Compression Garment Elastomer Zoning for Graduated Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compression garments fail to effectively adapt to individual physical and muscular differences, resulting in inadequate compression and uneven distribution of compressive forces, which limits their effectiveness in enhancing athletic performance and recovery.
Innovation Solution
A compression garment featuring a base fabric with printed elastomer elements that vary in size and density from the extremities to the torso, providing a continuous and uniform compressive force, and an elastic fabric with strategically placed elastomer elements to enhance fit and compression, regardless of the wearer's physical characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a highly elastic fabric with high percentage of elastane yarn is used to create compression, then the garment can be worn reduced by one or more sizes to create compression on muscle bands, but the fabric only partially adapts to the wearer's body and does not create real areas of gradual compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the elastomer element distribution and density across different zones of the garment. The printed elastomer elements are strategically positioned with different concentrations in different anatomical regions to provide graduated compression that adapts to the specific contours and requirements of each body part, rather than using uniform compression throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression garment is segmented into multiple functional zones with distinct elastomer element densities. By dividing the garment into regions with varying compression characteristics, the design achieves better adaptation to different body parts while maintaining overall compression effectiveness.
2Force
If silicone bands are associated with the fabric to activate the neuromuscular system, then compression effect is obtained, but the muscle bands of various people are not always the same so two people can wear a garment of the same size but be muscularly very different
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality through spatially varying elastomer element distribution that corresponds to different muscle groups and anatomical features. This allows the garment to provide customized compression patterns for different body types and muscular configurations, enhancing adaptability to individual differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of compression by varying the density, size, and distribution of elastomer elements across different garment zones. This parametric variation enables the garment to adapt to different body sizes, shapes, and muscular characteristics while maintaining effective compression.
3Ease of operation
If watershed fingers and massage fingers are positioned on compression material in predefined patterns, then lymphatic watershed regions are selectively activated and non-watershed regions are massaged, but the garment does not provide uniform compression across different body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct functional zones: areas with watershed fingers for lymphatic activation, areas with massage fingers for tissue manipulation, and areas with varying elastomer densities for graduated compression. This zoned approach provides both targeted physiological effects and uniform compression distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single garment structure by combining lymphatic watershed stimulation features, massage finger features, and graduated compression features in one integrated design, achieving multiple therapeutic effects simultaneously.
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 garment ensures a consistent and effective compression effect across different body parts, improving athletic performance and recovery by adapting to individual anatomical variations, while being simple and easy to produce.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomer printed on at least said portion of base fabric so as to surround it too, at least partially, said at least one portion of the arms and adapted to exert a second compressive force
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
A compression garment of the type comprising: a portion of base fabric (1A, 1B; 1A', 1B') that surrounds and encloses at least one first portion, having a substantially annular shape, of the anatomy of a person wearing the garment, in particular at least one portion of the arms or legs, wherein said portion of base fabric (1A, 1B; 1A', 1B') exerts a first compressive force on said first portion of the anatomy of the person wearing the garment, and an elastomer printed on at least said portion of base fabric (1A, 1B; 1A', 1B') so as to surround it too, at least partially, said first portion of the person's anatomy and adapted to exert a second compressive force on the first portion of the of the anatomy of the person wearing the garment; wherein the total compressive force applied by the compression garment at a given position of the first portion of the anatomy of the person wearing the garment is the sum of the first compressive force and the second compressive force at that garment position; and wherein: the elastomer is divided into a plurality of printed micro elements (2, 2'), whose maximum dimensions (T, T') are between 5 cm and 0.01 cm, more preferably between 2 cm and 0.1 cm, wherein the size and/or density of said micro elements decrease going from said lower end parts (3A, 3B; 3A', 3B') of the portions of base fabric (1A, 1B; 1A', 1B') of the garment, provided at the extremities of the person wearing the garment, to upper parts (4A 4B; 4A', 4B') of the portions of base fabric (1A, 1B; 1A', 1B') of the garment provided at the torso of the person wearing the garment, so as to reduce said second compressive force going from said lower end parts (3A, 3B; 3A', 3B') to said upper parts (4A 4B; 4A', 4B'), that is going from the extremities of the person wearing the garment to the torso of the person wearing the garment.