Hosiery with Integrated Elevated Knitted Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hosiery products with built-in cushioning systems are cumbersome, difficult to adjust, and prone to wear and tear due to removable padding that can easily become dislodged, failing to provide consistent support and comfort across various foot sizes and climatic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A hosiery product with permanently stitched elevated support padding woven or knitted directly into the bottom, specifically targeting pressure points like the ball of the foot, arch, and heel, using materials like viscoelastic gel, memory foam, or latex foam, which are adaptable to foot contours and climatic needs, eliminating the need for removable inserts and reducing fabric wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If removable foot cushions are used in hosiery, then the hosiery can be adjusted for different foot sizes and cushioning needs, but the hosiery becomes cumbersome and difficult to adjust rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the removable cushion component entirely and integrates cushioning directly into the hosiery structure through elevated knitting patterns. This extraction of the removable element eliminates the adjustment complexity while maintaining cushioning functionality through permanently integrated raised sections that provide support at critical foot areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cushioning function with the hosiery fabric itself by using elevated knitting techniques to create raised cushion sections directly in the garment. This integration combines the structural support function with the fabric material, eliminating separate removable components and simplifying the overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If removable foot cushions are used in hosiery, then the cushioning can be interchanged for different conditions, but the hosiery increases wear and tear on the fabric due to insertion and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cushioning function with the hosiery fabric through elevated knitting, creating an integrated structure where the cushion sections are permanently formed as part of the garment. This merging eliminates repeated insertion and removal operations, thereby preventing fabric damage and maintaining garment integrity over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning structure is pre-integrated into the hosiery during manufacturing through elevated knitting techniques. This preliminary integration of the cushioning function into the fabric structure eliminates the need for subsequent insertion and removal operations that would cause wear and tear.
3Device complexity
If cushion inserts are positioned within a shoe without attachment, then the shoe structure remains simple, but the inserts become easily dislodged from their desired position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cushioning function with the hosiery fabric through elevated knitting, creating an integrated structure where the cushion sections are permanently formed as part of the garment. This merging eliminates the need for separate inserts that could become dislodged, while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevated knitting structure creates self-containing cushion sections that are inherently secured within the hosiery fabric structure. The raised cushion areas are self-supported by the surrounding fabric matrix, eliminating the need for additional attachment mechanisms while preventing dislodgement.
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 solution provides comfortable, secure, and adaptable support to critical foot areas, minimizing wear and tear, and ensuring consistent comfort across different foot sizes and seasons without the need for interchangeable padding, enhancing overall foot support and durability.
Implementation Method 1
using materials like viscoelastic gel, memory foam, or latex foam, which are adaptable to foot contours
Data Source
AI summary
A hosiery product, such as a sock, footie, trouser sock or panty hose, includes and inner layer of hosiery material, such as nylon or spandex covering the bottom and top surfaces of the wearer's foot, and outer layer of similar hosiery material, and at least one cushion section disposed between the inner and outer layers. The cushion sections include an elevated cushioning material that conforms to the contours of the wearers foot, such as macro-gel activated support discs or memory foam. The ball of foot cushion sections are elevated attached circles, arch and heel cushions. All layers are attached.