Sensory Apparel with Embedded Fidget Objects
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Special needs children often fidget due to anxiety, which can be distracting and requires constant parental accompaniment for comfort, leading to inconvenience and potential embarrassment.
Innovation Solution
A garment with an inner layer containing sensory objects like beads, buttons, and textured fabric pieces, along with an absorbent hood or collar, allowing discreet and continuous access for fidgeting and calming mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fidget toys are carried by parents to provide comfort and decrease anxiety, then the child can access sensory input, but the parent experiences inconvenience and the child may feel embarrassment
Solution Approach 1:
The fidget tool is merged with the child's clothing by attaching it to the inner layer, combining the comfort function with the wearable garment. This eliminates the need for separate parental accompaniment while maintaining discreet access.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment with integrated fidget tools allows the child to self-provide sensory input without parental intervention. The child can independently access and use the fidget objects embedded in the clothing layers.
2Ease of operation
If fidget toys are made removable for discreet use, then the child can avoid embarrassment, but the toy becomes lost or inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The fidget tools are nested within the layered structure of the garment, specifically embedded in the inner layer between the front half and rear half. This nested configuration ensures tools remain accessible yet hidden, maintaining both discreetness and reliability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If fidget toys are always present on board, then the child has continuous access, but the toys distract other students
Solution Approach 1:
The fidget tools are localized within specific compartments of the garment's inner layer, allowing the child to access them privately without making them visible or audible to other students. The tools remain continuously available but are contained within the clothing structure.
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
Provides increased independence and comfort for special needs children by allowing them to fidget discreetly and absorb saliva, reducing anxiety and distraction in school settings.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent collar/hood comprising one or more layers of waterproof and/or absorbent fabric layers
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a garment includes an outer layer including a front half and a rear half and an inner layer disposed between the front half and the rear half. One or more openings allow access to an area defined between the front half and the inner layer. A plurality of sensory objects may be affixed to the inner layer and disposed in the area defined between the front half and the inner layer.