Protective Garment Interior Surface Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Protective garments are difficult to don correctly due to indistinguishable interior and exterior surfaces, especially in critical environments where contamination must be prevented, and the cost of garments that require frequent replacement is a concern.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating surface indicia on the interior surface of protective garments that are visible when the garment is in a folded configuration, allowing the wearer to identify the interior surface without touching the exterior, and using a method of folding the garment to ensure the interior surface is accessible during donning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If protective garments are made in a single color without surface indicators, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but the ability to distinguish interior and exterior surfaces is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by incorporating surface indicia (such as printed patterns, colored zones, or visual markers) on the interior surface of the protective garment. These visual indicators create a clear distinction between the interior and exterior surfaces without requiring the entire garment to be multi-colored or complexly structured, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while solving the identification problem.
2Ease of operation
If small tags are used to indicate interior surface, then garment comfort is improved, but the visibility and locateability of the tag within the folded garment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies another dimension by expanding the indicator from a small two-dimensional tag to a larger surface area indicator that encompasses a more significant portion of the interior surface. This dimensional expansion makes the indicator visible when the garment is folded, while the indicator remains on the interior surface to avoid neck discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the surface indicia on the interior surface in a location that will be visible during the folding and donning process. This allows the wearer to identify the interior surface before touching or donning the garment, preventing contamination in critical environments.
3Productivity
If the garment is provided in a folded configuration without surface indicators, then packaging efficiency is improved, but the wearer cannot quickly identify the interior surface during donning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by incorporating visible surface indicia on the interior surface that remain visible when the garment is folded for packaging. These visual markers allow rapid identification of the interior surface during the donning process, eliminating time delays while maintaining compact folded packaging.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If workers must touch the garment to determine interior surface, then contamination risk is reduced through training, but the cost of garment replacement increases when contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing visible surface indicia that allow workers to identify the interior surface before touching or donning the garment. This preliminary identification prevents accidental contamination of the exterior surface, eliminating the need for garment replacement due to contamination and reducing operational costs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A protective garment with an interior surface indicator to facilitate proper donning of the garment is described. The garment includes at least one indicia on the central portion of the interior surface of the garment to communicate to the wearer which is the interior surface of the garment. This allows the garment to be handled and donned by the wearer, without the wearer touching an exterior surface of the garment. A method of preparing a protective garment for donning is also disclosed.