Foot Support Structure for Bedding Relief and Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foot support devices fail to provide adequate support and protection from bedding, particularly for individuals with conditions like gout, as they often require adjustment to the bed size and lack foot support, making them inconvenient to use.
Innovation Solution
A foot support device comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a backwall, designed to engage the lateral and plantar regions of the feet, with a bottom surface for universal compatibility, made from resilient materials like foam or polymeric structures, allowing adjustable configurations and user instructions for easy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an in-bed tent frame is used to elevate bedding over feet, then protection from bedding weight is improved, but foot support is lacking causing joint movement pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate functions into a single device: the foot support structure and the bedding elevation function. The foot support device includes side walls and a back wall that simultaneously support the foot and elevate bedding away from it, resolving the contradiction between needing foot support and needing bedding protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot support device serves multiple functions: it supports the foot, elevates bedding, and can be adjusted to fit different bed sizes. This multi-functionality addresses the contradiction by providing both structural support and bedding protection in a single universal device.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the in-bed tent frame is designed to fit specific bed sizes, then bedding protection is effective, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to adjustment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The foot support device incorporates adjustable elements that allow it to adapt to different bed sizes and configurations. The device can be dynamically adjusted by users without requiring complex assembly or disassembly, improving ease of operation while maintaining effective bedding protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the mattress must be lifted to position the support frame, then bedding protection is achieved, but ease of operation and device complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the support function from beneath the mattress and positions it on top of the mattress surface. The foot support device rests on the mattress rather than requiring insertion between the mattress and box spring, eliminating the need to lift the mattress and significantly improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A novel foot support device includes a first sidewall adapted to engage the lateral side of a first foot, a second sidewall adapted to engage the lateral side of a second foot, and a backwall adapted to engage both the plantar region of the first foot and the plantar region of the second foot. In a particular embodiment, the first sidewall includes an inclined interior surface, the second sidewall includes an inclined interior surface, and the backwall includes an inclined interior surface. In another particular embodiment, the foot support device includes two discrete regions, one of which engages a user's left foot and the other of which engages the user's right foot.