Segmented Rigid Protection Elements for Motorcycle Glove Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorcycling gloves with rigid or semi-rigid protection elements at finger articulations become excessively rigid, limiting hand mobility and operability due to the use of materials like carbon fibre, which impede natural finger movements required for gripping handlebars and operating controls.
Innovation Solution
A protective glove design featuring flexible, structurally independent rigid or semi-rigid protection elements for each metacarpophalangeal articulation zone, allowing for relative movement between adjacent zones through a flexible connection bridge, enabling expansion, rotary, and twisting movements while maintaining protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid or semi-rigid protection elements (carbon fibre inserts) are used in the region of metacarpophalangeal articulations, then impact protection is improved, but hand mobility and finger operability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The protection elements are divided into multiple separate elements (first, second, third protection elements) corresponding to different metacarpophalangeal articulation zones. Each protection element is independently positioned and can move relative to adjacent zones, allowing localized protection without constraining overall hand mobility. This segmentation enables each articulation zone to be protected independently while maintaining natural finger movement capabilities.
2Reliability
If a continuous rigid protection layer is applied across multiple metacarpophalangeal articulation zones, then comprehensive protection is improved, but relative movement between adjacent zones deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is segmented into discrete protection elements positioned at specific articulation zones rather than a continuous rigid layer. The gaps between elements allow the glove material to flex and accommodate relative movements between adjacent metacarpophalangeal zones during expansion, rotary, and twisting movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection elements are designed to allow dynamic movement relative to each other through the flexible glove material. The system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic configuration where protection elements can move independently, adapting to the changing positions of articulation zones during hand movements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a protective glove (10) including a glove body (12) of flexible material having an outer visible surface (14) and shaped to define an inner housing for accommodating a hand of a user. The glove body (12) includes, or defines, a plurality of covering areas (15, 16, 17, 18) adapted to cover respective metacarpophalangeal articulation zones (20, 21, 22, 23). The protective glove (10) includes at least three adjacent protection elements (25, 26, 27) in the region of first, second and third areas (15, 16, 17, 18) covering the metacarpophalangeal articulation zones (20, 21, 22, 23) adjacent to the covering areas (15, 16, 17, 18). The three adjacent protection elements (25, 26, 27) are structurally independent of each other and a portion of the glove body (12) of flexible material situated between the adjacent protection elements (25, 26) acts as a connection zone or flexible connection bridge between the respective adjacent covering zones (15, 16, 17, 18).