Cleanroom Protective Clothing With Integrated Reusable Pouch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleanroom protective clothing generates significant waste due to single-use disposable packaging, which is environmentally harmful and complicates garment extraction and reconditioning without compromising sterility.

Innovation Solution

A reusable and sterilizable packaging pouch is integrated into the inner face of the garment, attached by irreversible means, featuring a rounded opening and a flap to facilitate easy removal and repackaging, reducing environmental impact while maintaining sterility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If disposable packaging is used for protective clothing, then sterility is maintained, but significant waste is generated and garment extraction is complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesterilityVSAvoidwaste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is integrated directly into the garment by attaching it to the inner face, merging the packaging function with the garment structure. This eliminates the need for separate disposable packaging while maintaining sterility through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch is designed to be reusable and sterilizable, allowing it to be recovered and reused multiple times instead of being discarded after single use. The pouch can be sterilized and reused for packaging the same or different garments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If disposable packaging is used for protective clothing, then sterility is maintained, but logistical costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesterilityVSAvoidlogistical costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is designed for multiple uses through sterilization and reuse, eliminating the need for continuous production and disposal of new packaging materials. This reduces logistical costs associated with manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of single-use packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The same pouch can be reused for packaging multiple garments or different types of protective clothing, making it a universal packaging solution that reduces overall packaging requirements and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of substance

If a reusable pouch is used for protective clothing, then waste is reduced, but garment removal and repackaging becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewasteVSAvoidgarment removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The opening is designed with a rounded shape instead of sharp corners, which facilitates easier insertion and removal of the garment from the pouch. The curved geometry allows the garment to slide in and out more smoothly without getting caught on sharp edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch includes a removable closure element (such as a zipper or snap fastener) that segments the sealing function from the pouch body, allowing easy opening and closing while maintaining the integrity of the reusable pouch structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of substance

If a reusable pouch is used for protective clothing, then waste is reduced, but decontamination and reconditioning complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewasteVSAvoiddecontamination process
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is designed to withstand sterilization processes and can be decontaminated using standard sterilization methods (autoclaving, chemical sterilization). The simple integrated structure without complex components makes it easier to clean and sterilize compared to multi-component packaging systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4398759B1Clothing for clean room having an integrated pouch, and associated packaging method
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 ELIS SERVICES
  • EP4398759B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4398759B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4398759B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

The invention relates to an item of protective clothing (1) for a clean room, intended to be worn by a user and comprising an outer surface (1a) provided to be in contact with the external environment and an inner surface (1b) arranged to be in contact with the user wearing said item of clothing (1), the item of clothing (1) comprising a pouch (10) for packaging the item of clothing, which pouch is connected to the inner surface (1b) of the item of clothing by irreversible fastening means and comprises a single wall (11) connected by its edges to the inner surface (1b) of the item of clothing (1) and comprising an outer surface provided to be in contact with the external environment once the item of clothing has been packaged in the pouch (10), and an inner surface (11b) provided to be in contact with the user wearing said item of clothing, the wall (11) being defined by four corners and comprising an opening (14) having a rounded shape extending between two opposite corners.