Segmented Back Protection Plate with Movable Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing back protection devices for sporting activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, fail to adequately protect the spine and allow for necessary mobility, as they lack axial reinforcement and do not dissociate between lateral and vertical body movements.

Innovation Solution

A back protection device with a plate featuring a longitudinal ridge and four movable zones, each with variable inclination slots that allow for torsional mobility, providing axial reinforcement and flexibility while covering the shoulder blades and lumbar vertebrae.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If transverse slots are added to facilitate forward flexion, then flexibility is improved, but axial reinforcement is lost and the spine becomes exposed to impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforward flexion flexibilityVSAvoidaxial reinforcement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device is segmented into multiple independent zones (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) separated by recesses and grooves. This segmentation allows each zone to move independently, providing flexibility for forward flexion while the longitudinal ridge maintains axial reinforcement to protect the spine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the protective device have different structural properties: the longitudinal ridge provides axial reinforcement and rigidity, while transverse slots in various zones provide localized flexibility. The recesses between zones create areas of reduced stiffness that facilitate movement, while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a solid plate structure is used, then protection strength is improved, but flexibility and mobility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection strengthVSAvoidbody mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The plate is divided into four movable zones separated by recesses and grooves, allowing each zone to move independently relative to others. This segmentation maintains overall protective strength while enabling complex body movements including forward flexion, lateral bending, and rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device transitions from a static solid plate to a dynamic structure with movable zones connected by flexible joints (recesses and grooves). This allows the structure to adapt to various body movements, providing both protection and mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the plate structure is weakened with holes, then flexibility is improved, but protection capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidprotection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating holes that weaken the structure, the invention uses surface recesses and grooves that segment the plate into movable zones. This approach provides flexibility through controlled separation of zones without compromising the overall structural integrity and protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The plate incorporates flexible elements in the form of recesses and grooves that allow relative movement between zones. These flexible features provide the necessary mobility while maintaining the rigid protective structure where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Device complexity

If lateral and vertical movements are combined in a single structure, then simplicity is maintained, but dissociated mobility is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddissociated mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The plate is segmented into four zones that can move independently in different directions. The recesses and grooves between zones allow lateral movements in one plane while enabling vertical movements in another, providing dissociated mobility without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device incorporates movement capabilities in multiple dimensions: lateral bending (right-left movements), vertical flexion (forward-backward movements), and rotational movement. The recesses and grooves create degrees of freedom in different spatial dimensions, allowing dissociated mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12178265B2Back protection device for the practice of sporting activities

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 SKIS ROSSIGNOL SA VOIRON FR

AI summary

A back protection device for the practice of sporting activities includes a plate covering at least partially the surface of the back and in the thickness of which recesses are made intended to ensure the flexibility of the plate. The plate comprises a longitudinal ridge, the axis of which is intended to extend along the spine by delimiting, on either side, two right and left parts, each composed of an upper zone and a lower zone. The four zones are movable relative to each other, each being provided with recesses in the form of slots opening onto at least one face of the plate and being oriented with an inclination angle that is variable relative to the axis of the longitudinal ridge, so as to dissociate the flexibility of said zones.