Modular Elastic Support Shirt for Rule-Compliant Powerlifting Aid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weightlifting devices and garments do not effectively enhance performance while conforming to international competition rules and ensuring user safety, and there is a need for modular, adjustable support devices targeting the chest and arm areas for powerlifters.

Innovation Solution

A modular elastic support device with a base unit and optional modular units, featuring angled arm cuffs and an abdomen band, made from elastic materials, allowing for adjustable energy storage and release, and an optional power shirt for additional enhancement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional elastic support devices are used, then chest and arm support is provided, but performance enhancement is insufficient and does not conform to international competition rules

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance enhancementVSAvoidconformance to competition rules

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into modular units (base unit and optional modular units) that can be stacked together. Each unit contains elastic members and arm cuffs configured to encircle the user's arms and chest, allowing incremental performance enhancement while maintaining compliance with competition rules through controlled modular assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates elastic members that dynamically store and release energy during weightlifting movements. The elastic material provides adaptive support that conforms to competition rules by using natural elastic deformation rather than rigid mechanical structures, enabling performance enhancement within regulatory constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Power

If elastic support devices are designed to maximize energy storage, then powerlifting capacity increases, but device bulkiness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowerlifting capacityVSAvoiddevice bulkiness

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses thin elastic sheets and flexible rubber or elastic material to construct the support structure. These thin-film elastic members provide significant energy storage capacity while maintaining a sleek, non-bulky profile that does not interfere with the user's range of motion or violate competition rules regarding device dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device combines multiple materials including elastic sheets, rubber material, and optional modular units with different elastic properties. This composite construction allows optimization of energy storage efficiency while minimizing bulk, as each material layer contributes specific mechanical properties that enhance power output without proportionally increasing volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Use of energy by moving object

If modular units are stacked to enhance performance, then energy storage increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storageVSAvoidmodular stacking complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into standardized modular units with consistent interfaces and configurations. Each unit contains the same basic structure of elastic members and arm cuffs, allowing users to stack multiple units to increase energy storage without encountering varying complex configurations. The uniform modular design simplifies assembly and adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular units are designed with universal compatibility, where each unit can be stacked with any other unit of the same type. This multi-functional design allows a single base unit to be combined with multiple optional modular units to create customized support systems with varying energy storage capacities, reducing overall system complexity through standardization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device enhances powerlifting capacity by up to 50% through modular stacking, providing biomechanically oriented energy storage and release without bulkiness, conforming to competition rules and ensuring user safety.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12594455B2Elastic support device and optional power shirt and method of use thereof

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 ALANIZ III PEDRO M

AI summary

Disclosed is a modular elastic support device including a base unit and at least one modular unit used for enhancing performance during weight training, or resistance training. The base unit and the modular unit include a substantially rectangular shaped chest band, and two arm cuffs at either end of the chest band. The modular unit is stacked over the base unit, or over preceding modular units. A user can add any number of modular units as desired to enhance performance. The modular design of the device allows for device formation, without the need to sew successive units together or without the use of fasteners. An optional power shirt may be used along with the device to further enhance the user's performance.