Segmented Foam Pellet Padding for Impact Dispersion and Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional foam padding in athletic equipment is bulky, limits mobility, and primarily absorbs impact forces without effectively dispersing or deflecting them, leading to unabsorbed forces being transmitted directly to the underlying area, which impairs flexibility and mobility.
Innovation Solution
A foam padding system comprising foam pellets with a minor axis height smaller than their major axis width, featuring an aperture through the minor axis, and optionally varying densities, connected by substrates to form arrays that can absorb, deflect, and disperse impact energy while allowing for increased flexibility and mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional foam pads are used, then impact absorption is provided, but the pads are bulky and limit athlete's mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The foam pad is divided into multiple foam pellets of varying sizes that are distributed throughout the padding material. This segmentation allows the pad to conform to body contours while reducing overall bulkiness, as the smaller pellets can navigate through tighter spaces compared to a single large foam structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the padding contain foam pellets of different sizes and densities tailored to specific protective needs. This local differentiation allows the pad to provide adequate protection in high-impact areas while maintaining flexibility and minimal bulk in areas requiring mobility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional foam pads are used, then some impact energy is absorbed, but unabsorbed force passes straight through the pad to the underlying region
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed foam pellets create multiple independent energy absorption zones throughout the pad. When impact occurs, the pellets can compress and deform in various directions, dispersing the force across many small absorption points rather than allowing force to concentrate and pass through a single large foam structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The padding combines foam pellets with binding materials and structural supports to create a composite structure that enhances energy dispersion. The combination of different material properties allows the pad to both absorb impact energy through the foam pellets and maintain structural integrity to prevent force transmission to the underlying region.
3Ease of operation
If foam pads are scored or pelletized to allow curving and flexing, then mobility is improved, but the design does not address force dispersion and deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The foam pellets are distributed throughout the padding material in a segmented pattern that maintains flexibility while enabling force dispersion. The pellets can move and deform independently, allowing the pad to conform to body movements while simultaneously distributing impact forces across multiple pellets rather than concentrating them in a single location.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If shoulder pads are designed to sit raised above the wearer's shoulders, then protection is provided, but the pads impair the wearer's ability to turn the neck or raise arms
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented foam pellet structure allows the shoulder pad to conform to the wearer's body contours and move with natural movements. The small pellets can compress and shift independently, enabling the pad to provide protection while allowing the wearer to turn the neck and raise arms without excessive restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The padding provides localized protection in specific areas while maintaining flexibility in other regions. The foam pellets are distributed to provide protection where needed while allowing movement in critical areas such as the neck and shoulder joints, balancing protection with mobility.
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 described foam padding system enhances protection by absorbing and deflecting impact forces, improving wearer flexibility and mobility by distributing energy more effectively and providing ventilation, thus offering improved performance over traditional padding designs.
Implementation Method 1
foam padding comprising a plurality of foam pellets... each of said foam pellets is connected to at least one other foam pellet by a foam substrate... having an aperture passing completely through and substantially coincident with the minor axis
Implementation Method 2
at least one of said foam pellets has a height measurement along its minor axis that is smaller than a width measurement along its major axis, and has an aperture passing completely through and substantially coincident with the minor axis
Implementation Method 3
each of said foam pellets is connected to at least one other foam pellet by a foam substrate
Data Source
Figure 1A~4
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AI summary
A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.