Foot Joint Supporter with Differential Knit Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foot joint supporters fail to effectively support the formation of the outer and medial longitudinal arches, crucial for ideal weight shift and walking performance, leading to muscle fatigue and pain in the triceps surae and Achilles' tendon areas.
Innovation Solution
A foot joint supporter with a tubular knitted fabric design featuring anchor sections around the tibia, fibula, metatarsal bones, and a figure eight section that enhances stretch resistance, providing targeted support to push the plantar arch up and stabilize the foot joint, thereby improving walking performance and reducing muscle fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a foot arch reinforcing section is provided only at the tarsal arch position, then the tarsal arch is supported, but the metatarsal bone arch and plantar arch remain unsupported
Solution Approach 1:
The supporter divides the foot arch support into three distinct segments: tarsal arch reinforcing section, metatarsal bone arch reinforcing section, and plantar arch reinforcing section. Each section is positioned at a specific location along the foot to provide targeted support for different arch types, ensuring comprehensive coverage without requiring a single complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporter applies different reinforcement characteristics to different regions of the foot. The plantar arch reinforcing section uses knit structures with higher stretch resistance specifically where needed to push the plantar arch upward, while other areas maintain appropriate flexibility. This localized quality enhancement ensures each arch type receives precisely the support it needs.
2Reliability
If the stretch resistance of the plantar arch reinforcing section is increased, then the plantar arch is pushed up effectively, but the supporter may become too rigid and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The plantar arch reinforcing section is designed with locally enhanced stretch resistance only in the specific region where plantar arch support is needed. The knit structure incorporates yarns or patterns that provide higher resistance to stretching in the vertical direction to push the arch upward, while maintaining flexibility in other directions and areas to ensure wearer comfort and natural foot 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 supporter effectively enhances walking stability, reduces fatigue in the triceps surae muscle, and alleviates pain in the Achilles' tendon and surrounding ligaments by providing superior support and alignment of the foot arches.
Implementation Method 1
a sock or a tubular supporter for lower limb... has a stretchable reinforcing section... and compression pressure distribution in which compression pressure is gradually reduced from the ankle section to the calf section
Implementation Method 2
the stretch resistance of the entire sole section in a length direction of the tubular knitted fabric is larger than the stretch resistance of the instep section in the length direction of the tubular knitted fabric
Data Source
Figure 1a~1f
Figure 2a~2f
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
Provided is a foot joint supporter which can push up the wearer's plantar arch to support the formation of the medial longitudinal arch, thus improve the walking performance of the wearer, increase the stability of the food joint, reduce fatigue of the triceps surae muscle, and relieve pain in the Achilles' tendon, triceps surae muscle and the outside of the foot joint (ligament). The foot joint supporter (10) comprises a first anchor section (2) for tightening the wearer's lower thigh with a tubular knitted fabric, a second anchor section (3) for tightening the wearer's instep and sole with the tubular knitted fabric, and a knitted figure eight section (4) between the first anchor section (2) and the second anchor section (3), being composed of a foot section (11) and a body section (12) and supporting the wearer's talocrural joint, wherein said food section (11) is composed of an instep section (11a) covering the wearer's instep and a sole section (4a) covering the wearer's sole, and the stretch resistance, in the length width direction of the tubular knitted fabric, of the sole section (4a) is larger than the the stretch resistance, in the length width direction of the tubular knitted fabric, of the instep section (11a).