Uncoupled Anterior Cranial Shield Force Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head protection systems, such as football helmets, are inadequate in reducing the frequency and severity of sub-concussive repetitive head impacts, which pose a significant risk to long-term brain health and safety, as they fail to effectively attenuate complex mechanical forces and do not provide sufficient dampening of subthreshold accelerative and rotational forces.
Innovation Solution
An uncoupled anterior cranial shield system that integrates a suspended mask with athletic shoulder pads, redirecting impact forces away from the head and neck into the torso, providing additional energy dissipation and protection through a yoke and impact collar extension, thus reducing the transmission of forces to the brain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional helmet systems are used, then head coverage is provided, but sub-concussive repetitive head impacts are not effectively attenuated
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is divided into separate functional components: a helmet for skull protection, a facemask for facial protection, and a chest protector for force absorption. Each component is optimized for its specific function, with the chest protector serving as a separate force-sinking element rather than being integrated into the helmet structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The chest protector acts as an intermediary force-absorbing element between the head/neck complex and the ground or opposing player. It provides a dedicated pathway for force dissipation through the torso, reducing the transmission of sub-concussive forces to the brain while maintaining proper head positioning.
2Strength
If helmet and facemask are integrated, then structural stability is provided, but force transmission to the head and neck increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the helmet, facemask, and chest protector into distinct components with independent force management pathways. The chest protector is specifically designed as a separate force-sinking element that absorbs impacts before they can be transmitted to the head and neck, reducing cumulative sub-concussive loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The force-absorption function is extracted from the helmet structure and placed into a dedicated chest protector component. This allows the helmet to maintain its protective function for the skull while the chest protector handles the force dissipation, preventing force transmission to the neck and brain.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If more protective equipment is added, then protection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chest protector serves multiple functions: it protects the torso from impact, acts as a force-sinking element to reduce head/neck loading, and provides a stable base for the facemask assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components while achieving comprehensive protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The facemask is structurally integrated with the chest protector assembly, creating a unified force-management system. This integration reduces the number of separate connection points and structural elements needed, simplifying the overall device while maintaining protection coverage for the face, head, and torso.
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 uncoupled anterior cranial shield system effectively reduces the intensity and frequency of sub-concussive impacts by dissipating forces into the torso, offering enhanced protection for the head, neck, and spine, thereby mitigating the risk of long-term brain injuries and concussions.
Implementation Method 1
redirecting impact forces away from the head and neck into the torso
Implementation Method 2
providing additional energy dissipation and protection
Data Source
AI summary
An uncoupled anterior cranial shield is disclosed including a yoke configured to attach to support garment or integrated with the support garment and a suspended mask attached to the yoke and extending from the yoke so as to be disposed at least partially covering a face of an individual wearing the support garment. The suspended mask is free of force communicating persistent connection to a head of the wearer other than indirectly through the shoulder pads.