Configurable Shoulder Pad Cushioning for Fit and Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoulder pads are often heavy, bulky, uncomfortable, restrictive, and difficult to fit and adjust to individual wearers, with inefficient manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A shoulder pad system featuring a protective outer covering with adjustable arch members and cushioning members, including a hinge for flexibility and ventilation, allowing for customizable fit and enhanced mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional shoulder pad designs are used, then protection is provided, but the shoulder pads become heavy and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder pad is divided into multiple separate cushion members (first cushion member, second cushion member, third cushion member) that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows each component to provide targeted protection while reducing overall weight and bulk compared to a single monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cushion members are positioned at specific locations (front, rear, and sides of the neck) to provide localized protection where needed most. The first cushion member protects the front of the neck, the second cushion member protects the rear of the neck, and the third cushion members protect the sides, ensuring protection is concentrated where impact risks are highest rather than distributing weight uniformly.
2Ease of operation
If traditional shoulder pad designs are used, then protection is provided, but the shoulder pads are uncomfortable and restrictive of movement
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder pad incorporates adjustable elements including removable and repositionable cushion members that can be customized to fit different wearers and playing positions. This adjustability allows the protection system to adapt dynamically to individual needs while maintaining mobility, as users can configure the cushion members to match their specific range of motion requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the cushion members into distinct, independently adjustable components rather than a fixed unified structure, the design allows each segment to move independently with the wearer's body, reducing restriction on natural movement while maintaining protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional shoulder pad designs are used, then protection is provided, but they are difficult and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design with separate cushion members allows each component to be manufactured independently using standardized processes, simplifying production compared to creating a single complex integrated structure. This segmentation enables more efficient manufacturing while maintaining comprehensive protection through the assembled configuration.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional shoulder pad designs are used, then protection is provided, but they are limited in fitting and tailoring to individual wearers
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder pad is divided into multiple independently adjustable cushion members that can be positioned and secured at different locations, allowing customization for various body types and playing positions. This modular approach provides extensive adaptability without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, as each segment can be independently configured.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow the shoulder pad to adapt dynamically to different wearers and usage scenarios, enabling a single design to serve multiple purposes and body types while maintaining relatively simple construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoulder pad system is configured for protecting a wearer. The shoulder pad system may include a protective outer covering with a first arch member and a second arch member that cooperatively define a neck opening for the wearer and that arch from a front side to a back side of the shoulder pad system. The first arch member has an interior. The shoulder pad system also includes a cushioning system with a plurality of cushioning members disposed on the interior. The plurality of cushioning members include a first cushioning member with a skin layer that encapsulates a first cushion support member and a second cushion support member with a hinge defined therebetween. The plurality of cushioning members are adjustably attached individually to the interior of the first arch member.