Zero Impact Head Gear with Retaining Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current helmets and head gear do not adequately protect against head and neck injuries, particularly concussions and other impacts in contact sports and activities.
Innovation Solution
A zero impact head gear design featuring an outer helmet with an energy-absorbing outer shell and a rigid shell, combined with an inner helmet made of energy-absorbing material, which includes forward and rear retaining stops and halo stops to limit head displacement and absorb impact, while allowing some movement to reduce the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current helmets are used to protect the head, then some head injuries are prevented, but concussions and neck injuries still occur with surprising frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet is divided into multiple functional layers: an outer shell for structural integrity, an intermediate layer for energy absorption, and an inner liner with retaining stops for impact mitigation. This segmentation allows each layer to address specific injury mechanisms, improving overall protection effectiveness while reducing harmful impacts to the head and neck.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner liner includes retaining stops positioned to engage with the head before severe impact occurs. These stops provide pre-positioned cushioning elements that activate during impact to limit head displacement and reduce the force transmitted to the neck, preventing concussions and neck injuries before they can fully develop.
2Reliability
If the head is completely restrained within the helmet, then protection is maximized, but natural head movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining stops are designed with dynamic engagement characteristics that allow normal head movement during non-impact activities while providing automatic restraint during impact events. The stops engage with the head only when displacement exceeds safe thresholds, maintaining protection effectiveness while preserving natural head mobility during regular use.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the inner liner have different restraint characteristics. The retaining stops are strategically positioned to provide localized restraint at critical impact zones while leaving other areas more permissive, allowing natural head movement in non-critical regions while maintaining protection where needed.
3Reliability
If multiple energy absorbing layers are added to the helmet, then impact protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple energy-absorbing materials and structural features are merged into a unified inner liner assembly. The retaining stops are integrated directly into the inner liner structure, combining the functions of energy absorption, impact restraint, and head positioning into a single cohesive component rather than separate assemblies, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The helmet utilizes composite material construction with different layers made from materials optimized for specific functions: the outer shell uses rigid materials for structural protection, while the inner liner employs softer, energy-absorbing materials for impact mitigation. This composite approach allows each material to be used where it is most effective, improving protection without requiring excessive complexity in the overall structure.
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 zero impact head gear significantly reduces the likelihood of direct head and neck injuries by distributing impact forces, allowing for controlled head movement and absorption, thus providing enhanced protection during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
an energy absorbing outer shell, a rigid shell, and an energy absorbing inner liner
Implementation Method 2
The inner helmet is formed of an energy absorbing material
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a zero impact head gear is provided including an outer helmet and an inner helmet. The outer helmet has forward and rear retaining stops protruding from the interior of the outer helmet. The inner helmet has a forward and rear retaining stops protruding from the inner helmet to allow movement of the inner helmet within the outer helmet, but capable of limiting a forward displacement the inner helmet with respect to the outer helmet.