Adaptive Material Garment System for Moisture and Wind Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive material garments struggle to efficiently manage moisture and thermal energy while maintaining comfort and preventing unwanted airflow, particularly during active movements.
Innovation Solution
A layered adaptive material system comprising an inner article with a lower denier yarn for skin contact and an outer article with a higher denier yarn, where the outer layer has lower air permeability and is strategically uncoupled to allow for air circulation and moisture evacuation, while the inner article reacts to stimuli like sweat and thermal energy to enhance breathability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the outer layer uses higher denier material with lower air permeability to prevent wind penetration, then wind resistance is improved, but moisture and thermal energy transport is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The outer layer is divided into multiple layers with different properties: a first layer made of adaptive material that responds to moisture and heat stimuli, and a second layer with lower air permeability for wind resistance. The layers are selectively coupled at some locations but uncoupled at others, allowing moisture vapor to pass through while blocking wind. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one function without compromising the other.
2Ease of operation
If the adaptive material has lower denier per yarn for better skin feel and moisture response, then comfort and breathability are improved, but durability and wind resistance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different denier materials are used in different locations and layers: the inner layer uses lower denier material for skin comfort and moisture response, while the outer layer uses higher denier material for durability and wind resistance. This local differentiation allows each layer to optimize for its specific function without compromising overall system performance.
3Strength
If the outer layers are fully coupled to provide structural integrity, then garment strength is improved, but air circulation for moisture evacuation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between outer layers is segmented rather than continuous. The layers are coupled at some locations to maintain structural integrity but uncoupled at other locations to allow air circulation and moisture vapor transmission. This selective coupling strategy balances structural requirements with moisture management needs.
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 system effectively transports moisture and heat away from the body while maintaining comfort and reducing air permeability to prevent wind penetration, achieving a balanced response to different stimulus levels.
Implementation Method 1
adaptive materials that respond to a stimulus, such as moisture or thermal energy. In response to the stimulus, a physical change occurs with the adaptive material. For example, the adaptive material may expand, contract, swell, or shrink in length, width, and/or thickness.
Implementation Method 2
the stimulus is thermal energy emitted by the wearer. In an exemplary aspect, the denier per yarn is selected to provide an appropriate adaptive response to the stimuli while still providing a sufficient feel against a wear's skin.
Implementation Method 3
the second layer has lower air permeability than the first layer. In an exemplary aspect, the second layer is sized and positioned on the outer garment to resist oncoming airflow, such as that air flow experienced when a wearer is running or active in a forward direction.
Implementation Method 4
the second layer is not coupled with the first layer to allow for air circulation to evacuate higher humidity air formed between the first layer and the second layer as a result of the adaptive materials transporting moisture from the wearer's body.
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptive material garment system includes a number of components to effectively transport and exhaust moisture and thermal energy while protecting the wearer from undesired levels of air permeability. Therefore, an adaptive material responsive to stimuli, such as moisture, is used as a base layer against a wearer's skin. The base layer is effective to transport thermal energy and/or sweat away from the skin. The base layer may be formed with a first gauge greater than and a denier that is less than an outer article. The outer article may also be formed from an adaptive material responsive to the same or different stimuli. The outer article may also have a wind-resistant panel having apertures and a selectively coupled perimeter.