Apparel Body Position Feedback via Differential Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Athletes often struggle to maintain proper body positioning during repetitive movements in sports and activities due to the inability to easily sense the position of various body parts, leading to potential injuries and performance degradation without the guidance of a coach or trainer.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating body position feedback systems into articles of apparel, which utilize layers of material with varying compressive force application capabilities to enhance tactile awareness of body position through differential compressive forces, without altering body movement or posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a coach or trainer is present to guide body positioning, then body positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garment enables the wearer to self-monitor body positioning through tactile feedback from compressed and uncompressed areas, eliminating the need for external coaches or trainers. The sensor system automatically detects body position and provides feedback through the garment structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical human guidance system (coach/trainer physically observing and correcting posture) with an automated sensor-based system embedded in the garment that provides real-time tactile feedback about body position.
2Ease of operation
If uniform compressive force is applied across the garment, then comfort is improved, but body position feedback capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The garment incorporates zones with different compressive force characteristics - some areas provide uniform compression for comfort while specific localized areas provide variable compression to generate tactile feedback signals that indicate body position to the wearer.
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 system improves the wearer's awareness of body positioning, aiding in maintaining correct posture and reducing the risk of injury by stimulating nerves and deep tissue receptors, thus enhancing athletic performance and muscle memory.
Implementation Method 1
a material layer having a resistance to stretching that is greater than a resistance to stretching of a fabric element making up a majority of the garment structure
Data Source
AI summary
Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body and/or stretch resistance, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.”