Wearable Protection Inflatable Element Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable protection devices tend to flare out during deployment, losing their intended position relative to the body part to be protected, and may not provide a comfortable fit for extended wear.
Innovation Solution
A wearable protection device with an inflatable element that assumes a predetermined three-dimensional shape adapted to the body part, featuring a retention element to prevent flaring and ensure proper alignment, and potentially incorporating a channeling element for uniform inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inflatable element is inflated to provide protection, then the cushioning effect is improved, but the inflatable element flares out and moves away from the body part to be protected
Solution Approach 1:
The retention element is pre-installed on the inflatable element before inflation occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when inflation happens, the retention element immediately constrains the inflatable element's shape change, preventing it from flaring out and maintaining its position against the body part to be protected.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention element acts as a flexible constraining structure that allows the inflatable element to expand while maintaining its intended shape and position. The flexible nature of the retention element enables it to adapt to the inflatable element's expansion while preventing unwanted flaring, thus maintaining reliable protection effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the wearable protection device is worn tightly to ensure protection, then the fit and protection are improved, but comfort during extended wear deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a static tight fit to a dynamic adaptive fit. During normal wear, the inflatable element remains deflated, allowing the device to be worn comfortably with minimal constraint. Upon detection of an accident, the device dynamically inflates to provide tight protection, thus achieving both comfort during extended wear and reliable protection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection mechanism operates periodically rather than continuously. The inflatable element remains in a non-restrictive state during normal wear periods and only activates (inflates) during accident detection periods. This periodic action allows the device to maintain protection reliability while ensuring comfort during extended wear times when inflation does not occur.
3Volume of moving object
If the inflatable element increases in radial dimension during inflation, then the cushioning volume is improved, but the alignment relative to the body part deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retention element applies localized constraint at specific regions of the inflatable element where flaring would occur. This localized quality control allows the inflatable element to expand in volume for cushioning while preventing alignment deterioration at critical regions, thus achieving both increased cushioning volume and maintained alignment relative to the body part.
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 device effectively prevents flaring and maintains a snug fit around the body part, providing enhanced protection and comfort during extended wear.
Implementation Method 1
the inflatable element is inflatable from a first, substantially uninflated condition to a second, substantially inflated condition, by application of a releasable source of a gas to the inflatable element, for at least partially filling of the inflatable element with said gas
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, comprising an inflatable element arranged adjacent to a body part to be protected, wherein the inflatable element is inflatable from a first, substantially uninflated condition to a second, substantially inflated condition, by application of a releasable source of a gas to the inflatable element, for at least partially filling of the inflatable element with said gas, wherein the inflatable element, when being inflated to the second condition, deploys around the body part to be protected and assumes a predetermined three-dimensional shape adapted to the body part to be protected, wherein the inflatable element comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is the end where the inflatable element is arranged on the body part to be protected when in the first, substantially uninflated condition.