Motion-Activated Apparel Venting via Dynamic Pleats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional apparel fails to dynamically regulate body temperature during physical activity, leading to discomfort and potential muscle tightness due to inadequate ventilation and heat management, particularly at specific body regions like the upper back.
Innovation Solution
A motion-activated venting system integrated into apparel, featuring pleat structures that open during activity to enhance ventilation and close during rest, using folds and apertures that expose or cover ventilation regions based on the wearer's motion, providing dynamic temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional apparel is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ventilation capability is insufficient and cannot dynamically regulate body temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by incorporating pleats that can dynamically change their configuration between open and closed states. The pleats are designed to move and adjust automatically in response to wearer motion, transforming the static apparel structure into a dynamic system that adapts to activity levels. This allows the apparel to provide variable ventilation without requiring complex electronic controls or multiple removable layers.
2Temperature
If multiple layers of clothing are worn to retain heat, then body heat retention is improved when inactive, but the convenience deteriorates due to the need to stop and remove layers during exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by designing pleats that automatically open and close in response to wearer motion without requiring manual intervention. The pleats sense the wearer's activity level through their own movement and adjust the ventilation accordingly - closing during rest to retain heat and opening during exercise to dissipate heat. This eliminates the need for the wearer to consciously stop and adjust their clothing layers.
3Temperature
If traditional ventilation designs are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the ventilation distribution is uniform and cannot address specific heat-producing areas like the upper back
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by strategically placing pleats in specific locations where heat generation is highest, such as the upper back. Rather than providing uniform ventilation across the entire garment, the design concentrates ventilation capability at thermally critical zones. This allows targeted heat dissipation where it is most needed while maintaining simpler construction in other areas of the apparel.
Data Source
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Figure 5~6B
AI summary
A motion-activated venting system for incorporation into an article (700, 900) of apparel (100, 1500, 1600, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) is described herein. The motion-activated venting system may comprise a variety of pleats (1201, 504) having one or more folded edges (106) and a ventilation region (110, 236, 308, 614, 710) having a plurality of apertures (1110, 112, 1210, 1310, 1410, 238, 310, 404, 616, 712, 812). In a first state, the one or more folded edges (106) overlie the ventilation region (110, 236, 308, 614, 710) such that the plurality of apertures (1110, 112, 1210, 1310, 1410, 238, 310, 404, 616, 712, 812) is covered. In a second state, the one or more folded edges (106) are remote from the ventilation region (110, 236, 308, 614, 710) such that the plurality of apertures (1110, 112, 1210, 1310, 1410, 238, 310, 404, 616, 712, 812) is exposed. Further, in an intermediate state, the motion-activated venting system is partially open, thereby exposing a portion of the plurality of apertures (1110, 112, 1210, 1310, 1410, 238, 310, 404, 616, 712, 812).