Segmented Air Cushion Pad for Multi-Directional Shock Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cushion pads for sports equipment and helmets provide inadequate cushioning against both normal and transverse forces due to their design, which limits their effectiveness in absorbing shocks and impacts.
Innovation Solution
An air cushion pad composed of two sheet members with hollow tubes that are connected by flat plates, allowing them to alternately fit together to form a hermetically sealed air sack, providing effective shock absorption and cushioning by compressing and deforming the air within the tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an air sack with enclosed air is used for cushioning, then it can bear normal direction impact forces, but it provides poor resistance against transverse direction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The air cushion pad is divided into multiple hollow tubes instead of using a single enclosed air sack. Each tube can independently deform and absorb impact forces from different directions, providing both normal and transverse force resistance while maintaining the air cushioning effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat air sack to a three-dimensional structure with multiple hollow tubes arranged in an array. This dimensional change allows the cushion pad to absorb forces from multiple directions (normal and transverse) simultaneously, improving adaptability while maintaining cushioning performance.
2Strength
If projecting pillars are used on the air sack surface, then they provide cushioning effect, but they can only bear forces in the normal direction
Solution Approach 1:
The single air sack with projecting pillars is segmented into multiple hollow tubes. Each tube acts as an independent cushioning element that can deform in multiple directions, providing both the cushioning effect of projecting pillars and the ability to resist transverse forces through the array configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines air (enclosed within tubes) with a resilient material structure (the tube walls and their arrangement). This composite approach provides both the compressibility of air for cushioning and the structural integrity of the resilient material for multi-directional force resistance.
3Ease of operation
If a thin pad structure is used, then it allows for hand compliance in batting gloves, but it reduces the volume of air available for shock absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is segmented into multiple hollow tubes arranged in an array. This segmentation allows the pad to maintain a thin overall profile for hand compliance while each tube contains a volume of air for shock absorption. The collective air volume across multiple tubes provides effective cushioning despite the thin profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention distributes the air volume across multiple dimensions by arranging numerous tubes in an array rather than using a single large air chamber. This allows the pad to be thin in one dimension (for compliance) while maintaining sufficient total air volume (distributed across many tubes) for effective shock absorption.
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 air cushion pad effectively absorbs vibrations and impacts by compressing and expelling air, offering superior cushioning performance against both normal and inclined forces, making it suitable for various applications requiring shock absorption and impact protection.
Implementation Method 1
both being made of resilient materials
Implementation Method 2
by compressing and deforming the air within the tubes
Implementation Method 3
The air cushion pad effectively absorbs vibrations and impacts by compressing and expelling air
Data Source
AI summary
An air cushion pad includes at least two sheet members, which are made of resilient materials. Each sheet member forms a plurality of hollow tubes projecting therefrom and the tubes are connected to each other by a substantially flat plate. The tubes of one sheet member and the tubes of the other sheet member are alternately fit to each other in an opposing manner to form the air cushion pad. When an external impact force is applied in a top down manner, the air cushion pad absorbs the impact force and undergoes sideways deformation so as to convert the impact force into a transverse to thereby realize shock absorption and eliminate damage caused by downward action of the impact force to provide the function of protection.