiffens to provide rigid protection, thus resolving the contradiction between impact resistance and freedom of motion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized deformable regions within the protective gear where non-Newtonian materials are strategically placed. These local soft regions allow motion while the surrounding rigid frame provides overall structural support and impact resistance, resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation
3Loss of energy
If force-directing frames with deformable regions are used, then energy absorption increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective gear into distinct rigid frame elements and deformable material regions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function (structural support vs. energy absorption) while simplifying the overall design and manufacturing process, thus resolving the contradiction between energy absorption and device complexity
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 wearable articles effectively absorb rotational energy and reduce musculoskeletal stress, providing protection against injuries like whiplash and fatigue by strategically directing forces to deformable regions within the gear, allowing for enhanced protection without restricting motion.
Implementation Method 1
The material can be a non-Newtonian material that has force-reactive or rate-sensitive properties
Implementation Method 2
a force-directing frame that diverts internal contortion forces to deformable regions, providing increasing resistance and energy absorption in response to applied forces
Implementation Method 3
The wearable articles effectively absorb rotational energy and reduce musculoskeletal stress, providing protection against injuries like whiplash and fatigue
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are wearable articles and methods for the manufacture and use thereof. The wearable articles can comprise compression elements, gripping elements, and support elements containing a rate-sensitive materials which can operate to prevent injury.