Compression Garment Welt Stabilizer Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Therapeutic medical compression garments tend to slip down the leg and have a tendency for the welt to roll over itself, which can counteract the beneficial effects of progressive compression and cause discomfort, and existing solutions often require additional elastomeric elements or high-pressure structures.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic medical compression garment with a knitted welt featuring stabilizer elements on its inner surface, which are either integrally knitted or applied, to prevent the welt from rolling over and slipping, using a jersey knit structure and elastomeric yarns to maintain the garment in place without bulky seams or high-pressure sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a welt is formed at the top of the compression garment, then the garment can be held in position on the limb, but the welt tends to roll down onto itself causing slippage and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming stabilizer elements within the welt structure during the knitting process itself, before the garment is worn. These stabilizer elements are pre-positioned to prevent the welt from rolling down, thereby maintaining garment position stability without requiring additional corrective measures after manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by incorporating stabilizer elements specifically at the welt region where rolling occurs, rather than uniformly throughout the entire garment. This localized approach addresses the specific problem of welt instability while maintaining the overall compression and fit characteristics of the garment elsewhere.
2Reliability
If elastomeric elements or high-pressure structures are added to prevent slippage, then the garment can maintain position, but the garment becomes more complex and may cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anti-slip function with the existing welt structure by integrating stabilizer elements directly into the knit fabric of the welt. This combination eliminates the need for separate elastomeric elements or high-pressure structures, thereby maintaining anti-slip performance while reducing garment construction complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer elements are self-forming within the knit structure, creating their own stability mechanism without requiring additional components or complex assembly steps. The elements serve both as structural components of the welt and as anti-slip features, allowing the garment to maintain position through its own integrated design rather than external additions.
3Reliability
If the welt is made with high-friction materials to prevent slippage, then the garment can stay in position, but the welt may cause discomfort or constriction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing friction enhancement only at specific contact points within the welt through the stabilizer elements, rather than making the entire welt surface high-friction. This localized friction approach maintains position stability while minimizing the area that could potentially cause discomfort or constriction to the skin.
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 effectively prevents the welt from rolling over and slipping, maintaining a stable position on the limb and ensuring consistent compression, thereby enhancing the therapeutic benefits while providing a comfortable fit.
Implementation Method 1
in the use condition the modulus of elasticity parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inwardly facing layer is increased in comparison to the modulus of elasticity parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inwardly facing layer without the stabilizer elements
Implementation Method 2
The knitted anti-slip portion includes at least first, second and third yarns simultaneously knitted to form a repeat having a raised surface texture on the inner surface of the anti-slip portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A therapeutic medical garment including a knitted welt proximate one end thereof with a surface adapted for residing against the wearer's skin. The garment includes a ground yarn and a plurality of raised, skin-engaging stabilizer elements, such as elongate bars extending in spaced- apart relation around an inner surface of the welt and along a longitudinal axis of the garment to reduce a tendency of the welt to roll on itself.