Rotational Helmet Insert for Head Injury Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective helmets are ineffective in addressing rotational forces during impacts, leading to serious head injuries despite their ability to absorb translational forces.
Innovation Solution
The helmet's inner carrying device is divided into a shell-side and head-side insert, allowing for rotational movement, with a sliding surface and adjustable densities to counteract rotational acceleration, and features like intermediate layers and connecting means to enhance shock absorption and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inner carrying device is made as a single fixed piece, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot reduce rotational acceleration during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The inner carrying device is divided into a shell-side insert and a head-side insert that can rotate relative to each other about a pivot point. This segmentation allows the system to reduce rotational acceleration during impact while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If the helmet outer shell is given an oval shape to match the human head, then it provides good fit and comfort, but it inhibits rotational movement during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The inner carrying device is segmented into rotatable shell-side and head-side inserts, allowing rotational movement to occur at the pivot point connection rather than requiring changes to the overall oval shape of the helmet shell. This maintains both the head-matching shape and rotational capability.
3Reliability
If a thin slidable shell is introduced between inner and outer shells to reduce rotational acceleration, then protection against rotational forces is improved, but the oval shape of the helmet is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of introducing a thin slidable shell that would interfere with the oval shape, the invention segments the inner carrying device into two inserts connected at a pivot point. This allows rotational movement for protection while preserving the helmet's overall oval shape and aesthetic appearance.
4Reliability
If the inner carrying device is divided into multiple inserts with sliding surfaces, then rotational acceleration is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner carrying device is divided into exactly two functional inserts (shell-side and head-side) connected by a simple pivot point, providing rotational acceleration reduction without excessive complexity. The segmentation is minimal yet effective.
Solution Approach 2:
A pivot point acts as an intermediary connection between the shell-side and head-side inserts, enabling rotational movement while maintaining structural integrity. This simple intermediary mechanism reduces rotational acceleration without requiring complex multi-component systems.
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
This design significantly reduces rotational acceleration and prevents head injuries by enabling free rotational movement of the helmet and head, while maintaining a sleek appearance and adapting to varying impact forces.
Implementation Method 1
with the rotational acceleration introduced by the impact being greatly reduced or prevented
Implementation Method 2
an inner carrying device that absorbs an impact on the head
Implementation Method 3
an inner carrying device that absorbs an impact on the head, which is arranged on the inside of the outer shell
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A protective helmet (6) and a method for reducing or preventing head injury are proposed, in which a shock-absorbing or shock-absorbing and comfort-providing inner carrying device, which may include liners, comfort pads, protective pads, studded baskets and/or strapped carrying devices (e.g. carrying spiders, carrying straps, headbands or the like), is divided into a shell-side insert (7) and a head-side insert (8), which are rotatable relative to each other (preferably from a certain force application) in at least one direction, so that a sliding surface is present which assumes the function of a rotational surface, so that the rotational acceleration introduced by an impact is greatly reduced or prevented, since the head-side insert (8) and the shell-side insert (7) and thus the head (5) of the wearer and the helmet outer shell are rotatable relative to each other quickly and without hindrance, preferably in all directions.