Heatable Textile With Insulated Conductive Element in Fabric Channel
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heatable textiles face safety issues due to short circuit risks from separate heating panels integrated into fabric, which are mitigated by additional insulation layers that reduce breathability and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A heatable textile with a fabric body formed from yarns, featuring a continuous channel containing an insulated conductive element that heats up when electrical current is applied, providing thermal comfort without separate heating panels and additional insulation layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate heating panels are integrated into fabric bodies through stitching, then heating capabilities are provided, but short circuit risks increase and safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive element is integrated directly into the fabric body structure during the knitting process, merging the heating function with the fabric itself. This eliminates the need for separate heating panels and stitching operations, reducing interconnection points and short circuit risks while maintaining heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive element is nested within channels formed in the fabric body, with insulation material surrounding it. This nested structure provides inherent insulation and protection, eliminating the need for additional outer insulation layers while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If additional layers of fabric or insulation material are placed over heating panels, then short circuit risks are mitigated, but breathability and air permeability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive element is nested within channels formed in the fabric body, with insulation material surrounding it. This nested structure provides inherent insulation and protection, eliminating the need for additional outer insulation layers while maintaining breathability.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation is provided in a different dimension (surrounding the conductive element within the fabric structure) rather than adding layers on top of the fabric surface. This maintains the fabric's breathability while providing necessary insulation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heating panels are developed separately and then stitched onto fabric bodies, then heating functionality is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating functionality is merged directly into the fabric body through the knitting process. The conductive element is incorporated during fabric formation, combining the fabric manufacturing and heating element integration into a single process, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing steps.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple interconnection points of heating panels are created during stitching, then heating coverage is improved, but safety and reliability deteriorate due to increased short circuit risks
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is merged with the fabric body as a continuous integrated structure, eliminating multiple interconnection points from stitching operations. The continuous integration reduces potential failure points while maintaining comprehensive heating coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive element forms a continuous path within the fabric body, ensuring uninterrupted heating functionality and eliminating discontinuities at stitching joints. This continuous structure improves reliability while maintaining heating coverage.
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 textile offers improved safety, breathability, and comfort by integrating the insulated conductive element within the fabric, reducing short circuit risks while maintaining thermal comfort through both passive and active heating mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the textile is heatable in response to electrical current being conducted through the insulated conductive element
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a textile (100) and a manufacturing method (200) thereof. The textile (100) comprises: a fabric body (102) formed from one or more types of yarns; a continuous channel (104) formed within the fabric body (102); and an insulated conductive element (106) disposed within the continuous channel (104), wherein the textile (100) is heatable in response to electrical current being conducted through the insulated conductive element (106).