Apparel Body Position Feedback via Compressive Zones
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Athletes often struggle to maintain proper body positioning during activities due to the inability to feel the location of various body parts, leading to potential injuries and performance degradation, especially when not under the supervision of a coach or trainer.
Innovation Solution
Garment structures with integrated or attached body position feedback systems that apply higher compressive forces to specific areas, stimulating nerves and deep tissue receptors to provide sensory feedback on body positioning, using materials with varying moduli of elasticity to resist stretching and enhance somatosensory awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a coach or trainer supervises the athlete to check body positioning, then body positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The athlete wears a garment with tactile feedback elements that provide automatic body positioning feedback without requiring external supervision. The garment itself serves as the monitoring system, eliminating the need for coaches or trainers to continuously check positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human supervision with a tactile feedback garment that uses elastic materials and compression zones to provide sensory feedback about body positioning through touch and pressure sensations.
2Measurement precision
If a coach or trainer continuously monitors the athlete, then body positioning accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile feedback garment provides continuous body positioning feedback throughout the athletic activity without interruption. The feedback is constantly available as the athlete moves, eliminating the need for periodic checks by a coach or trainer.
Solution Approach 2:
The athlete receives automatic feedback from the garment during normal activity without requiring time for external supervision. The system works autonomously during the entire duration of the athletic performance.
3Measurement precision
If the garment provides close fit to enhance position sensing, then body position feedback is improved, but comfort and ease of operation may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The garment incorporates tactile feedback elements only in specific zones where body positioning information is needed, rather than providing uniform compression across the entire garment. This allows enhanced feedback in critical areas while maintaining comfort in other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment uses variations in elastic modulus and compression force across different zones to optimize both feedback quality and comfort. The material properties are adjusted locally to provide necessary feedback while preventing excessive restriction of movement.
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 garment systems help athletes develop better body awareness and muscle memory, leading to improved athletic performance and reduced injury risk by providing continuous feedback on body positioning during practice and competition.
Implementation Method 1
The body position feedback system may provide and apply higher compressive forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves, deep tissue receptors, joint mechanorecptors, etc. located in various portions of the human body
Implementation Method 2
Materials having higher moduli of elasticity may be used in the body position feedback system to produce the higher compressive forces (and resist tensile stretching of the body position feedback system)
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, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); 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 forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, 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.”