Elastic Posture Garment with Variable Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports training and physiotherapy garments fail to effectively guide healthy movements and posture, as they either inhibit movement with substantial elastic resistance or provide inadequate feedback on rotational motion and dynamic movement patterns, and weighted garments can be bulky or uncomfortable due to the distribution of dense materials.
Innovation Solution
A posture garment with elastic elements that provide gentle recoil to guide the wearer back to a healthy posture without inhibiting movement, combined with a weighted garment using embedded denser materials for comfort and reduced bulk, allowing precise mass distribution and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic reinforcing bands or panels are arranged to resist displacement of the associated joint away from a particular resting position, then the wearer is encouraged to adopt a good resting posture, but the movement of the joint is inhibited and adequate dynamic guidance for healthy movement is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static elastic bands to dynamic elastic elements with variable stiffness. The elastic elements are designed to provide different levels of resistance at different extension levels, allowing free movement within a range while providing guidance at extremes. This dynamic characteristic enables the garment to adapt to various movement states, maintaining posture without inhibiting healthy movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of elastic resistance by using elastic elements with specific material properties and geometric configurations that provide variable resistance. The elastic resistance is designed to be substantial at high extensions but minimal at moderate extensions, creating a non-linear resistance profile that guides movement without restricting it.
2Strength
If elastic resistance becomes substantial at high extensions to strengthen muscles, then muscle strengthening is achieved, but further movement of the joint is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic elements provide dynamic resistance that adapts to the degree of extension. At moderate extensions, the resistance is minimal allowing full range of motion, while at high extensions, the resistance increases substantially to provide muscle strengthening. This dynamic response ensures both movement freedom and strength training.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic elements provide tactile feedback to the wearer about their joint position and movement state. This feedback mechanism allows the wearer to perceive the elastic resistance and adjust their movements accordingly, strengthening muscles through controlled resistance while maintaining awareness of movement range.
3Weight of moving object
If weights are made from dense materials to provide sufficient mass, then the required load is achieved, but the garment becomes bulky and uncomfortable to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining dense weighting materials with flexible garment fabrics. The weights are integrated into the garment structure using flexible connectors that allow movement while maintaining the dense material's mass. This composite approach achieves the required weight without excessive bulk, as the dense materials are strategically placed rather than uniformly distributed.
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 garments enhance neuromuscular activation and awareness, providing effective feedback for posture correction and movement guidance while maintaining comfort and flexibility, reducing the risk of injury and improving muscle strength and joint stability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic element arranged to be stretched upon movement of the wearer's trunk and/or at least one of the wearer's limbs away from a predetermined rest or neutral position, thereby to provide the wearer with gentle elastic recoil sufficient to provide the wearer with additional kinaesthetic and/or touch feedback
Implementation Method 2
Another known form of garment is fitted with weights (masses) which are subject to gravitational force and which also provide accelerational/decelerational forces, to increase the load on the wearer's muscles, joints and bones
Data Source
AI summary
A posture and movement training garment 100 comprises at least one elastic element arranged to be stretched upon movement of the wearer's trunk and/or at least one of the wearer's limbs away from a predetermined rest or neutral position, thereby to provide the wearer with gentle elastic recoil sufficient to provide the wearer with additional kinaesthetic and/or touch feedback resulting from the movement, substantially without inhibiting the movement. A complementary sports training or physiotherapy garment comprises a fabric base and pockets for the reception of weights, the garment further comprising strips of relatively inextensible material forming a network interconnecting the base material within the pockets, in which the majority of the strips run generally longitudinally of the wearer's limbs and torso and form a branched network with bases mainly originating at the wearer's shoulders and/or hips; and wherein the network does not completely encircle the wearer's limbs and torso.