Fly Shield Mitered Seam for Garment Bulk Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fly shields in garments, such as jeans, cause spandex breakage and bulkiness due to their positioning relative to the crotch seam and zipper, leading to friction and an uneven appearance.

Innovation Solution

A fly shield formed by folding and stitching material to create a mitered corner with a seam that faces away from the user, reducing material layers and attaching it between the zipper stop and waistband, thereby minimizing friction and bulkiness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fly shield is positioned relative to the crotch seam and zipper as in conventional designs, then it provides basic coverage, but it causes spandex breakage and bulkiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of spandex breakageVSAvoidbulkiness at crotch seam

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fly shield is divided into distinct portions: a main body portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion is specifically designed to extend over the crotch seam, while the main body remains positioned between the zipper stop and waistband. This segmentation allows the bulk-reducing features to be concentrated in specific areas rather than distributed throughout the entire fly shield.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seam of the fly shield is oriented to face away from the user (toward the rear of the garment), representing a dimensional reorientation of the seam allowance. This reorientation in the spatial dimension eliminates the bulkiness that would occur if the seam faced forward toward the user, while maintaining the protective coverage function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the fly shield seam faces toward the user, then it provides complete coverage, but it creates an uneven appearance and increases friction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth appearanceVSAvoidfriction against user

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the seam to face toward the user as in conventional designs, the invention inverts this arrangement by positioning the seam to face away from the user (toward the rear of the garment). This inversion eliminates the harmful effects of friction and uneven appearance while maintaining the protective coverage function of the fly shield.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Strength

If multiple layers of material are used at the crotch seam, then it provides durability, but it increases bulkiness and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability at crotch seamVSAvoidcomfort and flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom portion of the fly shield is specifically designed to extend over the crotch seam area, concentrating the reinforcement exactly where it is needed for durability. The rest of the fly shield maintains a lighter construction with fewer layers, preserving comfort and flexibility in areas where high stress does not occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10849370B2Fly shield for garment such as pair of jeans

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 PREMIER BRANDS IP LLC

AI summary

A fly shield for a garment such as, for example, a pair of jeans. The fly shield is coupled to a waistband of the garment and extends along a zipper and over a crotch seam of the garment. The portion of the fly shield that extends over the crotch seam of the garment has less than four layers of material and/or consists of a first material layer and a second material layer.