Pressure-Sensitive Spur Garment for Electronic-Free Weight Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for preventing excessive weight on the leg or foot during convalescence are cumbersome, require electronic components that may fail or disturb others, and are not user-friendly, especially during sleep or when patients are medicated.
Innovation Solution
A body-worn foot garment with a pressure-sensitive spur module that induces mild pain when excessive weight is applied, using incompressible materials or adjustable prongs to provide tactile feedback without electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an electronic pressure sensor with warning signal is used, then weight monitoring capability is provided, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic pressure sensors with a purely mechanical sensing system. The mechanical lever arm system uses a fulcrum point and weighted indicator to detect when excessive weight is applied to the foot, eliminating all electronic components while maintaining the weight monitoring function. This resolves the contradiction by substituting the electronic system with a simpler mechanical equivalent.
2Loss of information
If an audible warning signal is used, then weight threshold alerting is provided, but disturbance to others during sleep increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visual intermediary system instead of audible warnings. The weighted indicator on the lever arm provides visual feedback to the patient about weight threshold violations. This visual mediator conveys the warning information without producing sound, thus alerting the patient while avoiding disturbance to others sleeping nearby.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electronic devices with adjustable sensitivity are used, then adaptability to different patients is provided, but ease of operation decreases due to programming requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability through a purely mechanical system. The lever arm's fulcrum point can be physically repositioned along the arm to change the weight threshold sensitivity. This mechanical adjustment requires no programming or electronic controls - users simply move the fulcrum to the desired position, maintaining adaptability while maximizing ease of operation.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If battery-powered electronic devices are used, then continuous operation is provided, but reliability decreases due to power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates batteries and electronic power requirements by using a purely mechanical lever arm system. The mechanical system passively responds to weight applied to the foot through mechanical force transmission to the indicator. This substitution of mechanical for electronic systems removes the reliability issue of power loss while maintaining continuous operation capability.
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
Effectively trains patients to avoid excessive weight on their feet through simple, reliable, and adjustable tactile feedback, ensuring healing without electronic failures or disturbances.
Implementation Method 1
a poker made of a relatively incompressible material having a durometer of at least 40 A on the Shore durometer scale... a convex surface oriented to press against a user's heel during use
Implementation Method 2
a block of resiliently compressible material having an upper surface exposed to said persons foot; a cavity within said block having an upper aperture; a poker comprising an upwardly projecting blunted prong
Data Source
AI summary
A device which uses aversion therapy to train the user to avoid certain high-weight-bearing walking activities by employing a body-worn garment that includes a pressure sensor feedback module at the location of the undesirable pressure. For example, a sock can have a spur module located in the heel portion which includes relatively uncompressible poker that is driven into the sole of a users foot when sufficient pressure is applied to the heel.


