Athletic apparel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Athletic apparel made from synthetic yarns lacks the soft hand characteristics of cotton while synthetic yarns do not retain moisture like cotton, leading to discomfort due to moisture absorption and weight gain during sweating.

Innovation Solution

Forming synthetic fibers with controlled dimensions, such as fiber length and denier, to create a textile that mimics cotton properties, including using polyester fibers with specific cross-sectional shapes and lengths, and applying a bioceramic print for enhanced performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cotton yarn is used to form athletic apparel, then the fabric is softer and provides better wearer comfort upon contact with the skin, but the textile absorbs moisture and loses insulating properties when wet, adding weight and causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewearer comfortVSAvoidmoisture absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling fiber length, denier, and cross-sectional shape of synthetic fibers to replicate cotton's soft hand characteristics while maintaining synthetic moisture-wicking properties. Specifically, using fibers with denier of 0.5-2.0 and lengths of 0.25-2.00 inches creates a textile with cotton-like softness but without cotton's moisture absorption problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite textile structure by combining synthetic fibers with specific physical properties (length, denier, cross-section) to achieve both softness and moisture management. The composite nature of the fiber assembly mimics cotton's feel while retaining synthetic performance benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If synthetic yarn is used to form athletic apparel, then the textile transfers moisture away from the skin and dries faster, but it lacks the soft hand characteristics of cotton fabric

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture transferVSAvoidhand characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes physical parameters of synthetic fibers including reducing denier to 0.5-2.0 and controlling fiber length to 0.25-2.00 inches, which fundamentally alters the hand characteristics to match cotton's softness while preserving moisture transfer capabilities inherent to synthetic materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by varying fiber properties within the textile structure, using a distribution of fiber lengths and deniers to create zones of different softness and moisture management, with finer fibers providing softness and longer fibers providing structural integrity and moisture wicking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11788210B1Athletic apparel

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 UNDER ARMOUR INC

AI summary

A fabric material includes a plurality of synthetic yarns, the yarns including staple fibers having a range of denier values. The polyester staple fibers have deniers ranging from about 0.5 denier per filament to about 2.0 denier per filament. Additionally, more than 50% of the staple fibers present in the fabric possess a length of greater than 1 inch.