Reinforced Hand Protector Skeleton for Flexible Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective equipment for hands in contact sports fails to adequately protect the digits, wrist, and forearm from high-impact injuries, particularly from lacrosse balls and hockey pucks, which can cause fractures and nerve damage.
Innovation Solution
A reinforced hand protector with a main body and digit portions forming a digit-reinforcing skeleton, including arcuate shells with edges that may wrap around the digits, providing protection and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional protective equipment is used, then basic hand protection is provided, but the digits, wrist, and forearm are not adequately protected from high-impact injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is divided into multiple segmented components including individual digit protectors for each finger, a knuckle protector, a wrist protector, and optional forearm protection. Each segment is designed to independently protect specific anatomical regions from impact forces, allowing comprehensive coverage without requiring a single bulky structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device utilizes composite material construction with rigid or semi-rigid protective elements (such as plastic, metal, or composite shells) combined with flexible materials (such as foam, gel, or fabric). This composite approach provides both impact resistance from the rigid components and flexibility/comfort from the soft materials, effectively addressing the contradiction between protection strength and mobility.
2Strength
If rigid protective structures are added to protect digits and wrist, then impact resistance improves, but flexibility and mobility of the hand are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the protective device have different structural properties tailored to their specific functional requirements. The digit protectors use rigid shells at impact-prone areas (knuckles, finger joints) while maintaining flexibility in other regions. The wrist protector provides rigid support where needed but incorporates flexible connections to preserve natural wrist movement. This localized differentiation of structural quality allows simultaneous achievement of impact resistance and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device incorporates dynamic characteristics through flexible connections, articulated joints, and materials that can deform under stress. The digit protectors are designed to move with the fingers rather than restrict them, and the wrist protector allows for natural wrist articulation. This dynamic design enables the protective structure to adapt to hand movements while maintaining protection during impact events.
Data Source
AI summary
A reinforced support device suitable for the protection of a hand and its digits from impacts, particularly those found in contact sports. The support device providing an outer skeleton and/or selected reinforcement portion(s), protects the digits of the hand and permits flexion of the fingers and/or thumb. The reinforcement portions can be of various shapes, sizes, materials, and weights. They may also be connected in various ways to one another.