Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pads for absorbing and diverting energy and substances lack effective impact attenuation and moisture management, often requiring thicker constructions or heavy materials for similar performance.
Innovation Solution
A pad design featuring a substrate with offset parallel ridges terminating in alternating bevels and complementary slots/ridges, made from an extruded polyolefin composite potentially incorporating post-consumer tire particles, which allows for deformation and water traversal, enhancing impact absorption and moisture resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional pads use thicker constructions or heavy materials to achieve impact attenuation, then impact absorption performance is improved, but weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is segmented into multiple ridges with alternating bevels that create discrete deformation zones. This segmentation allows impact energy to be distributed across multiple localized deformation points rather than requiring a uniformly thick structure, achieving impact attenuation with reduced overall thickness and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad utilizes a composite structure combining rigid ridge elements with compliant substrate material. This composite approach allows the rigid ridges to provide structural integrity and impact distribution while the compliant substrate absorbs energy through deformation, achieving high impact absorption performance without requiring heavy materials.
2Strength
If conventional pads use thicker constructions to achieve impact attenuation, then impact absorption performance is improved, but the pad compliance and ability to conform to underlying surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pad into discrete ridges rather than using a continuous thick structure, each ridge can independently deflect and conform to surface irregularities. This segmentation maintains compliance and conformability while providing sufficient impact absorption through the distributed ridge structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad employs local quality by creating rigid ridge structures only where needed for impact distribution, while the surrounding substrate remains compliant for conformability. This localized structural approach allows the pad to be both compliant for surface conformance and sufficiently rigid for impact attenuation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pads use solid continuous structures, then structural integrity is improved, but moisture management and water traversal capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pad incorporates periodic breaks and gaps in the ridge structures, creating a porous-like configuration that allows water and moisture to traverse through the pad. This porous approach maintains structural integrity through the ridge frameworks while enabling effective moisture management and drainage.
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 pad achieves equivalent impact attenuation as thicker conventional pads while being more compliant and lightweight, with improved moisture management and versatility for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
the substrate under the first plurality of ridges can deflect to absorb a load applied to one or more of the first plurality of parallel ridges
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the first plurality of parallel ridges and second plurality of parallel ridges can include periodic breaks allowing water to traverse the ridges
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention provides a pad including: a substrate; a first plurality of parallel ridges extending from a first side of the substrate, the first plurality of parallel ridges terminating in longitudinal alternating bevels; and a second plurality of parallel ridges extending from a second side of the substrate.