Convertible Turtleneck Garment with Permeable Mouth Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Athletes participating in outdoor activities in cold weather face challenges in maintaining comfortable body temperature, managing sweat, and breathing comfortably due to fluctuating body temperature and dry, cold air, with existing garments either causing discomfort or requiring inconvenient layer changes or carrying extra clothing.
Innovation Solution
A convertible turtleneck garment with a torso portion and a turtleneck portion made of different materials, where the turtleneck can be adjusted to cover the neck or mouth, using a more permeable material on the span to allow airflow and moisture retention, ensuring comfort and temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the runner wears more clothes to stay warm at the beginning of the run or during stops, then the runner will not be as cold, but the runner may be uncomfortably warm during the height of physical exertion
Solution Approach 1:
The turtleneck portion is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the runner to pull it up over the mouth and nose when cold and pull it down when warm, enabling real-time adaptation to temperature changes during exercise
Solution Approach 2:
The garment separates the neck coverage function from the main body coverage, allowing independent adjustment of the turtleneck portion without removing or adding entire layers of clothing
2Adaptability or versatility
If the runner wears fewer clothes to be more comfortable during physical exertion, then the runner will be more comfortable when warm, but the runner will be colder at the outset and during stops
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable turtleneck provides a dynamic warming option that can be deployed when needed (at the start or during stops) without requiring the runner to wear excessive layers during high-intensity periods
Solution Approach 2:
The warming function is extracted into a separate, removable turtleneck portion that can be independently adjusted, rather than requiring the entire garment to provide constant warmth
3Temperature
If the athlete covers the nose or mouth with fabric to retain heat and moisture, then the athlete can breathe warmer, more humid air, but the fabric may retain too much heat and moisture, becoming uncomfortably hot and humid
Solution Approach 1:
The turtleneck portion uses a different, more permeable material specifically at the mouth and nose area to allow excess moisture and heat to escape while still providing warmth and humidity for inhaled air
Solution Approach 2:
The mouth panel is constructed from a more permeable material that acts as a selective filter, retaining beneficial warmth and humidity while allowing excessive moisture and heat to pass through
4Object-generated harmful factors
If the athlete uses materials that dry quickly to prevent heat loss from damp clothing, then the athlete can manage sweat better, but parts of the athlete's body may not be covered by articles of clothing made out of the drying material
Solution Approach 1:
The turtleneck portion is made from a more permeable material that wicks and evaporates sweat quickly, preventing the dampness that causes heat loss while maintaining coverage over previously exposed areas like the mouth and nose
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 garment allows for adjustable coverage to maintain body heat while allowing airflow and moisture retention, addressing the challenges of fluctuating body temperature and dry air, providing comfort and convenience during athletic activities in cold weather.
Implementation Method 1
The second panel is made of a second material that is more permeable than the first material
Implementation Method 2
The fabric captures a portion of heat and moisture expelled and retains it in the vicinity of the airways of the athlete
Implementation Method 3
The dampness makes the athlete feel colder as cold air passes over the wet fabric and transfers body heat away from the skin
Data Source
AI summary
A garment includes a torso portion and a turtleneck portion. The turtleneck portion extends from the torso portion. The turtleneck portion includes a first panel made of a first material and a second panel made of a second material. The second material is more permeable than the first material.