Garment Vent With Gutter Formation For Rainproofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waterproof vents in garments require zippers or mesh materials for closure, limiting ventilation and requiring users to manually manage opening and closing, which compromises both weatherproofing and cooling.
Innovation Solution
A vent design featuring a gutter formation in the opening between panels, allowing the vent to remain open while maintaining waterproof integrity, without the need for zippers or mesh, by folding the upper end of the lower panel to create a downwardly opening channel that catches rain and allows airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If zippers or mesh materials are used to close the vent, then waterproof integrity is improved, but ventilation and cooling are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vent opening is segmented into an upper portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion folded back to form a gutter. This segmentation allows the vent to remain open for ventilation while the folded portion creates a waterproof barrier that channels water away, resolving the contradiction between open ventilation and waterproof integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional flat vent opening to a three-dimensional structure by folding the lower portion back. This creates a gutter formation that extends into the opening, adding a vertical dimension that enables water channeling while maintaining open airflow paths.
2Reliability
If zippers or closure means are used, then waterproof integrity is improved, but device complexity and parts required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for zippers, mesh materials, and other closure means from the vent construction. By using the garment's own panel structure folded back to form a gutter, it removes unnecessary parts while maintaining waterproof integrity through the geometric configuration of the panels themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution merges the waterproofing function with the structural panels of the garment. The lower panel is folded back to form both a structural element and a waterproof barrier simultaneously, combining multiple functions into a single integrated design that reduces overall complexity.
3Reliability
If mesh or spacer material is used across the vent opening, then waterproof integrity is improved, but airflow and cooling are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using mesh or spacer material across the entire vent opening, the solution applies a localized folded portion at the lower end to form a gutter. This local modification provides waterproofing exactly where water would ingress, while leaving the rest of the vent opening open for maximum airflow and cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of water ingress into a benefit by using the folded gutter to channel water away from the garment interior. The water that would otherwise penetrate the vent is redirected along the gutter formation, transforming a harmful infiltration path into a controlled water channeling system that protects the garment while maintaining ventilation.
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
Enables continuous airflow and weatherproofing in extreme conditions, reducing the complexity and parts required in the vent construction, while preventing water ingress and maintaining GORE-TEX Storm level testing standards.
Implementation Method 1
a gutter extending into the opening to trap rain travelling through the opening
Data Source
AI summary
A garment having a vent which has an upper panel and a lower panel, wherein the upper panel has a lower end portion and the lower panel has an upper end portion, and the lower end portion of the upper panel overlaps the upper end portion of the lower panel to form an opening, wherein the vent further has a gutter extending into the opening to trap rain travelling through the opening.