Compression Garment Postural Support Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sports clothing lacks sufficient postural support, particularly for activities like trail running and endurance sports on uneven terrain, leading to increased energy expenditure and fatigue due to poor balance and alignment.
Innovation Solution
Sports clothing with distinct compression zones, including an exclusive compression zone and a postural support zone, where the resistance to elongation in the postural support zone is greater than in the compression zone, providing enhanced muscle support and balance by aligning joints and maintaining posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic bands are sewn to the textile to provide compression, then blood circulation is improved, but muscle support is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the compression zone into two distinct zones with different material properties: an exclusive compression zone made of elastic material for blood circulation, and a postural support zone made of rigid material for muscle support. This local differentiation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two different materials with complementary properties: an elastic material for compression and a rigid material for postural support. This composite structure within the same garment enables simultaneous achievement of blood circulation improvement and muscle support, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If narrow elastic bands are used to store energy, then resistance is reduced, but postural support is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different zones: the exclusive compression zone uses elastic material for energy storage and reduced resistance, while the postural support zone uses rigid material for structural support. This local differentiation allows the garment to provide both energy efficiency and postural support without compromise.
3Ease of operation
If clothing is designed for flat terrain sports, then ease of movement is improved, but postural support on uneven terrain is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strategically places the rigid postural support zone in specific areas (back, hips, thighs) where support is most needed for maintaining posture on uneven terrain, while leaving other areas with elastic material for ease of movement. This localized approach maintains mobility while providing necessary postural support.
4Reliability
If compression is applied to improve blood circulation, then venous return is enhanced, but postural stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compression zone into two functionally distinct zones: an exclusive compression zone for enhancing venous return through elastic material, and a postural support zone for stabilizing posture through rigid material. This segmentation allows the garment to simultaneously improve blood circulation and maintain postural stability without the functions interfering with each other.
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 clothing improves balance, reduces fatigue, and enhances performance by stabilizing the body, limiting internal vibrations, and allowing better proprioception, thus reducing the energy needed to maintain posture during dynamic movements.
Implementation Method 1
said film comprising a plurality of openings
Implementation Method 2
an elastic base fabric such as Lycra® to which elastic resistance bands are sewn. These elastic bands exert elastic resistance to movement
Implementation Method 3
elastic bands glued or sewn to the textile, the objective of which is to store part of the energy produced by a muscle during a movement, to be able to restore it during the next opposite movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~11
AI summary
Sports clothing intended to cover at least one limb of a user, comprising a textile base (10) worn primarily in contact with the body and including a compression zone (4, 5, 6, 7) surrounding said limb, said compression zone comprising at least one film (12, 14) affixed to the textile base (10), said film (12, 14) having a plurality of openings (16). The compression zone comprises at least one exclusive compression zone (41, 51, 61) and at least one postural support zone (42, 52, 53, 54, 62, 73), the elongation resistance of the portion of the garment constituting the postural support zone being greater than that of the portion of the garment constituting the exclusive compression zone in at least one direction of stress.