Joint Protection Device with Segmented Notches for Flexible Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current joint protection devices are bulky, inflexible, and uncomfortable, failing to provide effective protection for joints like ankles and fingers, especially in sports, due to their rigid structures and lack of lateral support, which hinders movement and is costly.
Innovation Solution
A joint protection device with a hollow housing structure that matches the joint's shape, featuring a front supporting portion and side supporting portions, notches for flexibility, and adjustable fixing mechanisms, allowing for rotation and secure attachment to the joint without hindering movement, and can be integrated with footwear for enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If plastic supporting protection devices are used to provide strong joint support, then joint support strength is improved, but device volume increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a thin plastic plate (1-3mm thick) that is bent and shaped to wrap around the joint, providing structural support while maintaining flexibility and minimizing volume. The plate is contoured to match the joint's anatomy, allowing it to provide support in a thin, form-fitting manner rather than requiring bulky structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by bending the plastic plate into curved contours that match the anatomical shape of the joint (circular for fingers, oval for ankles/knees). This curvature allows the flat plate material to provide three-dimensional support while maintaining a compact, form-fitting profile that minimizes volume.
2Strength
If plastic supporting protection devices are used to provide strong joint support, then joint support strength is improved, but wearing comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The thin plastic plate (1-3mm) provides structural support while being thin enough to be comfortable against the skin. The plate is contoured to match the joint's anatomy, distributing pressure evenly and avoiding sharp edges, which improves wearing comfort while maintaining support strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic plate is nested within a fabric cover that wraps around the joint. This nested structure allows the hard plastic to provide support while the soft fabric provides comfort and skin contact, combining both support strength and wearing comfort in a single device.
3Strength
If plastic supporting protection devices are used to provide strong joint support, then joint support strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into three main components: the plastic support plate, the fabric cover, and the fastening mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled in a simple manner, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining support strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism serves multiple functions: it secures the device to the joint, adjusts the fit for different joint sizes, and allows for easy donning and doffing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall device structure.
4Strength
If plastic supporting protection devices are used to provide strong joint support, then joint support strength is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic plate thickness is optimized to 1-3mm, which provides sufficient structural support while minimizing material usage and manufacturing cost. This parameter optimization allows the device to achieve the required support strength at a lower cost compared to thicker, more expensive materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines inexpensive plastic material with fabric, creating a composite structure that provides both support and comfort. This use of composite materials allows the device to achieve high support strength using relatively low-cost materials, reducing overall manufacturing cost.
5Strength
If solid joint protection body is placed on the joint to provide support, then joint support is improved, but joint movement flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The thin plastic plate (1-3mm) is flexible enough to bend with the joint's natural movement while maintaining its structural support function. The plate is contoured to match the joint's anatomy, allowing it to move with the joint rather than restricting it, thus maintaining flexibility while providing support.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a joint protection device, comprising a joint protection body that matches a shape of a joint. The joint protection body is a hollow housing having an opened bottom and comprises a front supporting portion and side supporting portions providing supports for the joint. A notch is provided in a portion of the joint protection body, which is close to a joint movement area. The notch divides the joint protection body into a plurality of joint pieces, adjacent joint pieces are connected by two local junctions respectively provided at appropriate positions on two sides of the joint protection body and can rotate with the local junctions as rotation fulcrums. Meanwhile, the present disclosure further provides other joint protection devices similar to the above, where an upper end of a joint protection body is provided with a clearance structure to ensure forward and backward movement of the joint.