Knitted Sock Orthotic With Zoned Biomechanical Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biomechanical therapies, such as shoe inserts and orthotics, are often unsatisfactory due to their shoe-specific nature and space occupation, leading to poor patient compliance, while cushioned socks provide only general softness without therapeutic efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A sock orthotic with intrinsically knit pad configurations providing differential thicknesses to correct biomechanical abnormalities and reduce pressure overload, integrated into the sock sole for easy transferability and therapeutic interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional orthotics are used to correct biomechanical abnormalities, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but device complexity and shoe compatibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the orthotic therapeutic elements directly into the sock fabric structure, merging the sock and orthotic into a single integrated device. This eliminates the need for separate orthotic inserts while maintaining biomechanical correction capabilities through strategically placed pads and structural elements woven into the sock itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The sock orthotic is designed to be universally compatible with various shoe types while providing multiple therapeutic functions simultaneously. The single device delivers biomechanical correction, pressure relief, arch support, and heel stabilization all at once, replacing multiple separate therapeutic components.
2Reliability
If traditional orthotics are used to provide biomechanical support, then therapeutic function is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sock orthotic serves as a universal interface that works with multiple shoe types and can be easily transferred between them. The sock design maintains consistent therapeutic functionality across different footwear, eliminating the need for shoe-specific orthotic adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The sock orthotic requires no complex installation or adjustment by the user. Once the sock is worn, the therapeutic elements automatically position themselves on the foot, providing self-aligning biomechanical support without requiring user expertise in orthotic placement.
3Ease of operation
If cushioned socks are used to provide softness, then comfort is improved, but therapeutic efficacy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sock orthotic applies cushioning and therapeutic elements selectively at specific locations on the foot rather than providing uniform cushioning throughout. Strategic padding is placed only where biomechanical correction is needed, such as under the metatarsal heads, at the heel, or along the arch, while other areas maintain normal sock thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sock combines different material properties within a single garment - using varying densities, thicknesses, and material compositions in different zones to simultaneously provide comfort cushioning where needed and structural support where biomechanical correction is required.
Data Source
AI summary
A knit sock orthotic is provided in which a pattern of padding is knit into the sock to create an interface between the foot and the shoe or weight-bearing surface to correct an abnormal biomechanical condition of the foot, or to relieve pressure on focal areas of structural overload of the foot, or both.