Layered Wetsuit Structure Using Pneumatic Voids for Elasticity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wetsuits made with synthetic rubber-filled fabric stripes suffer from reduced elasticity and material wastage, leading to poorer maneuverability and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A multiple-layer wetsuit design featuring a cell layer, inner layer, knitted fabric layer with inwardly protruding arc protrusions forming voids, and protective coating layers, enhancing compressibility and elasticity through pneumatic springs and improved material utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If synthetic rubber is completely filled into the corrugated stripes of the base fabric, then the outer layer becomes dense and tough, but the thickness of the outer layer increases, reducing elasticity and diving maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a porous foam layer between the base fabric and outer synthetic rubber layer. This foam layer provides structural support and toughness while maintaining overall suit elasticity, as the porous structure allows for compression and expansion without significantly increasing the thickness of the solid rubber layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adopts a multi-layer nested structure where the foam layer is embedded within the sandwich structure of base fabric and outer rubber layer. This nested arrangement allows each layer to contribute its specific properties (strength from rubber, cushioning from foam, structure from fabric) without the layers adding excessive cumulative thickness that would reduce elasticity.
2Strength
If enough synthetic rubber is provided to completely fill the apertures of the fabric textile, then the outer layer achieves sufficient density, but raw material of synthetic rubber is wasted, increasing production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The foam layer serves as a space-efficient structural component that provides bulk and support without requiring large amounts of synthetic rubber. The porous nature of the foam allows it to occupy volume while using less material, reducing synthetic rubber waste while maintaining the necessary outer layer density and protective properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite wetsuit structure combining foam material with synthetic rubber layers. This composite approach allows the foam to承担 the bulk structural function, reducing the amount of expensive synthetic rubber needed while maintaining overall strength and density requirements through the synergistic combination of materials.
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 design provides enhanced flexibility and maneuverability, reduces fatigue, and optimizes material use while maintaining thermal insulation, resulting in a more comfortable and efficient diving experience.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of arc protrusions defining a plurality of voids each serving as a pneumatic spring to thereby enhance the compressibility and elasticity of the wetsuit
Implementation Method 2
enhance the compressibility and elasticity of the wetsuit
Implementation Method 3
a cell layer, an inner layer formed on an inner face of the cell layer
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple-layer wetsuit comprises: a cell layer, an inner layer formed on an inner face of the cell layer, a knitted fabric layer formed on an outer face of the cell layer, and at least a coating layer coated on the outer face of the knitted fabric layer, characterized in that the knitted fabric layer includes a plurality of arc protrusions of fabric stripes protruded inwardly from a base of the knitted fabric layer to be adhered on an outer face of the cell layer, with the plurality of arc protrusions defining a plurality of voids each serving as a pneumatic spring to thereby enhance the compressibility and elasticity of the wetsuit.