Compression Garment Strap Configuration for Gapless Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional low-elastic compression garments face challenges in providing a gapless fit, accommodating various limb sizes, and ease of donning, leading to inadequate compression and discomfort due to bulkiness and manufacturing complexities.

Innovation Solution

A low-elastic wrap compression garment design featuring staggered straps with notches for minimal overlap, a biased curvature for form-fitting, and removable fastening tabs for customization and ease of use, allowing for a gapless configuration and adjustable tension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bands are configured to touch with minimal overlap to avoid gaps, then compression effectiveness is improved, but it is difficult to accommodate a wide range of limb sizes while maintaining a gapless configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression effectivenessVSAvoidaccommodation of limb sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bands are designed with dynamic overlap adjustment capability. The overlapping region allows the bands to adapt their relative positioning based on limb circumference, enabling the system to maintain gapless compression across multiple sizes through a single product configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The band structure incorporates a composite design with a first band and a second band that overlap. This composite configuration allows the system to achieve both gapless compression and size adaptability by combining multiple band elements that work together rather than relying on a single fixed-size band.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If bands are made to overlap to eliminate gaps, then compression effectiveness is improved, but the configuration becomes bulky and requires significant material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression effectivenessVSAvoidbulkiness and material usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the bands completely overlap (excessive action), the design uses a partial overlap where only the necessary minimum region overlaps. This provides sufficient compression effectiveness while avoiding the bulkiness and material waste that would result from complete overlap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The compression system is segmented into multiple distinct bands rather than using a single continuous band. This segmentation allows each band to be optimized for minimal material usage while the overlapping regions provide the necessary compression, reducing overall material requirements compared to a single bulky band design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If conventional wrapped compression garments are used, then compression is provided, but significant gaps exist between straps creating areas where fluid may accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid containmentVSAvoidstrap configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The garment uses a composite strap configuration where a first band and a second band overlap to form a continuous compression surface. This composite structure eliminates the gaps that exist in conventional single-band designs, preventing fluid accumulation while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through the use of just two overlapping bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3310311B1Compression garment having enhanced strap configuration
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 JULIUS ZORN
  • EP3310311B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3310311B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3310311B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A low-elastic compression garment includes a central main portion and multiple straps that extend laterally from the central main portion. Notches may be provided where the straps meet the central main portion, and may be formed into the central main portion adjacent to respective straps. With the notches, when the compression garment is in a wrapped position, lateral edges of adjacent straps that are associated with the notches overlap without gaps or bunching of the strap material. The compression garment may include distal and proximal counter pull tabs that extend from opposite edges of the central main portion. When the distal and proximal counter pull tabs are pulled by the user, pulling forces are transmitted in opposing directions to tension the straps. A removable fastening tab is provided respectively at ends of each of the straps. The fastening tabs are repositionable at different locations on the straps, resulting in a compression garment that is both reversible and easily sized for a customized fit.