Knitted Joint Containment Garment for Proprioceptive Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing garments fail to effectively stimulate proprioceptors, provide adequate support to joints, and prevent injuries such as Achilles tendinitis and ligament inflammation during sports activities, while being comfortable and seamless.
Innovation Solution
A knitted garment with stretch and containment portions, utilizing alternating stitches of ground, elastic, and containment yarns, is designed to provide support and proprioceptive stimulation, featuring seamless construction and enhanced joint stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional garments are used to support joints, then they provide basic containment, but they fail to effectively stimulate proprioceptors and prevent injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific containment portions with different knit densities and yarn compositions at strategic locations (ankle, heel, arch) to target proprioceptive stimulation and injury prevention where needed, while maintaining lighter construction in other areas
Solution Approach 2:
The garment uses composite materials by combining different yarn types (elastic, containment, reinforcement yarns) in specific patterns to create regions with enhanced proprioceptive properties and structural support without uniformly increasing complexity throughout the entire garment
2Stability of the object's composition
If garments provide strong joint support and containment, then they improve joint stability, but they may reduce comfort and increase creases during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is segmented into different functional zones: containment portions for joint support, stretch portions for flexibility, and transition zones that blend these functions, allowing each region to optimize its performance without compromising overall comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The garment employs dynamic knit structures that can adapt their tension and flexibility based on movement, using elastic yarns and variable stitch patterns to maintain joint stability while accommodating natural motion and reducing crease formation
3Ease of operation
If seamless construction is used to improve comfort, then garment comfort increases, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garment merges the containment function and stretch function into a single integrated knitted structure without separate components or seams, achieving comfort through seamless construction while managing manufacturing precision through coordinated yarn selection and pattern design
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 effectively stimulates proprioceptors, improves balance and motor control, prevents injuries, and provides comfort by maintaining joint stability and reducing creases during movement.
Implementation Method 1
a stretch portion (12) which extends next to at least one plurality of courses (R1, R2, . . . , Rn), which are obtained by knitting together at least one ground yarn (10) and at least one elastic yarn (13)
Implementation Method 2
stitches (P2) obtained by knitting the first containment yarn (17) and not knitting the main yarn (11), so that floating lengths (18') of the main yarn (11) are formed at the stitches (P1) comprising the main yarn (11), and vice versa a floating lengths (18) of the first containment yarn (17) are formed at the stitches (P2) comprising the first containment yarn (17)
Data Source
AI summary
A knitted containment garment to be worn at least at part of a user's joint includes at least one stretch portion, having at least at part thereof, a containment portion as well, which extends at least at the portion of the containment manufactured article to be worn on the heel, kneecap, elbow, back of the wrist or shoulder of the user, in which one or more first stitches include at least one main yarn alternate with one or more second stitches including a containment yarn, so that a floating length of the containment yarn extends at the first stitches and a floating length of the main yarn extends at the second stitches.