Hood Cinch System Reducing Wind Flapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Garments with hoods often flap in windy conditions when not in use, disrupting activities and potentially obstructing the wearer's sight.

Innovation Solution

A hood cinch system that includes a cord loop or cord with secured ends between the outer and inner layers of the hood, allowing the hood to be cinched against the base when not in use, reducing flapping and movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hood is left loose when not in use, then the wearer has freedom of movement and comfort, but the hood flaps in windy conditions and may obstruct the wearer's sight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehood freedom of movementVSAvoidhood flapping and obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hood cinch system provides dynamic adjustability, allowing the hood to transition between a loose state (when not in use) and a cinched state (when needed). The cord loop mechanism enables the wearer to dynamically change the hood's configuration based on environmental conditions and personal preference, resolving the contradiction between freedom of movement and preventing flapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a hood cinch system is added to the garment, then hood movement is reduced in windy conditions, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehood flapping reductionVSAvoidhood cinch system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cord loop is segmented into an interior portion (secured between hood layers) and an exterior portion (accessible for pulling). This segmentation allows the cinch mechanism to be integrated into the hood structure without requiring external components or complex assemblies, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interior cord portion is nested within the hood structure, secured between the outer and inner layers. This nesting approach conceals the mechanism within the existing hood design, adding minimal visual and structural complexity while achieving the desired flapping reduction functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If the cord loop is secured tightly between the outer and inner layers, then the hood cinching effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehood cinching effectivenessVSAvoidcord accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cord loop has different properties in different locations: the interior portion is securely anchored between the hood layers at specific points to ensure cinching effectiveness, while the exterior portion is left accessible and movable for easy operation. This local differentiation of security and accessibility resolves the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250194726A1Hood cinch system

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 ACUSHNET CO

AI summary

A garment that includes a body and a hood. The hood has a hood cinch system that allows the hood to be gathered or cinched to a back portion adjacent a base of the hood when the hood is not deployed. By activating the hood cinch system, the movement of the hood in the wind or breeze is reduced, thus providing a less distracting experience during certain sports played outside. For example, when taking a golf shot, the cinched down hood is less likely to cause a distraction and result in a mishit.