Shoulder Transfer Weight Support for Radiation Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current weight reduction systems for heavy shielding garments, such as those used by medical professionals to protect against radiation, fail to adequately relieve shoulder stress, often redistributing weight to other areas and providing limited mobility and ventilation, while existing solutions are bulky, costly, and lack ergonomic support.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with a fixed-angle design that transfers the weight of heavy garments from the shoulders to the hips and waist, featuring a lightweight, adjustable frame with shoulder extensions and a back support, allowing for improved posture and ventilation, and incorporating protrusions for attaching additional equipment like facial splash shields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy shielding garments are worn to protect against radiation, then radiation protection is improved, but shoulder stress and cervical spine stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical support structure that extends upward from the waist belt to support the garment weight in the vertical dimension, transferring the load from the horizontal shoulder area to the vertical hip/waist region. This dimensional shift in load bearing resolves the contradiction by maintaining radiation protection while eliminating shoulder stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable support device acts as an intermediary between the heavy shielding garment and the wearer's body. It includes a waist belt and vertical support structure that mediates the weight transfer, preventing direct contact between the garment and shoulders while maintaining the protective function.
2Stress or pressure
If ceiling or floor-based support systems are used to suspend heavy shielding garments, then shoulder stress is reduced, but mobility and accessibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable support device is self-contained and portable, serving multiple functions: supporting garment weight, providing lumbar support, and enabling mobility. Unlike ceiling or floor-based systems, it can be used anywhere without infrastructure, making it universally applicable while maintaining reduced shoulder stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is self-supporting and does not require external infrastructure like ceilings or floors. The wearable frame and waist belt system serves itself by distributing weight through the wearer's hip and waist structure, enabling independent use and full mobility.
3Stress or pressure
If weight is redistributed to the waist and hips, then shoulder stress is reduced, but ergonomic support and posture correction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated device: garment weight support through the vertical frame, lumbar support through the contoured waist belt, and posture correction through the back support structure. This merging resolves the contradiction by providing comprehensive ergonomic support while maintaining reduced shoulder stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The waist belt features a contoured design with increased padding and structural support specifically at the lumbar region to provide targeted ergonomic support. The vertical support structure is positioned to align with the spine, providing localized posture correction while the overall system redistributes weight away from the shoulders.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable weight support that transfers the weight of heavy garments that rely on shoulder support, off of the shoulders to the hips of the user. The device provides additional posterior radiation protection to the wearer as the back support can be made from radio-opaque materials. The device also provides lumbar support and results in less body heat containment through natural venting. The device is easily adjustable to any body type and allows the wearer to move more freely in their work environment. The invention can be used to transfer the weight of a backpack or other systems which rely on shoulder support to function.