Triangular Silicone Edge Protector for Sports Board Impact Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sports boards, particularly snowboards, are prone to damage during transit due to inadequate protection, leading to potential mechanical failures and safety concerns, as existing bags provide limited impact protection and are often bulky or heavy.
Innovation Solution
An edge protector made of resilient silicone with a triangular cross-section, featuring a central portion and tapering impact-absorbing sections, designed to absorb and dissipate impacts, is applied to the board's edges to enhance protection during transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thin foam padding is used in snowboard bags, then the bag remains lightweight and compact, but the impact protection capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The protector is divided into functional segments: a tapered impact-absorbing section for dissipating impact forces, a central portion for structural support, and leg sections for engagement with the board edge. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while using material efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The protector features varying wall thickness with thicker sections at the impact-absorbing portion and thinner sections toward the legs, concentrating material where impact protection is most needed while reducing weight and material usage in less critical areas.
2Strength
If hard plastic cases are used for board protection, then damage protection is improved, but the case becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The protector uses a flexible resilient material that can deform to absorb impact forces, replacing rigid hard plastic cases. This flexible structure provides equivalent protection without the bulk and weight, while conforming closely to the board edge for a streamlined profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient material is pre-configured in a tapered shape that anticipates impact forces, with the thicker central portion positioned to absorb blows before they reach the board edge, providing proactive protection rather than reactive rigidity.
3Reliability
If extensive padding is added to snowboard bags, then impact protection is improved, but the bag becomes bulky and increases airline costs
Solution Approach 1:
The protector moves from two-dimensional flat bag padding to a three-dimensional form that wraps around the board edge, utilizing the vertical dimension and circumferential wrapping to provide comprehensive protection with minimal material volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The protector combines resilient material properties with a specific geometric form factor, creating a composite solution that integrates material selection and structural design to achieve high protection-to-volume ratio.
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 edge protector effectively reduces damage to the sidewall and edges of sports boards by distributing impact forces, ensuring mechanical integrity and user safety, with silicone providing flexibility, strength, and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a bead of a resilient material having a cross-section comprising a central portion and, extending therefrom in one direction, a tapering impact-absorbing section
Implementation Method 2
silicone with a Shore Hardness of 65
Data Source
AI summary
An edge protector for a sports board in the form of a bead of a resilient material having a cross-section comprising a central portion and, extending therefrom in one direction, a tapering impact-absorbing section and, extending from the central portion in the opposing direction, a pair of convergent leg sections for engaging an edge of the board. The central portion and the impact-absorbing section together form a triangular cross-section, which is particularly suited to receiving and dissipating an impact. The triangular section can be a hollow triangular section to reduce weight and tailor the impact response. One leg of the pair extends beyond the other leg to case fitting. The bead is preferably formed by extrusion; silicone with a Shore A hardness of between 62 and 68 provides an ideal resilient material.