Optimized sports article

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention concerns a method of designing a sports article, including: (a) scanning at least one body part of at least a first person; (b) creating a first digital model of the body part of the first person; (c) creating a digital model of the sports article; (d) digitally arranging the digital model of the sports article on the first digital model of the body part, while allowing the digital model of the sports article to stretch digitally and (e) digitally modifying at least one property of the digital model of the sports article based on the first digital model of the body part and the digital model of the sports article.

Claims

1. A method of designing a sports article for use in an athletic activity, comprising: creating a digital model of the body part of a first person; creating a digital model of the sports article; digitally arranging the digital model of the sports article on the digital model of the body part, while allowing the digital model of the sports article to stretch digitally; and digitally stretching the digital model of the sports article based on an elastic modulus of the sports article in the digital model, wherein digitally stretching the digital model of the sports article comprises digitally applying a force to the digital model of the body part to increase a circumference of the digital model of the sports article, wherein a circumference of a first portion of the digital model of the sports article stretches by a first fraction of an unstretched circumference of the sports article, and wherein a circumference of a second portion of the digital model of the sports article stretches by a second fraction of the unstretched circumference.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is a top portion and the second portion is a bottom portion of the sports article, and wherein the first fraction is smaller than the second fraction.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the force applied to the body part depends on the elastic modulus of the sports article.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein digitally stretching the digital model of the sports article further comprises digitally reducing the force applied to the digital model of the body part, and wherein the force is a vertical shear force.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein reducing the force applied comprises reducing a thickness of a top portion of the sports article as compared to a thickness of a bottom portion of the sports article.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein digitally stretching the digital model of the sports article further comprises varying a width of a bottom portion of the sports article along a circumference of the sports article to reduce the drag force.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a front portion of the bottom portion comprises a smaller width as compared to a rear portion of the bottom portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the figures.

(2) FIG. 1A: shows a front view of an exemplary digital model of a body part and an exemplary digital model of a sports article according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 1B: shows a lateral view of the exemplary digital model of a body part and the exemplary digital model of a sports article of FIG. 1A.

(4) FIG. 1C: shows a perspective view of the exemplary digital model of a sports article of FIG. 1A.

(5) FIG. 2A: shows a perspective view of an exemplary digital model of a swimming cap according to the present invention.

(6) FIG. 2B: shows shear forces acting on the exemplary digital model of a swimming cap of FIG. 2A.

(7) FIG. 2C: shows shear forces acting on the exemplary digital model of a swimming cap of FIG. 2A.

(8) FIG. 2D: shows shear forces acting on the exemplary digital model of a swimming cap of FIG. 2A.

(9) FIG. 3A: shows a front view of an exemplary swimming cap according to the present invention.

(10) FIG. 3B: shows a rear view of the exemplary swimming cap of FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) In the following some embodiments of the invention are described in detail. It is to be understood that these exemplary embodiments can be modified in a number of ways and combined with each other whenever compatible and that certain features may be omitted in so far as they appear dispensable.

(12) FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an exemplary method of designing a sports article according to embodiments of the present invention.

(13) The exemplary method of designing a sports article comprises: (a1) scanning at least one body part of at least a first person; (a2) scanning the body part of a second person; (b 1) creating a first digital model (not shown in FIGS. 1A-1C) of the body part of the first person; (b2) creating a second digital model (not shown in FIGS. 1A-1C) of the body part of the second person; (c) creating an average digital model of the body part 11b based on an average of the first digital model and the second digital model; (d) creating a digital model of the sports article 12; (e) digitally arranging the digital model of the sports article 12 on the average digital model of the body part 11b, allowing the digital model of the sports article 12 to stretch digitally; and (f) digitally modifying at least one property of the digital model of the sports article 12 based on the average digital model of the body part 11b and the digital model of the sports article 12.

(14) FIG. 1A shows a front view of the exemplary average digital model of a body part 11b, in this example a head, and an exemplary digital model of a sports article 12, in this example a swimming cap. FIG. 1B shows a corresponding lateral view.

(15) In this example, scanning at least one body part comprises providing at least two cameras to obtain a three-dimensional image of the body part. This way, the three-dimensional first digital model of the body part and the three-dimensional second digital model of the body part underlying the average digital model of the body part 11b shown in FIGS. 1A-1B were obtained.

(16) The property, which is modified, comprises a shape of the swimming cap. In this example, an initial length 13 of the swimming cap in a front portion 21 is modified. The modified length 14 is longer than the initial length 13 as shown in FIG. 1B. The front portion 21 may be a portion of the swimming cap that is arranged on the forehead of an athlete during normal use.

(17) Referring to FIG. 1C, the property of the digital model of the sports article 12 comprises a circumference of the swimming cap. Digitally modifying the circumference comprises: digitally modifying the circumference such that, when digitally arranging the digital model of the swimming cap 12 on the first digital model of the body part 11a or the average digital model of the body part 11b, the circumference of a first portion 15 of the digital model of the swimming cap 12 stretches by a first fraction and the circumference of a second portion 16 of the digital model of the swimming cap 12 stretches by a second fraction. It is to be understood that digitally modifying the circumference means, digitally modifying the unstretched circumference, i.e. digitally modifying is not the same as digitally stretching since in the latter case the circumference would increase but the unstretched circumference would not increase.

(18) In this example, the digital model of the swimming cap 12 also comprises a third portion 17 and a fourth portion 18. The circumference of a third portion 17 of the swimming cap stretches by a third fraction and the circumference of a fourth portion 18 of the swimming cap stretches by a fourth fraction.

(19) In this example, the first portion 15 is a top portion and the second portion 16 is an intermediate portion of the swimming cap, and the first fraction is smaller than the second fraction. The third portion 17 is a lower intermediate portion and the fourth portion 18 is a bottom portion of the swimming cap. The second fraction is smaller than the third fraction, which, in turn, is smaller than the fourth fraction. It is also possible that there are only a top portion and a bottom portion for a swimming cap. In this case, the first portion 15 and the second portion 16 can be the same as a top portion, and the third portion 17 and the fourth portion can be the same as a bottom portion. Alternatively, the top portion can include first to third portions 15-17.

(20) As an example, the first fraction is 10%, the second fraction is 20%, the third fraction is 30% and the fourth fraction is 40%.

(21) In this example, modifying the shape of the digital model of the swimming cap further comprises creating two overhang portions 19 arranged symmetrically on either side of a spine of a wearer and a recess 20 arranged in proximity to the spine. The overhang portions 19 protrude from a surrounding edge (omitted for clarity, shown in FIG. 2A) of the digital model of the swimming cap by 1.5 cm and the recess 20 represents an indentation from the surrounding edge by 3 cm.

(22) In particular, in order to provide an optimal fit of the swimming cap for a group of swimmers, there is a need to understand the geometry of the swimmers' heads. This can be achieved by creating an average digital head model of the swimmers, which comprises scanning the head of multiple swimmers and performing a statistical analysis of the head scans. One exemplary way to perform this is by a non-rigid registration process, which digitally applies a common template mesh to all head scan instances and obtains a set of meshes corresponding to the multiple head scans. Each mesh of the set of meshes has the same topology and number of vertices but with various geometry and shape corresponding to the respective original scan. The set of meshes then allows to directly and easily compare the head scans and to perform statistical operations such as computation of averages or standard deviations. An average model of the multiple head scans can thus be generated. Alternatively, any suitable method for generating a 3D geometry may be used here.

(23) FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate another aspect of embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows an exemplary digital model of a swimming cap.

(24) The exemplary digital model of the swimming cap 12 comprises: a main body 23 comprising a first thickness; and a rim portion 24, arranged around a rim of the swimming cap, comprising a second thickness; and two overhang portions 19 arranged symmetrically on either side of a spine of a wearer and a recess 20 arranged in proximity to the spine.

(25) The overhang portions 19 protrude from a surrounding edge 29 of the digital model of the swimming cap 12. The recess 20 is an analogous indentation from the surrounding edge 29 of the digital model of the swimming cap 12.

(26) The surrounding edge 29 is an imaginary edge of the swimming cap defined by a forehead portion of the swimming cap and extended around the entire circumference of the digital model of the swimming cap 12. A geometrically-equivalent definition of an overhang portion and a recess can be made in respect of a plane defined by three distinct non-collinear points 30a-30c on an edge of the digital model of the swimming cap in a forehead portion of the digital model of the swimming cap 12. The plane defines a reference with respect to which the overhang portions protrude and with respect to which the recess represents an indentation.

(27) The recess 20 is arranged in a rear portion 22 opposite of a front portion 21. The overhang portions 19 protrude from a surrounding edge 29 of the digital model of the swimming cap by 1.5 cm and the recess 20 represents an indentation from the surrounding edge 29 by 3 cm, as indicated by the dotted line.

(28) In this example, the first thickness is smaller than the second thickness.

(29) In this case, the digital model of the swimming cap 12 further comprises at least one material property of the swimming cap. The at least one material property comprises an elastic modulus of the swimming cap. The exemplary digital model of the swimming cap 12 is for a swimming cap made from silicone and therefore the elastic modulus is the elastic modulus of silicone. In this case the elastic modulus, also known as Young's modulus could be between 2-12 MPa.

(30) As illustrated in FIGS. 2B-2D, the method further comprises calculating at least one force on the basis of the first digital model of the body part 11a and the digital model of the sports article 12. Digitally modifying the property of the digital model of the sports article 12 is at least partially based on the calculated force. The force is a vertical shear force and in particular an upwards-pulling shear force, and digitally modifying the property of the digital model of the sports article 12 comprises reducing the upwards-pulling shear force. The force is calculated on the basis of a finite-element analysis.

(31) FIGS. 2B-2D show the vertical shear force and in particular the upwards-pulling shear force calculated for three different digital models of the swimming cap using the same first digital model of the body part 11a, i.e. the head.

(32) The digital model of the swimming cap shown in FIG. 2B has a main body (such as main body 23 shown in FIG. 2A) with a uniform thickness of 0.8 mm and a rim portion (such as rim portion 24 shown in FIG. 2A) with a thickness of 2 mm. FIG. 2B shows that a low-force region 26 is located just below the ear of the first digital model of the head, and medium-force regions 27 are located in proximity to the os temporale and the os occipitale. High-force regions 28 are located in proximity to the os frontale and over the ear. Reference numeral 25 indicates a “zero-force region” in which the calculated forces are below a predetermined threshold value.

(33) The digital model of the swimming cap shown in FIG. 2B therefore overall leads to quite substantial vertical shear forces and in particular upwards-pulling shear forces that would act to pull the swimming cap off the head of an athlete and may lead to substantial discomfort for the athlete. It should be noted that a digital model of a swimming cap with a uniform thickness, i.e. a swimming cap without a rim portion 24, would display far greater vertical shear forces and in particular upwards-pulling shear forces.

(34) The digital model of the swimming cap shown in FIG. 2C has a main body (such as main body 23 shown in FIG. 2A) with a uniform thickness of 0.6 mm and a rim portion (such as rim portion 24 shown in FIG. 2A) with a thickness of 2 mm. FIG. 2C shows that low-force region 26s are located just below the ear of the first digital model of the head and in proximity to the os temporale. A medium-force region 27 is located in proximity to the os frontale. Reference numeral 25 indicates a “zero-force region” in which the calculated forces are below a predetermined threshold value.

(35) The digital model of the swimming cap shown in FIG. 2C therefore overall leads to significantly-reduced vertical shear forces and in particular upwards-pulling shear forces compared with the digital model of the swimming cap shown in FIG. 2B.

(36) The digital model of the swimming cap shown in FIG. 2D has a main body (such as main body 23 shown in FIG. 2A) with a uniform thickness of 0.4 mm and a rim portion (such as rim portion 24 shown in FIG. 2A) with a thickness of 2 mm. FIG. 2D shows that a low-force region 26 is located just below the ear of the first digital model of the head 11a. Reference numeral 25 indicates a “zero-force region” in which the calculated forces are below a predetermined threshold value.

(37) The digital model of the swimming cap shown in FIG. 2D therefore overall leads to almost no vertical shear forces and in particular almost no upwards-pulling shear forces, therefore leading to an excellent and stable fit and a comfortable wearing experience.

(38) FIGS. 3A-3B show an exemplary swimming cap 32 according to embodiments of the present invention. The swimming cap 32 is arranged on a dummy 31, which is a physical model of an average digital model of a head 11b as described herein, for example with reference to FIGS. 1A-1C. FIG. 3A shows a front view, while FIG. 3B shows a rear view.

(39) The swimming cap 32 comprises: a main body 23 comprising a first thickness; and a rim portion 24, arranged around a rim of the swimming cap 32, comprising a second thickness; and two overhang portions 19 arranged symmetrically on either side of a spine of a wearer and a recess 20 arranged in proximity to the spine.

(40) The overhang portions 19 protrude from a surrounding edge 29 of the swimming cap 32. The recess 20 is an analogous indentation from the surrounding edge 29 of the swimming cap 32.

(41) The surrounding edge 29 is an imaginary edge of the swimming cap defined by a forehead portion of the swimming cap and extended around the entire circumference of the digital model of the swimming cap 12. A geometrically-equivalent definition of an overhang portion and a recess can be made in respect of a plane defined by three distinct non-collinear points 30a-30c on an edge of the swimming cap 32 in a forehead portion of the swimming cap 32. The plane defines a reference with respect to which the overhang portions 19 protrude and with respect to which the recess 20 represents an indentation.

(42) In this example, the first thickness is smaller than the second thickness.

(43) The first thickness is 0.4 mm and the second thickness is 2 mm. The main body 23 comprises a first material and the rim portion 24 also comprises the first material. In this case, the main body 23 and the rim portion 24 are made from silicone using slush molding.

(44) A width of the rim portion 24 varies around the rim between 10 mm and 30 mm. The inventors have found that the variation in the width of the rim portion 24 may further improve the balance between good fit and low drag. In this example, the rim portion 24 has a smaller width in a front portion 21 than in a rear portion 22.

(45) The main body 23 and the rim portion 24 comprise a shore A hardness of 40.

(46) Although in this example the surface of the main body 23 and/or the rim portion 24 does not comprise a texture, in other examples the surface of the main body 23 and/or the rim portion 24 may comprise a texture.

(47) The overhang portions 19 protrude from a surrounding edge 29 of the swimming cap 32 by 1 cm and the recess 20 represents an indentation from the surrounding edge 29 by 1 cm.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(48) 11a: first digital model of the body part 11b: average digital model of the body part 12: digital model of the sports article 13: initial length 14: modified length 15: first portion 16: second portion 17: third portion 18: fourth portion 19: overhang portion 20: recess 21: front portion 22: rear portion 23: main body 24: rim portion 25: zero-force region 26: low-force region 27: medium-force region 28: high-force region 29: surrounding edge 30a,30b,30c: point 31: dummy 32: swimming cap