Bucket-Mounted Foot Rest for Comfortable Ankle Cryotherapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for administering cryotherapy or thermotherapy to ankles are often inconvenient and uncomfortable to use.

Innovation Solution

A foot rest with a foot receptacle having a first and second portion that intersect, a cross-member on one side of the first portion, and a bucket connector distal to the end of the first portion, which is designed to be placed on a bucket to engage the rim and inner surface, allowing for comfortable and convenient therapy administration by immersing an ankle in a temperature-controlled composition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ice packs, bandages, and hot and cold compresses are used for cryotherapy and thermotherapy, then therapeutic effects are achieved, but convenience and comfort are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidconvenience and comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The foot rest serves as an intermediary device between the user and the therapy composition. It provides a comfortable platform that elevates and positions the foot at an optimal angle, mediating the interaction between the user and the therapeutic composition in the bucket

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The foot rest structure enables self-service therapy administration by providing automatic positioning and support. The foot receptacle with its specific geometry automatically orients the foot and ankle at the correct angle when placed in the composition, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If the foot rest structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but structural support and positioning accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstructural support

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The foot rest is segmented into distinct functional portions: a foot receptacle portion and a support portion. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity through simple geometric relationships between segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foot receptacle incorporates curved surfaces and rounded geometries that naturally conform to the shape of the foot and ankle. These curved surfaces provide structural support while being simple to manufacture using standard molding techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20130317396A1Foot rest, method for the manufacture thereof, device including the foot rest, and therapeudic method using the same

Publication Date: 2013.11.28 ANKLEAID LLC

AI summary

A foot rest including: a foot receptacle, the foot receptacle including a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion intersects the second portion; a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion; and a bucket connector disposed on the first side of the first portion of the foot receptacle, wherein the cross-member is proximate an end of the first portion and the bucket connector is distal to the end of the first portion.