Stepped Pyramid Knee Padding for Scrub Uniforms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional scrub uniforms for veterinary care lack effective knee protection, leading to discomfort and potential soiling when kneeling, and separate knee pads are costly, cluttered, and unprofessional.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a pyramidal-shaped knee padding system within the scrub pants, concealed by a geometric stitching pattern and material pocket, providing cushioning without a bulky appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate knee pads are worn, then knee protection is improved, but professional appearance and uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknee protectionVSAvoiduniform appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the knee pad functionality directly into the scrub pants by integrating a pocket within the knee area that receives and secures a knee pad. This merging eliminates the need for separate wearable knee pads, creating a unified garment that provides both protection and maintains professional appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The knee pad is nested within a pocket structure that is integrated into the knee area of the scrub pants. The pocket contains the knee pad while maintaining the external appearance of the pants, allowing the protective element to be hidden within the garment structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If anti-fatigue mats are used, then knee comfort is improved, but cost and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknee comfortVSAvoidspace and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cushioning function from external anti-fatigue mats and incorporates it directly into the scrub pants through the integrated knee pad. This removes the need for separate mats, reducing both space requirements and additional costs while maintaining knee comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning function previously provided by separate anti-fatigue mats is merged into the scrub pants themselves through the integrated knee pad system, eliminating the need for additional space-consuming equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If thick padding is added to knees, then protection is improved, but bulky appearance and mobility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknee protectionVSAvoidmobility and appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The knee pad is designed as a thin, flexible protective element that can be integrated into the pants without creating bulk. The flexible nature of the pad allows it to conform to the knee area while maintaining mobility and a streamlined appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9675123B2Padding system for medical clothing

Publication Date: 2017.06.13 PLATINUM SCRUBS

AI summary

A knee padding for scrub pants may include a base layer having a first surface area and a plurality of intermediate layers wherein each one of the intermediate layers has a progressively larger surface area than the intermediate layer proximate the base layer, thus forming a stepped pyramid-like padding. The padding may form a knee pad and be secured to scrub pants with stitching creating a uniform pattern.