Equestrian Saddle Frame with Segmented Viscoelastic Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing equestrian saddle frames face limitations in effectively absorbing impacts and vibrations due to the thickness of shock-absorbing inserts and the influence of the rigid frame structure, which compromises compactness, lightness, and manufacturing complexity, while also affecting the reliability and quality of the product.
Innovation Solution
A frame design featuring through openings for shock-absorbing inserts with a container and damping element, where the damping element is made of viscoelastic materials, allowing for adjustable characteristics and easy combination, ensuring effective absorption without thickness limitations and maintaining structural integrity and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thickness of the shock-absorbing insert is increased to reduce the influence of the rigid bottom, then the damping effect is improved, but the compactness and lightness of the saddle are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The shock-absorbing insert is divided into two separate components: a container made of rigid material and a damping element made of viscoelastic material. This segmentation allows the damping element to be optimized for its function without being constrained by the thickness requirements of a single integrated component, thereby achieving effective damping while maintaining saddle compactness and lightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock-absorbing insert combines two different materials with complementary properties: a rigid container material providing structural support and a viscoelastic damping material providing shock absorption. This composite structure enables the damping element to achieve effective vibration absorption without requiring excessive thickness, thus maintaining the saddle's weight and compactness.
2Reliability
If the thickness of the shock-absorbing insert is increased to reduce the influence of the rigid bottom, then the damping effect is improved, but the compactness of the saddle is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the shock-absorbing insert into a container and a damping element, the design allows the damping element to be compact while the container provides the necessary structural volume. This segmentation enables effective damping without requiring the entire insert to be thick, thus maintaining saddle compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines a rigid container with appropriate volume to house the damping element, allowing the damping material to be used in optimized, compact quantities. This approach achieves effective damping with minimal volume occupation compared to a single thick insert design.
3Reliability
If a through opening structure is used to receive the shock-absorbing insert, then the damping effect is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and structure complexity are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The shock-absorbing insert is segmented into a container and a damping element that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process compared to creating a complex through opening structure, as each component can be produced using standard molding techniques and then easily assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element is extracted from the frame structure and placed in a separate container. This extraction eliminates the need for complex through openings in the frame, as the container can be simply received in a recess or opening without requiring the frame itself to be complexly structured.
4Reliability
If a through opening structure is used to receive the shock-absorbing insert, then the damping effect is improved, but the manufacturing simplicity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shock-absorbing insert into a container and damping element, each component can be manufactured using simple, standard molding techniques. The assembly process is straightforward, making the overall manufacturing simpler compared to creating complex through openings and integrating multiple functions into a single frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element is extracted from the frame and placed in a separate container, allowing the frame to be manufactured using simple, standard processes. The container can be easily received in a recess without requiring complex machining or assembly operations, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 solution provides effective absorption of impacts and vibrations without compromising the frame's compactness or lightness, ensuring constant quality and reliability, with easily selectable and combinable materials, and a simple manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
the damping element (30) is made at least partially with a second at least partially elastically deformable material different from the first material and configured to dampen impacts and/or vibrations in operative conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A frame for an equestrian saddle includes a frame body provided with at least one opening shaped corresponding at least partially to an inguinal and/or ischiatic and/or sacrococcygeal region of a user. Each opening contains a shock-absorbing insert. The shock-absorbing insert includes a container provided with (i) one or more side walls and (ii) a bottom wall joined to the one or more side walls. The container defines an open top opposite to the bottom wall. At least one damping element is in the container on the bottom wall. The bottom wall is made with a first elastically deformable material, and the at least one damping element is made at least partially with a second at least partially elastically deformable material.