Anatomical Silicone Protective Insert for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective devices for body impact and shock protection are bulky and inefficient in absorbing and distributing compressive forces, and they cause friction when worn, especially during activities like film or television recordings.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an overcoat and a flat protective insert made of addition-curing silicone material with a Shore A hardness range of 2 to 75, anatomically shaped to fit specific body parts, which efficiently absorbs and distributes impact forces while minimizing bulkiness and friction, using a layer structure with varying hardness for optimized protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional protective devices are used for body impact protection, then protection function is provided, but the devices become bulky and cause friction when worn
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin film structure made of silicone material with varying local densities to achieve impact protection. The protective device consists of a thin base layer (1-10 micrometers) with localized denser regions that absorb impact forces, eliminating the need for bulky traditional protective gear while maintaining protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device features non-uniform material distribution with different local densities. The silicone material has base density in certain regions and higher density in impact-prone areas, allowing targeted protection where needed while keeping other areas thin and flexible, thus reducing overall bulk.
2Reliability
If conventional protective devices are used for body impact protection, then protection function is provided, but friction occurs when worn during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The thin film structure conformally follows body contours and moves naturally with the body, minimizing relative motion and friction between the protective device and skin during movement, while still providing adequate impact protection through localized density variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device is designed to be dynamic and adaptable to body movement. The flexible thin film structure naturally deforms and moves with the body, maintaining close contact without creating friction, unlike rigid conventional protective gear.
3Volume of moving object
If protective devices are made smaller to reduce bulk, then wearability is improved, but impact absorption capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device compensates for reduced overall volume by concentrating material density in specific impact-absorbing zones. The non-uniform density distribution ensures that critical impact areas have sufficient material thickness and density for protection, while non-critical areas remain thin to minimize bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device uses a composite structure with silicone material exhibiting varying local densities. This composite approach allows the thin film to achieve high impact absorption capacity in localized regions without increasing overall device volume, combining the benefits of thinness and protection.
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 provides effective shock and impact protection with minimal bulk, reducing friction and enhancing skin compatibility, allowing for flexible adjustment of damping properties based on application needs.
Implementation Method 1
The protective insert is made of a room-temperature addition-curing silicone material with a Shore A hardness in the range of approximately 2 to approximately 75... efficiently absorbs, distributes and dampens the compressive forces arising in the event of an impact or shock
Implementation Method 2
The protective insert is made of a room-temperature addition-curing silicone material... After cross-linking, the silicone material is inert and no longer reacts with other substances
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for protecting a body part of a person from impact and shock, comprising a cover for being placed over at least one body part to be protected and a flat protective insert which can be positioned in the area of the body part to be protected by means of the cover and which has a surface section on a side facing the body part to be protected that is anatomically shaped to correspond to the body part to be protected, wherein the protective insert is made of an addition-curing silicone material at room temperature with a Shore A hardness in the range of approximately 2 to approximately 75 and the anatomically shaped surface section of the flat protective insert is adapted to a body part to be protected, free from the sole of the foot. Furthermore, a flat protective insert and a method for manufacturing a flat protective insert are disclosed.