Breathable Garment Nanoweb Membrane Soil Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Garments with breathable and waterproof membranes face a tradeoff between soil resistance and breathability, as soil impingement can block membrane pores, and coatings to protect the membrane reduce breathability.
Innovation Solution
A garment construction featuring a microporous membrane in a face-to-face relationship with a nanoweb, where the nanoweb is a nonwoven fabric comprising nanofibers, which can be adhered to the membrane using adhesives or mechanical entanglement, enhancing soil resistance while maintaining breathability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the membrane is coated with polymers to protect it from soil impingement, then the membrane's pore blocking resistance is improved, but the breathability of the garment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different layers: the nanoweb layer provides soil resistance and pore blocking protection, while the microporous membrane layer maintains breathability. This local differentiation allows each layer to specialize in one function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining nanoweb material with microporous membrane. The nanoweb provides a protective barrier against soil impingement while the microporous membrane maintains breathability, achieving both protection and comfort through material composition.
2Reliability
If the membrane pores are blocked by body oils and exudates over time, then the membrane's waterproofing is maintained, but the breathability and comfort are severely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the membrane system into two separate functional layers: a nanoweb protective layer that prevents soil impingement, and a microporous membrane layer that maintains breathability and waterproofing. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The nanoweb layer provides preliminary protection against soil impingement and body oils before they can reach and block the microporous membrane pores. This preventive action maintains the membrane's breathability and comfort over time.
3Reliability
If a nonwoven fabric with nanofibers is used instead of traditional fabric, then soil resistance is enhanced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nanoweb nonwoven fabric with porous structure that provides enhanced soil resistance. The nanofiber construction creates a protective barrier while maintaining the necessary breathability and comfort properties.
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 solution provides a soil-resistant, highly breathable structure that maintains the garment's comfort and performance by preventing pore blockage from body oils and exudates without compromising breathability.
Implementation Method 1
microporous membrane situated in a face to face relationship with a nanoweb
Implementation Method 2
nanoweb, wherein the garment further comprises an inner layer fabric and the outer layer fabric is a nonwoven fabric
Data Source
AI summary
A garment containing a breathable laminate that is optionally bonded to an outer layer fabric and an optional inner layer fabric. The breathable laminate is constructed from a microporous membrane situated in a face to face relationship with a nanoweb and optionally bonded thereto.