Soft-Tipped Pole Braking via Elastomeric Friction and Leverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current braking systems for human-powered wheeled vehicles, such as skateboards and roller skis, are complex, require high skill levels, and compromise balance during braking, making it difficult for users to safely control their speed, especially on hilly terrain.
Innovation Solution
A soft-tipped pole with a large, deformable elastomeric tip that provides increased friction and traction when pressed against the pavement, allowing riders to slow down and maintain balance by leveraging the user's body or a fulcrum element on the vehicle, enhancing braking power and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical braking systems are mounted to the skateboard or roller ski, then braking capability is improved, but balance control during braking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The braking function is separated from the vehicle structure. Instead of mounting brakes to the skateboard or roller ski, the braking element is held independently by the user's hand, allowing braking force application without compromising balance control through direct body positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking system uses an intermediary lever mechanism between the user's hand and the ground. The lever provides mechanical advantage to amplify braking force while the user maintains balance through natural body positioning, avoiding the need for complex mounted braking mechanisms.
2Reliability
If toe dragging is used for braking, then braking capability is improved, but skill requirement and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-adjusting braking through the user's natural hand positioning and body weight distribution. The lever mechanism automatically adjusts to the user's input force and body position, eliminating the need for skilled techniques like precise toe dragging while maintaining effective braking capability.
3Reliability
If mechanical braking systems with multiple moving parts are used, then braking capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical braking system is extracted from the vehicle structure and replaced with a simple hand-held lever. This removes multiple moving parts, adjustment mechanisms, and mounting requirements while retaining effective braking capability through a single lever arm and ground contact point.
4Strength
If hard pole tips are used for braking, then structural stability during propulsion is improved, but braking power and contact area deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pole exhibits different material properties at different locations: the shaft maintains rigid materials for structural stability during propulsion, while the tip uses soft, high-friction material to maximize braking power and ground contact area. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The pole is constructed as a composite structure combining rigid shaft material (for structural integrity) with a soft tip material (for braking). This composite design allows the pole to perform both propulsion and braking functions effectively with optimized material properties at each location.
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 soft-tipped pole system enables safer and more controlled braking, reducing the risk of accidents and allowing less skilled users to navigate various terrains, including hills, by providing direct rider slowing and improved stability during braking.
Implementation Method 1
The soft tips have an underlying rigid component for structural stability during propulsion, balance and braking
Implementation Method 2
A soft-tipped pole with a large, deformable elastomeric tip that provides increased friction and traction when pressed against the pavement
Implementation Method 3
Increased drag of the pole tip against the rolling surface can be achieved via the use of a fulcrum region for increased leverage and hence increased braking force
Data Source
AI summary
Soft-tipped pole designs and methods for their use on pavement are disclosed. The soft, gripping pole tip can slow down a roller skier or skateboarder by slowing down the rider directly and by providing increased rider stability during breaking. This is accomplished by the rider pressing one or two pole tips against the pavement, with or without the use of a fulcrum point for increased leverage. The soft rubberlike tip has a large surface area that provides durability as well as variable levels of frictional force imparted against the pavement. The fulcrum for the pole can be the user's arm or leg as well as fulcrum element fastened to the rolling device.