Variable Breaking Chin Strap Connector for Dual-Standard Helmets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective helmets for professional and sporting activities are incompatible due to differing safety standards regarding chin strap tensile forces, requiring separate helmets and production lines to meet EN 397 and EN 12492 standards.
Innovation Solution
A chin strap connector with a movable part that adjusts mechanical connections to withstand either high tensile forces for sports (above 500 N) or low forces for professional use (between 150 and 250 N), allowing a single helmet to meet both standards by changing the detachment threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the chin strap connector is designed to break at low tensile force (150-250 N) for professional safety, then user safety is improved, but the helmet cannot withstand rock fall shocks in sporting activities
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates a movable part that can shift positions to dynamically change the mechanical connection configuration. This allows the connector to adapt its strength characteristics: providing high strength for sporting activities and enabling controlled breaking for professional safety requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The connector changes its mechanical parameters by reconfiguring the movable part between different positions. This alters the tensile force threshold at which the connector breaks, allowing it to meet different safety standards (EN 397 for professional use requiring 150-250 N breaking force, EN 12492 for sports requiring 500 N resistance)
2Strength
If the chin strap connector is designed to withstand high tensile force (above 500 N) for sporting activities, then resistance to rock fall is improved, but the user cannot be freed from the helmet in professional emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The movable part enables the connector to dynamically switch between a high-strength configuration for sports and a low-strength breakable configuration for professional use, resolving the contradiction between needing both high strength and safety release capability
3Reliability
If separate helmets are manufactured for professional and sporting activities, then compliance with different safety standards is achieved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed as a universal component that can function under two different safety standards by simply repositioning the movable part. This allows a single helmet design to comply with both EN 397 (professional) and EN 12492 (sports) standards, eliminating the need for separate helmet models
Data Source
AI summary
A connector including: first part designed to be connected to crown of protective helmet, second part designed to be connected to crown of protective helmet and fitted in removable manner on first part, connecting part mechanically connecting first part and second part so as to form first mechanical connection, movable part moving between first and second positions and configured: to prevent first and second parts from coming detached from one another when the parts are subjected to first threshold tensile force, when movable part is in first position, to enable first and second parts to be detached from one another when the parts are subjected to second threshold tensile force lower than that of first threshold tensile force, when movable part is in second position. The invention also relates to protective helmet provided with one such connector, as well as to an assembly method of such connector.