Deployable Mask Collar for Garment Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional upper body garments lack a functional neck portion that can effectively serve as a face mask, providing inadequate protection against dust and pathogens while maintaining comfort and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A garment with a turtle neck style collar made from flexible textile fabric incorporating elastic yarn, featuring triangular openings and tethers that can be extended to cover the mouth and nose, providing filtration and comfort through mesh openings sized to block particulates and pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional neck opening is provided in the garment, then ease of wearing and basic comfort are achieved, but protection against dust and pathogens is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed to be dynamically transformable between a retracted state (providing ease of wearing) and an extended state (providing protection). The collar can be pulled down over the nose and mouth to form a mask when needed, and returned to its original position for normal wearing comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar serves multiple functions: it provides the conventional turtle neck style for normal wearing comfort, and simultaneously functions as a protective face mask when extended. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making a single structure serve both protective and comfortable wearing needs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the collar is extended to cover the mouth and nose for protection, then filtration of air-borne particles is achieved, but comfort and ease of use may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The collar incorporates elastic yarn in its construction, changing the physical parameters of the fabric to provide stretch and flexibility. This allows the collar to comfortably accommodate the contours of the face and nose when extended, maintaining comfort while providing protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is constructed from flexible fabric that can conform to the shape of the face and nose when extended. This flexibility ensures comfort during use while maintaining the protective barrier function against air-borne particles.
3Ease of operation
If elastic yarn is incorporated in the collar fabric, then comfort and fit are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar fabric incorporates elastic yarn (such as spandex or elastane) blended with other fibers in standard proportions (e.g., 5-20% elastic content). This parameter change in material composition provides the desired stretch and comfort while using conventional textile manufacturing processes, minimizing manufacturing complexity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the collar is designed to deploy as a mask, then protection function is added, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed as a single continuous piece of fabric that serves dual purposes: as a decorative and functional turtle neck collar during normal wearing, and as a protective face mask when extended. This eliminates the need for separate mask components, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective mask function is merged with the collar structure itself. The collar fabric continues uninterrupted from the neck opening and extends forward to cover the face when needed, combining what would traditionally be separate garments into a single integrated design.
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's deployable collar effectively filters air-borne particles and pathogens, offering comfort and protection without compromising the garment's primary function as a conventional shirt, while maintaining ease of use and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the fabric forming the collar, when deployed as a mask, to stretch and more comfortably accommodate the shape of the face and nose of the user in the deployed configuration
Implementation Method 2
mesh openings positioned within the fibers and yarns which form the fabric material. Such openings allow for air flow through the fabric of the garment when worn
Data Source
AI summary
An upper garment positionable upon the torso of a user is provided with an annular collar portion extending from a head and neck opening. The annular collar is deployable from a retracted position appearing as a turtleneck style collar to a deployed position wherein a face mask is formed. The collar is held in the deployed position by ear openings therein which engage over opposing ears of the user.