Chainmail Garment Elastic Tightening with Flat Spring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chainmail garments, used in industries like food and fashion, face issues with excess material due to their flexible and non-elastic nature, leading to discomfort and unattractive surplus, especially at joints and areas requiring tightening.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a flat spring mechanism with elongated wire arms connected by elastic joints, forming U or V shapes, which connects to chainmail rings, providing adjustable tension and reduced thickness for improved fit and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional elastic members (coiled springs) are used for tightening chainmail garments, then the ease of putting on and taking off is improved, but the thickness and structural complexity increase, causing discomfort and difficulty in fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is divided into multiple elongated wire arms (typically 3-5 arms) connected by elastic joints, replacing a single thick coiled spring. This segmentation reduces the overall thickness while maintaining the elastic function, allowing the garment to be easier to put on and take off without the discomfort of a thick rigid component.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member uses flexible wire arms connected by elastic joints that allow dynamic movement and adaptation to body contours. This dynamic structure enables the garment to conform to the user's body shape while maintaining ease of donning and doffing, unlike rigid or overly complex traditional springs.
2Ease of operation
If chainmail garments are oversized to allow for putting on, taking off, and joint movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but excess material accumulates, creating discomfort and unattractive surplus
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member dynamically adjusts the tension of the chainmail fabric, allowing the garment to be oversized for ease of donning and doffing while automatically tightening to eliminate excess material once worn. This dynamic tensioning resolves the contradiction between needing extra material for movement and wanting a sleek fit without surplus.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member changes the tension parameter of the chainmail fabric from a loose state (when putting on/taking off) to a tight state (when worn). This parameter change allows the same garment to accommodate both ease of operation and a sleek, comfortable fit without excess material accumulation.
3Force
If traditional elastic members with significant thickness are used, then the tightening function is achieved, but the comfort of the user deteriorates due to the bulk and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The thick traditional spring is segmented into multiple thin wire arms, reducing the overall thickness and bulk that cause discomfort. The segmented structure maintains the necessary tightening force through the elastic joints while being thinner and more comfortable against the skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member uses thin flexible wire arms instead of a thick rigid spring structure. These thin flexible elements provide the necessary tightening force while minimizing contact thickness and discomfort, effectively replacing a bulky component with a thin flexible alternative.
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 solution allows for effective elastic tightening of chainmail garments, reducing excess material, enhancing comfort, and maintaining ease of use by minimizing thickness and complexity, while allowing temporary extension for donning and joint movement.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic joint, which joint connecting two juxtaposed arms of the spring consists of a loop of material formed of one or more coils
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an article at least a part of which is made from chain mail material, in other words, made from interlaced metal rings, in particular, an item of clothing or decorative item, the chain mail part of which is associated with at least one elastic body, designed to tighten the chain mail material over a part of the user's body and/or to pull and tighten a part of the chain mail material to take up a local surplus of the material. According to the invention, at least one of the elastic bodies is in the form of a flat hairpin type spring (4), made up of combination of long wire arms (5) connected in pairs by an elastic joint (6).