Orthopaedic Textile Fastening Tabs Integrated for Tension Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic aids face challenges in manufacturing complexity, increased production costs, reduced wearing comfort, and durability issues due to separate tabs or flaps attached to end pieces, which can cause bulkiness, discomfort, and potential detachment under tension.
Innovation Solution
Integrally forming tabs with the textile fabric by creating spaced-apart recesses in the material layer, eliminating the need for separate components and additional fasteners, and using hook-and-loop fasteners for connection, with optional intermediate layers for stabilization and decorative purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate tabs or flaps are attached to end pieces, then connection under tension is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the tab directly into the end piece by forming it from the same textile material in a single manufacturing process. This merging eliminates separate components and their associated attachment operations (sewing, gluing), thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the connection stability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The end piece is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural closure, enables tension connection through integrated tabs, and serves as a fastening surface for hook-and-loop fasteners. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Reliability
If separate tabs or flaps are attached to end pieces, then connection under tension is enabled, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the tab and end piece into a single integrated component manufactured from the same textile material, the patent eliminates separate manufacturing steps and material costs for additional components. This integration reduces production costs while maintaining connection stability.
3Reliability
If separate tabs or flaps are attached to end pieces, then connection under tension is enabled, but wearing comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the tab into the end piece eliminates separate layers and attachment interfaces, resulting in a smoother, flatter surface that reduces bulkiness and improves wearing comfort while maintaining the necessary connection stability.
4Reliability
If separate tabs or flaps are attached to end pieces, then connection under tension is enabled, but durability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By forming the tab and end piece as a single integrated component from the same textile material, the patent eliminates potential failure points at attachment interfaces (seams, adhesives). This integration enhances durability by removing weak points where detachment could occur under repeated tension, while maintaining connection stability.
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
Reduces production costs, enhances wearing comfort by minimizing bulkiness and edges, and improves durability by eliminating weak points in the connection, ensuring the aid remains secure under tension.
Implementation Method 1
at least one connecting element is attached to the textile surface structure for creating a connection under tension
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4A
Figure 4B~4E
AI summary
Therapeutic, in particular orthopedic, aid (1, 2, 3) comprising at least one textile base body (4, 5, 6) with at least two end pieces (7, 8; 9, 10) that can be connected to each other to close the base body (4, 5) and/or with at least one textile strap section (11, 12, 13) attached to the base body (6), which has at least one end piece (14, 15, 16) for attaching the strap section (11, 12, 13) to itself or to the base body (5, 6), wherein at least one of the end pieces (7, 8; 9, 10; 14, 15, 16) is formed as a textile surface structure (17, 17', 17", 17‴, 17"", 18; 19, 20; 21) to create a tensile-resistant connection with at least a first material layer (22, 23, 24) and at least one on the textile surface structure (17, 17', 17", 17‴, 17"", 18; 19, 20;21) attached connecting element (25, 26) and wherein, to form at least one tab (27, 28, 29) formed integrally with the first material layer (22, 23, 24) for gripping the end piece (7, 8; 9, 10; 14, 15, 16), the at least one first material layer (22, 23, 24) has at least two spaced-apart first recesses (30, 31; 32, 33; 34, 35).