Welding Helmet Protective Cap with Compressible Liner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional welding helmets lack a comfortable and effective head protection solution that can safeguard against bumps, scrapes, and debris while allowing for easy communication and handling of workpieces without compromising the secure fit and safety features of the helmet.

Innovation Solution

A welding helmet with a moveable face protection member and a protective cap featuring a flexible outer layer and a compressible inner liner, attached under the headband suspension system, providing enhanced comfort and protection by allowing the face protection member to be easily swiveled and ensuring a secure fit, while the compressible inner liner absorbs minor impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a rigid or semi-rigid bump cap is used to protect the wearer's head, then protection against bumps and scrapes is improved, but comfort and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against bumps and scrapesVSAvoidcomfort and flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cap combines a flexible outer layer (such as fabric or flexible plastic) with a compressible inner liner (such as foam or gel material). This composite structure provides both protection against bumps and scrapes while maintaining comfort and flexibility, allowing the cap to conform to the wearer's head and move with it during welding operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The inner liner is designed to change its compression parameter in response to impact forces. Under normal conditions, it remains soft and flexible for comfort, but when subjected to bumps or scrapes, it compresses to absorb impact energy, providing protective function when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the face protection member is made moveable between lowered and upraised positions, then ease of communication and handling is improved, but secure fit and safety may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of communication and handlingVSAvoidsecure fit and safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The face protection member is designed with moveable joints that allow it to pivot between a lowered welding position and an upraised communication position. The dynamic mechanism includes friction-based or spring-based retention systems that hold the member securely in either position while allowing intentional movement, thus maintaining safety during welding while enabling ease of communication and handling when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enhances wearer comfort and protection by providing a flexible, secure, and adjustable head protection that absorbs bumps and scrapes, allowing for easy communication and handling without compromising the helmet's safety features, while being easy to clean and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

at least one compressible inner liner... the compressible inner liner absorbs minor impacts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3993660B1Welding helmet
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP3993660B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3993660B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3993660B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is provided a welding helmet (1) comprising a face protection member (3) moveable between a lowered position in which the face protection member (3) covers a wearer's face, and an upraised position, in which the face protection member (3) uncovers the wearer's face, a headband suspension system (9) for fixing the face protection member (3) to a wearer's head, a protective cap (17) comprising a flexible outer layer (19) and at least one compressible inner liner (21).