Support garment testing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11604206-B2
Application number	US-202016813906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 25, 2019
Publication date	Mar 14, 2023
Grant date	Mar 14, 2023

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a support garment testing system comprising a torso form having a motion tracking sensor associated with one or more breast structures of the torso form. A support garment is secured to the torso form, and the torso form is mounted on a motion platform that, when actuated, causes displacement of the breast structures. The amount of displacement is measured by the sensor, and the data is used to assign a level of support provided by the support garment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support garment testing system comprising:
a torso form comprising a first breast structure and a second breast structure and a superior/inferior z-axis;
a motion platform coupled to the torso and linearly actuatable in a direction aligned with the superior/inferior z-axis; and
a sensor positioned within one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure.

2. The support garment testing system of claim 1 , wherein the torso form is releasably secured to the motion platform.

3. The support garment testing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a motion tracking sensor.

4. The support garment testing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned within a nipple area of the one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure.

5. The support garment testing system of claim 1 , the torso form comprising:
a foam core positioned at least at an interior portion of the torso form;
a muscle layer positioned around at least a portion of the foam core in the interior portion of the torso form; and
a skin layer forming an outer surface of the torso form, the skin layer surrounding at least a portion of the muscle layer.

6. The support garment testing system of claim 5 , wherein the foam core comprises a polystyrene foam.

7. The support garment testing system of claim 5 , wherein the foam core comprises a polyurethane foam.

8. The support garment testing system of claim 5 , wherein the muscle layer comprises a silicone material.

9. The support garment testing system of claim 5 , wherein the skin layer comprises a silicone material.

10. The support garment testing system of claim 5 , wherein the first breast structure and the second breast structure comprise:
the skin layer, the skin layer defining a first cavity within the first breast structure and a second cavity within the second breast structure; and
a breast surrogate material positioned within the first cavity and the second cavity.

11. The support garment testing system of claim 10 , wherein the breast surrogate material comprises a mixture of polyethylene glycol, alumina power, and tungsten powder.

12. The support garment testing system of claim 1 , wherein the torso form comprises a mounting structure positioned on a bottom surface of the torso form.

13. A support garment testing system comprising:
a torso form having a first breast structure and a second breast structure, the first breast structure and the second breast structure comprising a breast surrogate material and a skin layer, wherein one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure include a sensor; and
a motion platform secured to the torso form, wherein:
the torso form secured to the motion platform comprises a superior/inferior z-axis, a medial/lateral y-axis, and an anterior/posterior x-axis; and
the motion platform, when actuated, rotationally moves the torso relative to one or more of the superior/inferior z-axis or the anterior/posterior x-axis.

14. The support garment testing system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises a motion tracking sensor.

15. The support garment testing system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor is associated with a nipple area of the one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure.

16. A method for testing a level of support provided by a support garment, the method comprising:
in a test cycle:
securing the support garment to a torso form having a first breast structure and a second breast structure, the torso form secured to a motion platform and comprising an integrated sensor, wherein the torso form secured to the motion platform comprises a superior/inferior z-axis, a medial/lateral y-axis, and an anterior/posterior x-axis;
actuating the motion platform to cause the torso form to linearly move in a direction aligned with the superior/inferior z-axis; and
measuring a first amount of displacement of one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure using the integrated sensor while the motion platform is actuated.

17. The method for testing the level of support provided by the support garment of claim 16 , wherein the integrated sensor is positioned within the one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure.

18. The method for testing the level of support provided by the support garment of claim 17 , wherein the integrated sensor is positioned at a nipple area of the one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure.

19. The method for testing the level of support provided by the support garment of claim 16 , wherein the integrated sensor comprises a motion tracking sensor.

20. The method for testing the level of support provided by the support garment of claim 16 , further comprising comparing the first amount of displacement of the one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure with the support garment secured to the torso form with a second amount of displacement of the one or more of the first breast structure and the second breast structure without the support garment secured to the torso form.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Campbell Lisa
• Dufour Gregory Paul
• Munro Bridget
• Wright Ian
• Blair Kim B
• Kingsley Daniel A
• Middleton Luri Robert
• Pye John David
• Rapp Van Roden Elizabeth A

Classifications

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G01P13/00 Primary

  Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement (electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00) · CPC title

• G09B23/32

  with moving parts · CPC title

• A41H5/01

  with means for adjustment, e.g. of height · CPC title

• G01M99/007 Primary

  by applying a load, e.g. for resistance or wear testing (G01M99/001 takes precedence; testing the elasticity of structures G01M5/00) · CPC title