Segmented Back Protector with Flexible Fabric Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing back protectors lack mobility and fail to follow the user's movements effectively, hindering their ability to absorb energy and provide comprehensive protection against impacts during dynamic activities.
Innovation Solution
A back protector with a body that extends along a longitudinal direction and includes flexible portions allowing movement in six degrees of freedom, including stretching, compression, torsion, and bending, made from deformable materials and lattice structures with sinusoidal elements for enhanced mobility and energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single rigid plate is used for back protection, then protection against impact is provided, but mobility and freedom of movement are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The back protector is divided into multiple rigid plate members (at least three plates) that are arranged alongside each other to form a protection surface. These segmented plates are connected through a soft fabric support base, allowing each plate to move independently while maintaining overall protection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between rigid plate members is made dynamic through the use of soft fabric support base that allows relative movement. The plates can move with respect to each other during body movements, enabling the protection device to adapt dynamically to the user's motions while maintaining impact protection capability.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple rigid plate members are arranged alongside each other, then coverage area is increased, but mobility is still insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The protection surface is segmented into multiple plate members (at least three) arranged alongside each other, increasing the total coverage area while maintaining mobility through the flexible connections between them.
Solution Approach 2:
A soft fabric support base is used to connect the rigid plate members, providing flexibility and mobility. The fabric base acts as a flexible medium that allows the rigid plates to move relative to each other during body movements, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and mobility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid plate members are connected on a non-extendable support base, then structural stability is maintained, but ability to follow body movements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support base is made of soft fabric that provides both structural stability and flexibility. The fabric material maintains the overall structure while allowing extension and movement to follow body contours during dynamic activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The support base material properties are selected to provide appropriate flexibility and extensibility. The fabric can change its physical parameters (extension, compression) to adapt to body movements while maintaining structural integrity for protection.
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 back protector maintains maximum mobility and adhesion to the body while effectively absorbing impact energy, ensuring protection without hindering movement, through its flexible design and materials that allow for full range of motion and efficient energy dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
The lattice body has a plurality of cells arranged alongside each other... The back protector maintains maximum mobility and adhesion to the body while effectively absorbing impact energy
Implementation Method 2
a portion, in particular an elastic portion, arranged between two adjacent plate members... allow a return of the body with energy-absorbing function into an original position following a cessation of any one, or all, of the following stresses or deformations
Data Source
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AI summary
A back protector (10) is described, said back protector comprising a body with energy-absorbing function (12) extending along a longitudinal direction (L) and comprising at least one portion (14) able to - provide the body with energy-absorbing function (12) with a freedom of movement according to at least six degrees of freedom; and/or - allow return into an original position following cessation of all the following stresses: stretching along said longitudinal direction, a compression, in the opposite direction to said stretching, along said longitudinal direction, a torsion in both directions of rotation about an axis passing through said body with energy- absorbing function, said axis being parallel to said longitudinal direction, a bending towards right-hand and left-hand sides of said body with energy-absorbing function about an axis orthogonal to a plane supporting said body with energy-absorbing function and orthogonal to said longitudinal direction (L), and/or a combination of said stresses.