Inflatable Garment Bladders for Warmth Without Motion Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional athletic garments for warmth often restrict motion and lose effectiveness in wet conditions, leading to decreased performance during activities.

Innovation Solution

Inflatable bladder chambers integrated into garments, formed by laminated components, provide thermal insulation and can be converted between deflated and inflated conditions using a pump system, maintaining flexibility and insulation properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional heavy materials and insulation are used in garments, then thermal insulation is improved, but motion restriction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidmotion restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The garment incorporates an inflatable bladder chamber that can dynamically change volume between deflated and inflated states. When inflated, the bladder provides thermal insulation; when deflated, it allows for greater freedom of motion. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining warmth and enabling motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal insulation property is controlled by changing the inflation parameter of the bladder chamber. By adjusting the volume of the bladder through inflation and deflation, the garment can adapt its insulation level without requiring heavy fixed insulation materials, thus maintaining warmth while preserving motion capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If conventional insulation materials are used, then thermal insulation is provided, but effectiveness decreases in wet conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoideffectiveness in wet conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bladder chamber is constructed from laminated components including a liquid-impermeable film layer that prevents water penetration. This flexible shell structure maintains its insulating properties even in wet conditions, unlike conventional porous insulation materials that lose effectiveness when damp.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The bladder chamber utilizes a composite laminate structure combining different material layers: an exterior fabric layer, a bonding layer, and a liquid-impermeable film layer. This composite construction provides both thermal insulation and water resistance, ensuring reliability in wet environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Temperature

If heavy materials are used for warmth, then thermal insulation is improved, but garment weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidgarment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The garment employs a pneumatic bladder chamber inflated with air to provide thermal insulation. Air is a lightweight gas that provides excellent insulation when contained in the bladder structure, replacing heavy solid insulation materials while significantly reducing overall garment weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The bladder chamber serves multiple functions: it provides thermal insulation when inflated, can be deflated for compression and storage, and acts as a water-resistant barrier. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heavy insulation layers, reducing overall garment weight while maintaining warmth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution offers enhanced thermal insulation and flexibility, allowing control over insulation levels and maintaining performance in various conditions, including wet environments.

Implementation Method 1

garment components and garments including such laminates and bladders, e.g., of the types described and/or claimed below and/or of the types illustrated in the appended drawings. In some aspects of this technology, the bladders will include inflatable bladder chambers configured to provide thermal insulation for a wearer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS20260033575A1Laminates, Bladders, and Garments Including Laminates and Bladders

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 NIKE INC

AI summary

Garments include one or more fluid-filled bladder chambers for providing thermal insulation to a wearer. The bladder chamber(s) may be convertible between a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The bladder chamber(s) may be integrally formed with the fabric forming the garment, e.g., with the bladder chamber(s) defined between an exterior laminated component (e.g., formed from a fabric layer and a film layer) and an interior component (e.g., including at least a film layer). The film layers are selectively fixed together, e.g., at a perimeter bond and/or one or more internal bonded regions, to form fluid-tight bladder chamber portions within the overall garment structure. The garments may be equipped with a pump (for adding air to the garment bladder chamber(s)) and/or a release system (for removing air from the garment bladder chamber(s)). In this manner, a wearer can change the garment between the deflated condition and the inflated condition.