Segmented Sports Garment for Differential Joint Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports garments for sliding sports, such as cross-country skiing, apply uniform pressure over joints, which can be inefficient, particularly at the prominent zones, leading to potential discomfort and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A textile garment design featuring distinct pieces for the prominent and fold areas of joints, with interconnected zones providing differential compression, allowing for optimized pressure distribution and improved ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform pressure is applied over the entire limb including joint areas, then the garment structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the joint support is insufficient and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into multiple distinct pieces: a first piece covering the prominent part of the joint, a second piece covering the fold of the joint, and upper and lower parts covering the limb segments. This segmentation allows each piece to be optimized for its specific location and function, providing targeted joint support while maintaining overall garment simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different pieces of the garment are designed with different compression characteristics tailored to their specific locations. The first piece exerting greater compression on the prominent joint area, while the second piece covers the fold area with appropriate pressure distribution. This local differentiation optimizes joint support where needed without unnecessarily complicating the overall garment structure
2Reliability
If greater pressure is applied on the prominent zone of the joint, then joint support is improved, but the fold area may be disturbed by excessive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The joint area is segmented into two distinct coverage zones: a first piece for the prominent part and a second piece for the fold. This segmentation allows independent optimization of pressure distribution in each zone, enabling greater pressure on the prominent area while protecting the fold area from excessive pressure
Solution Approach 2:
Each piece is designed with locally appropriate compression characteristics. The first piece covering the prominent joint area is designed to exert greater compression for optimal joint support, while the second piece covering the fold area is designed with different compression properties to avoid discomfort, achieving location-specific pressure optimization
3Ease of operation
If the garment is preformed with non-parallel axes at knee joint level, then natural elasticity interference is reduced, but the pressure distribution becomes less uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The preformed geometry with non-parallel axes is achieved through the assembly of multiple segmented pieces rather than a single uniform garment. This segmentation allows each piece to contribute to the overall ergonomic shape, maintaining natural movement comfort while the differentiated piece design manages pressure distribution across different joint zones
Solution Approach 2:
The garment is preformed during manufacturing with the correct ergonomic geometry featuring non-parallel axes at the knee joint level. This preliminary shaping eliminates the need for the user to interfere with the garment's natural elasticity during movement, while the segmented construction ensures appropriate pressure distribution across different joint areas
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 garment enhances joint support and blood flow by modulating mechanical properties through varied textile materials and configurations, improving athletic performance and comfort by aligning limb segments for precise movements.
Implementation Method 1
a first piece covering the prominent part of the joint, which can be made from an elastic textile, allowing the application of an appropriate pressure and thus allowing support by wrapping this area of the joint
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
1/ Textile garment (1), comprising portions covering by compressing them, a lower or upper limb, said portions comprising different textile pieces fixed together by connecting zones to give a resting configuration with a non-zero angulation between the segments of the limb located on either side of the main joint of the limb, characterized in that it comprises: - a first piece (10) covering the prominent part of the joint, - a second piece (12) covering the fold of the joint, - an upper piece (3) covering all or part of the proximal segment of the limb, - a lower piece (5) covering all or part of the distal segment of the limb, the connecting zones (15,16, 22, 23) fixing the first and second pieces, with the lower and upper pieces are connected together by two connecting portions, one disposed on the inner face of the joint, the other on the outer face of the joint.