Semi-rigid Pelvic Plates for Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current load-bearing devices for carrying equipment around the waist, such as those used by law enforcement and military personnel, fail to effectively distribute weight correctly, leading to chronic discomfort, nerve damage, and increased risk of injury due to improper load distribution and pressure on the spinal and abdominal areas, and often result in unstable platforms for tools and equipment during physical activity.
Innovation Solution
The use of thin, semi-rigid plates that approximate the contours of the pelvis, providing a spring-like action to distribute loads laterally and secure individual components, thereby reducing pressure on the spine and abdominal muscles, and ensuring a stable platform for tools and equipment by maintaining a consistent relative position of load elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a simple reinforced belt is used to carry heavy loads, then the load bearing capacity is improved, but the ergonomic shaping is insufficient causing chronic pain and spinal injury
Solution Approach 1:
The belt incorporates curved contours that match the natural curvature of the human hips and pelvis. The lateral portions are shaped to conform to the iliac crest and gluteal region, distributing load along the curved surface of the body rather than applying pressure on flat or rigid surfaces. This curvature adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural strength while improving ergonomic comfort and preventing spinal injury.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the belt are designed with different properties: the lateral portions have specific curvature and padding for comfort and load distribution, while the front and back portions have different configurations. This local differentiation allows the belt to provide both the strength needed for heavy loads and the ergonomic shaping required to prevent pain and injury.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the belt is loosened to reduce pressure on the spine, then spinal pressure is reduced, but the belt begins to slip from the iliac crest causing forward pitching moment
Solution Approach 1:
The curved lateral portions of the belt are designed to match the natural shelf profile of the hips, creating a geometric interlock that prevents slipping. When the belt is loosened, the curvature ensures it remains seated on the iliac crest rather than rolling forward onto the gluteus maximus. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining positional stability at relaxed tension while reducing spinal pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt design creates an equilibrium position where the curved lateral portions rest naturally on the hip shelf at the iliac crest. This equipotential positioning ensures that the belt remains stable without requiring excessive tightening, thereby reducing forward pitching moments and spinal pressure while maintaining security against slipping.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the belt is tightened to prevent slipping, then belt position stability is improved, but pressure on the lumber region and abdominal column increases restricting muscle actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The curved lateral portions transfer load to the bony iliac crest and gluteal region rather than compressing soft tissues of the abdomen and lower back. This geometric design achieves belt stability through shape matching rather than excessive tightening, resolving the contradiction by maintaining positional stability while minimizing harmful pressure on muscles and circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt is divided into distinct functional portions: curved lateral portions for load bearing and stability, and separate front/back portions with different configurations. This segmentation allows the lateral portions to provide stability through curvature while the other portions can be configured to minimize abdominal and lumbar pressure, resolving the contradiction between stability and muscle restriction.
4Strength
If rigid components are used on the belt for structural support, then load distribution is improved, but the components create sharp edges that dig in causing circulation loss and bruising
Solution Approach 1:
The belt incorporates localized padding and contouring at specific contact points where rigid structural elements meet the body. This local quality modification maintains the structural support function of rigid components while eliminating harmful sharp edges, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and prevention of tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt combines rigid structural materials with softer padding or compliant layers to create a composite structure. This composite design provides the structural support needed for load distribution while the softer outer layer prevents circulation loss and tissue damage from sharp edges, resolving the contradiction between strength and harm prevention.
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
This solution significantly enhances user comfort by eliminating the need for compensatory posture adjustments, reduces the risk of injury, and ensures that the load is properly distributed across the pelvis, maintaining a stable platform for tools and equipment during physical activity.
Implementation Method 1
The curvature of the plate in the horizontal plane is naturally slightly larger than the wearer's waist such that when compressed against the body under the force of a belt placed around the waist and over the plate, the plate exerts a outward spring force against the belt
Data Source
AI summary
A load bearing device for human use include first and second load bearing plates that have a first uncompressed position and a second compressed position that conform to the anatomy of the hips of a human. The plates are sufficiently rigid so as to prevent local inversion when the plates are subject to point or line loads and so as to distribute local loads over the plates. The plates can be used with belts, clothes, backpacks and other load carrying devices and can be incorporated into belts, clothes, backpacks and other load carrying devices.