Strap-Based Sleeve Applicator for Tight Compression Garments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knee sleeves are difficult to apply over the calf and knee due to their tight design, which can cause strain and potentially lead to tears, especially for powerlifters with large calf muscles.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve applicator device with upper and lower strap receptors and loops, allowing users to easily pull the sleeve over the calf and knee by routing the straps through the applicator's receptors, reducing the need for constant tugging and minimizing wear on the sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If knee sleeves are designed to be extremely tight to prevent injury, then protective function is improved, but ease of application deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sleeve applicator as an intermediary device between the user and the tight knee sleeve. The applicator includes elongated members that can be inserted between the calf and the sleeve, with looped straps that allow the user to pull the sleeve over the knee without directly tugging on the sleeve material itself. This mediator enables application of tight sleeves while protecting the sleeve from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve applicator is divided into multiple components: elongated members (which can be segmented into multiple sections), looped straps, and connection elements. This segmentation allows the applicator to adapt to different calf sizes and sleeve tensions, providing mechanical advantage while distributing the pulling force across multiple points rather than concentrating stress on a single location of the sleeve.
2Productivity
If knee sleeves are worn one or two sizes smaller to increase weight lifted, then performance enhancement is improved, but difficulty of application worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve applicator serves as a mediator that enables users to successfully apply sleeves that are one or two sizes smaller than their normal size. By providing mechanical advantage through the elongated members and looped straps, the applicator reduces the effective tension required to pull the tight sleeve over the knee, making it feasible to use smaller, more performance-enhancing sleeves without excessive difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the application process by allowing the user to first insert the applicator, then gradually pull the sleeve over time. This transforms a single difficult action into a multi-step process distributed over time, reducing peak force requirements and enabling application of tighter sleeves.
3Ease of operation
If constant pulling with large force is applied to the sleeve, then application success is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve applicator acts as a protective intermediary that transfers the pulling force from the user's hands to the sleeve through the elongated members and looped straps, rather than applying force directly to the sleeve material. This prevents concentrated stress on the sleeve seams and material, reducing the risk of tearing while still achieving successful application.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator allows the user to perform preliminary actions (inserting the elongated members between the calf and sleeve, positioning the looped straps) before applying the main pulling force. This preparatory positioning ensures that the force is distributed along the length of the applicator and sleeve, preventing localized stress concentrations that could cause damage.
4Productivity
If large calf muscles are present, then athletic performance is improved, but ease of sleeve application worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve applicator is designed with local quality variations: the elongated members have specific dimensions and flexibilities suited for insertion between the calf and sleeve, while the looped straps provide grip points for the user's hands. This localized design addresses the specific challenge of large calf muscles at the point of difficulty without requiring changes to the entire sleeve or applicator structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator incorporates dynamic elements that adapt to the user's calf size and the sleeve tension. The elongated members can flex and bend to accommodate different calf circumferences, while the looped straps can be adjusted in tension. This dynamic adaptability allows the same applicator design to work effectively for users with varying muscle sizes, including those with large calves.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for applying a support/compression sleeve in embodiments of the present disclosure may have one or more of the following features: (a) a first sleeve applicator body for placement between the sleeve and a user's body, (b) an upper strap extending from upper strap receptors located at an upper portion of the first sleeve applicator body, (c) a lower strap extending from lower strap receptors located at a lower portion of the first sleeve applicator body, (d) a second sleeve applicator body for placement between the sleeve and the user's body, (e) an upper strap extending from upper strap receptors located at an upper portion of the second sleeve applicator body, and (f) a lower strap extending from lower strap receptors located at a lower portion of the second sleeve applicator body.