Adaptive apparel with support control system

1 . An article of apparel for providing dynamic support for an appendage of a person, comprising:

a supportive region configured to support the appendage of the person;

an adaptive engine, including a damper mechanism;

a control lace, operatively coupled to the adaptive engine and to the supportive region; and

an analog control device operatively coupled to the adaptive engine, the analog control device configured to:

cause the adaptive engine to apply a first tension on the control lace;

engage the damper mechanism based on a first pre-determined event;

cause the adaptive engine to apply a second tension on the control lace based on engagement of the damper mechanism; and

disengage the damper mechanism after a second pre-determined event.

2 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first pre-determined event includes detection of a change in movement of the person.

3 . The article of apparel of claim 2 , wherein detection of the change in movement of the person comprises receiving input from a sensor adapted for monitoring movements of the person.

4 . The article of apparel of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, a global positioning system (GPS), a heart rate monitor, and a tension sensor.

5 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the second pre- determined event is detection of a second change in movement of the person.

6 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the analog control device includes a mechanical or electronic device to engage the damper mechanism.

7 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the damper mechanism is engaged to increase a tension at which the control lace extends out of the analog control device.

8 . An analog control device-implemented method of providing dynamic support for an appendage of a person using an adaptive support garment, the method comprising:

applying a first tension on a control lace coupled to an adaptive engine and to a supportive region of the adaptive support garment;

engaging a damper mechanism based on a first predetermined event;

causing the adaptive engine to apply a second tension on the control lace using the damper mechanism, the second tension being higher than the first tension; and

disengaging the damper mechanism after a second predetermined event.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising detecting a change in movement of the person and engaging the damper mechanism in response to detecting the change in movement.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the change in movement of the person comprises receiving input from a sensor adapted for monitoring movements of the person.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the input from the sensor is generated by a device selected from a group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, a global positioning system (GPS), a heart rate monitor, and a tension sensor.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising detecting a second change in movement of the person and disengaging the damper mechanism in response to detecting the second change in movement.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein engaging the damper mechanism comprises activating a mechanical or electronic device to restrict movement of the control lace.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein engaging the damper mechanism occurs at a first rotational position of a lace spool holding a portion of the control lace.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein disengaging the damper mechanism occurs at a second rotational position of the lace spool.

16 . A support garment control device for an article of apparel, comprising:

an adaptive engine including a damper mechanism;

a control lace coupled to a supportive region of the article of apparel and to the adaptive engine;

a control lace accumulation member including a first release tension, wherein the control lace extents out of the control lace accumulation member upon application of a lace tension above the first release tension; and

a damping mechanism selectively couplable to the control lace accumulation member to increase the first release tension to a second release tension, wherein the second release tension is greater than the first release tension.

17 . The support garment control device of claim 16 , wherein the adaptive engine further comprises a mechanical device to engage and disengage the damping mechanism.

18 . The support garment control device of claim 17 , wherein the control lace accumulation member is a lace spool, and wherein the mechanical device to engage and disengage the damping mechanism is coupled to the lace spool.

19 . The support garment control device of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical device is configured to engage the damping mechanism at a first angular position of the lace spool and disengage the damping mechanism at a second angular position of the lace spool.

20 . The support garment control device of claim 16 , further comprising an electronic device to engage and disengage the damping mechanism.

21 . The support garment control device of claim 20 , further comprising a sensor adapted to detect a change in movement of a person wearing the article of apparel, and wherein the electronic device to engage and disengage the damping mechanism operates based on signals received from the sensor.