Moisture-Wicking Padding Structure With Push-Pull Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for keeping skin dry and removing sweat and humidity are either complex, costly, or lack practicality in integration with various products such as mattresses, seats, and shoes.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a 'push-pull' fabric layer that absorbs and conveys sweat and humidity inward, combined with a porous structure that promotes air exchange and ventilation through a variable volume padding, allowing for effective removal of moisture and enhanced comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multilayered structures with multiple permeable and impermeable layers are used to absorb and convey humidity and sweat, then the effectiveness of moisture removal is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the moisture removal function into two distinct components: a breathable fabric layer that absorbs and conveys sweat inward, and a porous structure with variable volume padding that promotes air exchange and ventilation outward. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one aspect of moisture management, improving overall effectiveness while simplifying the overall system architecture compared to complex multilayered structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the moisture absorption function from the ventilation function, placing them in separate structural elements. The breathable fabric layer handles sweat absorption and conveyance, while the porous structure with variable volume padding handles air exchange. This extraction eliminates the need for complex multilayered configurations where multiple permeable and impermeable layers must work together, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If complex multilayered structures are implemented for sweat and humidity removal, then moisture removal effectiveness is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments moisture removal into two independent manufacturable components: a breathable fabric layer and a porous structure with variable volume padding. Each component can be manufactured separately using standard textile and foam fabrication processes, then assembled together. This segmentation dramatically improves ease of manufacture compared to creating complex multilayered structures with multiple permeable and impermeable layers that require specialized lamination and bonding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sweat absorption function into a separate breathable fabric layer that can be manufactured independently from the ventilation function embodied in the porous structure. This extraction allows each component to be optimized and manufactured using appropriate standard processes, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining the effectiveness of moisture removal through the combined system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If integrated systems for sweat and humidity removal are placed in various products like mattresses and seats, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed as a universal moisture management solution that can be integrated into various products including mattresses, seats, cushions, and footwear. The two-component structure (breathable fabric layer plus porous structure with variable volume padding) provides a standardized interface that adapts to different applications without requiring product-specific customization, improving versatility while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the moisture removal function into two independent but complementary components, the system becomes easier to integrate into diverse products. Each component can be adapted to different product geometries and requirements independently, reducing the complexity of integration compared to implementing complex multilayered structures that must be customized for each application.
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 system effectively maintains skin dryness by alternating air pumping inwards and humidity outwards, providing comfort and ease of integration with diverse products without significant manufacturing costs or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a first portion (3) made of a material comprising hydrophilic fibres and hydrophobic fibres configured for conveying liquids or wet vapour from outside to inside the casing
Implementation Method 2
The first portion 3 is structured in such a manner as to convey sweat and/or humidity from outside to inside the casing 2
Implementation Method 3
The third casing portion (4) can have an annular edge connected to the first portion (3). The connections between the various casing portions may be of irremovable type, like, for example, normal seams.
Implementation Method 4
These multilayered elements have the object of drying, and thus making more comfortable, the surface in direct contact with the skin of the user owing to the elimination and removal of humidity and/or sweat generated by the skin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
System (1; 11; 21) for receiving a user comprises casing means (2; 12; 22) provided with at least a first portion (3; 13; 23) made of a material comprising hydrophilic fibres and hydrophobic fibres configured for conveying a liquid and/or wet vapour from outside to inside said casing means (2; 12; 22), said first portion (3; 13; 23) being intended in use to be in contact with, or near, a part of the body of a user, said casing means (2; 12; 22) enclosing at least one padding (6) having a porous structure to enable the inside of the structure to be ventilated, said porous structure having a variable volume that is compressible with spring-back, said casing means (2; 12; 22) having at least a second portion (5; 15; 25) opposite said first portion (3; 13; 23) and not being intended in use for the contact with the part of the body, said padding (6) being interposed between said first portion (3; 13; 23) and said second portion (5; 15; 25); said casing means (2; 12; 22) further comprising a third portion (4; 14; 24) that joins said first portion (3; 13; 23) with said second portion (5; 15; 25), said second portion (5; 15; 25) and/or said third portion (4; 14; 24) being permeable for gaseous substances and/or liquids for making sweat and/or wet vapour exiting from said casing means (2; 12; 22) through the effect of a contraction in the volume of said padding (6) and making air entering from outside to inside said casing means (2; 12; 22) through the effect of an expansion in the volume of said padding (6).