Shoulder Pad Release Mechanism for Safe Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current protective shoulder pads are difficult to remove safely from individuals with suspected neck or cervical spine injuries, often causing secondary injuries due to their rigid design and requiring multiple personnel, which limits access for diagnosis and treatment.

Innovation Solution

The development of shoulder pads with a release mechanism that allows for safe removal while the wearer is in the supine position, maintaining the pads' rigidity and enabling separation of portions without repositioning the individual, facilitating easier access for medical personnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If protective shoulder pads are designed to be rigid for impact protection, then impact energy dissipation is improved, but removal safety and ease of removal deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact protectionVSAvoidremoval safety

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder pad is divided into multiple segments including a rigid shell portion and a removable cushion portion. The rigid shell maintains impact protection while the removable cushion can be easily detached without removing the entire pad, enabling safe medical evaluation without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shoulder pad incorporates dynamic elements including removable cushions and adjustable straps that allow the pad to transition between a fully assembled protective state and a partially disassembled evaluation state. This dynamic configuration enables easy removal of specific portions while maintaining the rigid shell for continued protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If protective shoulder pads are designed as a single rigid unit, then impact energy dissipation is improved, but access for medical diagnosis and treatment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy dissipationVSAvoidmedical access

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder pad is segmented into a rigid shell portion and a removable cushion portion. This segmentation allows medical personnel to remove only the cushion for access to the athlete's body for diagnosis and treatment, while the rigid shell remains in place to maintain impact protection and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The removable cushion portion can be extracted from the rigid shell without removing the entire shoulder pad. This extraction provides medical personnel with access to the athlete's chest, shoulders, and upper back areas for evaluation and treatment while the rigid shell continues to provide impact protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If protective shoulder pads require multiple personnel for removal, then removal safety is improved, but response time and treatment efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval safetyVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder pad is divided into a rigid shell and removable cushion portions connected by quick-release mechanisms. This segmentation allows a single medical personnel to quickly remove the cushion portion without requiring multiple people to manipulate the entire pad, reducing response time while maintaining safety through controlled removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional mechanical fastening system requiring multiple personnel is replaced with quick-release mechanisms such as magnetic attachments, snap-fit connections, or Velcro straps. These mechanisms enable rapid one-person removal of the cushion portion, significantly improving response time while maintaining removal safety through designed release pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution allows for safer removal of shoulder pads, reducing the risk of neurologic injury and improving access for diagnosis and treatment, enabling effective stabilization and radiographic imaging without compromising the pads' ability to dissipate impact energy.

Implementation Method 1

the shoulder pads are sufficiently rigid when assembled to dissipate the energy created by an impact to a portion of the pads across substantially the entire shoulder pad

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact energy dissipation: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS10220291B2Protective shoulder pads with release mechanism

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 RIDDELL INC

AI summary

Protective shoulder pads to be worn by an individual engaged in a contact sport, such as football, lacrosse or hockey, are provided. The shoulder pads protect an individual wearing the protective shoulder pads against impact to the superior, anterior, posterior and/or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm regions. The shoulder pads include a release mechanism that releasably couples left and right arch members of the shoulder pads and allows for removal of the shoulder pads from the individual while he or she is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of further injuring the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads.