Six-Lobed Plastic Semi-Sphere for Cap Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective gear for golfers and similar activities does not adequately address the impact resistance and safety needs, particularly from golf balls, and lacks versatility in fitting various head sizes and ease of removal.
Innovation Solution
A protective semi-sphere is designed with a geometrically arranged 0.5cm thick plastic plate, featuring 12 concave cuts forming six lobes, which absorbs up to 50J impact with a 5kN force limit, fitting between the cap's textile and lining, allowing easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional protective element (e.g., expanded polystyrene layer) is used, then impact absorption is provided, but the protective element does not adequately address impact resistance and safety needs from golf balls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the protective element by using a rigid plastic material (polyethylene terephthalate) with specific thickness (0.5cm) and geometric configuration (hemispherical shape with lobes), rather than traditional soft foam materials. This parameter change enables the protective element to withstand higher impact forces from golf balls while maintaining structural integrity and effectively reducing the force transmitted to the wearer's head.
2Reliability
If a hard outer shell protective helmet is used, then impact protection is provided, but the device is complex and difficult to install in standard caps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protective shell into a hemispherical shape with multiple lobes (six lobes total) created by curved cuts. This segmentation allows the protective element to conform to the curvature of the cap and distribute impact forces across multiple zones, while also enabling easier installation and removal compared to a complete hard helmet. The lobed structure maintains protective functionality while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hemispherical geometric shape with curved surfaces and rounded lobes to match the natural curvature of the human head and cap structure. This spheroidality allows the protective element to integrate smoothly with standard caps, facilitating easy installation without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms. The curved geometry also optimizes impact distribution across the protective surface.
3Reliability
If a protective element with fixed structure is used, then impact resistance is maintained, but ease of removal and fitting for different head sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic protective element where the hemispherical shape with lobes can flex and adapt during impact while maintaining structural integrity. The curved geometry and loped structure allow the protective element to move slightly with the head during normal wear and activity, facilitating easy installation and removal. The dynamic characteristics enable the same structure to provide consistent impact resistance across different head sizes while maintaining ease of operation.
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 semi-sphere provides effective impact resistance, ensuring a force transmission below 5kN, suitable for a range of head sizes, and offers easy fitting and removal for comfort and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
a protective semi-sphere for caps, especially for golf players' caps... capable of absorbing an impact of 50J with a transmission of a maximum of 5kN
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Protective semi-sphere for caps, especially for golf players, made from a circular sheet of plastic material (1) with a perimeter of 57 cm, where twelve concave curved cuts (5) are made every two that do not reach the center of the circle, which generates six identical lobes (2) and where each lobe forms an angle of 34 - 50° with the external tangent of the line that starts from the center of the template and that the angle formed between the line that starts from the center of the template and on the opposite side to the previous one cuts with the perpendicular line the axis of the lobe forms an angle of 30°.