Micro Hook-and-Loop Closure for Garment Donning Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional garments are difficult to don or doff quickly due to constrictions at the sleeves and pant legs, as conventional fasteners only allow a fixed expansion of the cuff or hem openings, leading to issues with inserting or removing extremities and causing bunching and twisting of the garment.
Innovation Solution
A micro hook-and-loop closure system is placed at the distal portions of sleeves and pant legs, allowing for customizable and adjustable fit by enlarging the opening through the engagement and disengagement of micro hook and micro loop materials, which are soft and non-irritating, preventing snagging and providing multiple degrees of contact for progressive tightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fasteners (buttons, zippers, metal snaps) are placed at the cuff or hem, then the garment structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the opening expansion is limited to a fixed amount making it difficult to don or doff quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system transitions from fixed expansion (conventional fasteners) to dynamic adjustment. The first and second textiles with hook-and-loop fasteners can be positioned at multiple locations along the extremity-covering portion, allowing the opening to expand to varying degrees depending on where the textiles are placed, enabling quick adaptation to different donning needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system is divided into separate components: a first textile with hook-and-loop fastener on the outer-facing surface, and a second textile with complementary fastener on the inner-facing surface. These segmented components can be independently positioned and adjusted along the garment, providing flexible control over opening expansion while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Productivity
If the cuff or hem opening is enlarged to allow quick insertion of extremities, then donning speed improves, but the garment loses its constriction function and fit
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic adjustment between two states: when the first and second textiles are engaged, the opening is constricted for proper fit; when disengaged or repositioned, the opening expands for quick donning. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by allowing the garment to switch between fit and speed modes as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second textiles are pre-positioned at multiple locations along the extremity-covering portion during manufacturing. This preliminary placement allows the wearer to quickly engage or disengage the fasteners at the appropriate location during donning, enabling rapid size adjustment without compromising the eventual fit once engaged.
3Device complexity
If conventional fasteners are used, then the garment structure is simple, but the fastener causes bunching and twisting of the garment material
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system uses flexible textiles with hook-and-loop fasteners instead of rigid conventional fasteners like buttons, zippers, or metal snaps. These flexible textiles conform to the garment material and extremity shape, distributing the fastening force evenly and preventing bunching and twisting of the garment material while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the closure system provides fixed expansion, then the fastener structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different fit preferences or extremity sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into multiple discrete fastening locations along the extremity-covering portion. By placing the first and second textiles at different positions, the system can accommodate different extremity sizes and fit preferences. Each segmented location provides an independent fastening option, enabling adaptability without requiring a completely complex adjustable mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook-and-loop fastener system serves multiple functions: it provides closure at fixed locations like conventional fasteners, but also enables adjustable opening expansion by repositioning the textiles. This multi-functionality allows a single simple fastener type to replace multiple specialized fasteners, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
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 micro hook-and-loop closure system enables quicker donning and doffing by increasing the room at constricted areas, preventing bunching and snagging, and providing an adjustable fit without irritating the skin or causing wear-and-tear.
Implementation Method 1
the first textile comprises one of a micro hook material or a micro loop material... and the second textile comprises one of a micro hook material or a micro loop material complementary to the micro hook material or the micro loop material of the first textile
Data Source
AI summary
An article or garment comprising a micro hook-and-loop closure system is provided herein. The article comprises at least one extremity-covering portion. The distal end of the extremity-covering portion comprises a first textile at an outer-facing surface and a second textile at an inner-facing surface. The second textile includes micro hook or micro loop materials that releasably mate with complementary micro hook or micro loop materials of the first textile in order to place the micro hook-and-loop closure system in a closed configuration. The placement, size, and shape of each of the first and second textiles, as extending from a distal end toward a proximal end of the article, enable the article or garment to be expediently and comfortably donned and doffed.