Chinstrap Sock with Metal-Containing Yarn for Skin Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chinstrap add-ons for athletic helmets often cause skin-related issues like rashes and infections due to perspiration and body oils, and they require unnecessary processing steps and additional costs.
Innovation Solution
A chinstrap sock with a tubular body made from knitted metal-containing fibers, featuring a skin-facing surface with metal-, metal oxide-, or metal salt-containing yarns and a moisture management system to prevent adverse skin effects, integrated with elastic and hydrophobic/hydrophilic yarns for improved comfort and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional knitted or woven fabric is used for chinstrap add-ons, then the structure can be formed, but skin-related issues like rashes and infections occur due to perspiration and body oils accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by incorporating metal-containing fibers (silver, copper, or zinc) into the yarn, which possess inherent antimicrobial and antifungal properties. This parameter change transforms the fabric from one that accumulates perspiration and body oils to one that actively prevents microbial growth, thereby preventing skin-related issues while maintaining reliability for skin protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining metal-containing fibers with conventional textile fibers to create a blended yarn. This composite approach allows the fabric to maintain the comfort and breathability of natural or synthetic fibers while incorporating the antimicrobial benefits of metal fibers, effectively preventing skin-related issues without sacrificing wearability
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional processing steps including cutting and forming turned welts are used, then chinstrap add-ons can be manufactured, but additional overall cost is added due to extra processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tubular body formation and welt formation into a single continuous knitting process. The turned welts are formed integrally with the tubular body during the same knitting operation, eliminating the need for separate cutting and welt-forming steps. This merging of operations simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces overall complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by forming the turned welts during the initial knitting of the tubular body, rather than adding them as separate post-processing steps. The welt structure is built into the fabric during the knitting process itself, which eliminates subsequent processing steps and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining ease of production
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 chinstrap sock effectively prevents skin-related issues such as heat rash, sweat rash, acne, and bacterial infections while reducing material and labor costs by eliminating the need for additional processing steps and seams.
Implementation Method 1
the metal-, metal oxide-, and/or metal salt-containing fiber provides for preventing or eliminating skin-related effects
Implementation Method 2
the skin-facing surface comprises a hydrophobic yarn
Implementation Method 3
the outer surface comprises a moisture absorbing yarn opposed to the skin facing surface
Data Source
AI summary
A chinstrap sock to be worn by athletes comprising a tubular body having a skin facing surface for contacting a portion of a wearer's body, and an outer surface opposed to the skin facing surface; an opening in the tubular body for extension therethrough; and a first welt and a second welt affixed to opposite ends of the tubular body in surrounding relation to the opening, the first welt and the second welt each comprising a circularly-knitted fabric integral with the tubular body and extending therefrom to; the tubular body portion being a knitted construction comprising: a skin-facing surface comprising a metal-, metal oxide-, and/or metal salt-containing yarn portion.