Packable Water-Resistant Insulated Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breathable, water-resistant insulated articles are bulky and time-consuming to pack due to air retention, increasing the volume when trying to minimize size for transport.
Innovation Solution
A layered construction comprising an outer laminate of textile and barrier layer, an insulation layer, and an inner air-permeable textile, with specific permeability and weight characteristics to enable quick and compact packing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional waterproof breathable insulated articles are used, then water resistance and breathability are achieved, but the articles have high bulk and require lengthy time to remove air for packing
Solution Approach 1:
The article is divided into distinct functional layers: an outer layer with waterproof breathable laminate, a middle insulation layer, and an inner air-permeable layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function while collectively achieving rapid air evacuation and compact packing without compromising water resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner layer is specifically designed as an air-permeable textile that allows trapped air to escape quickly during packing. This porous structure enables rapid air removal while the outer waterproof breathable laminate maintains water resistance, resolving the contradiction between durability and packability.
2Reliability
If conventional waterproof breathable insulated articles are used, then water resistance is maintained, but the articles require lengthy time to force air out during packing
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the waterproof function (outer laminate) from the air evacuation function (inner permeable layer), the design allows air to escape rapidly through the inner layer while water resistance is maintained by the outer layer, significantly reducing packing time without sacrificing durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-permeable inner layer acts as a dedicated air evacuation pathway, allowing trapped air to escape quickly during rolling or folding. This porous structure specifically addresses the time-consuming air removal issue while the outer waterproof laminate remains intact to maintain water resistance.
3Volume of moving object
If air is removed from conventional insulated articles for packing, then packing volume is reduced, but the time required to force air out increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The air-permeable inner layer provides multiple air escape pathways throughout the article structure, enabling rapid air evacuation as the article is compressed during packing. This dramatically reduces both the time required to remove air and the final packing volume compared to conventional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-permeable inner layer is pre-configured to facilitate air escape before packing begins. As the article is rolled or folded, air can immediately escape through the permeable inner layer without requiring forceful compression, reducing both time and effort required for packing.
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 allows for breathable, water-resistant, and lightweight protective articles that can be easily packed into small volumes, significantly reducing packing volume compared to prior art, while maintaining durability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a barrier layer, the laminate having a water leakage of about 1 g/H2O or less
Implementation Method 2
a breathability of about 1000 g/m2/24 hrs or greater
Implementation Method 3
an insulation layer, and an inner layer comprising an air permeable textile
Implementation Method 4
the inner layer may, in one embodiment, be selected to have an air permeability greater than the air permeability of the outer layer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Breathable, water resistant protective articles (10), such as garments, sleeping bags, and the like, which are readily packable into small volumes. The articles (10) are constructed from an outer layer (16) comprising a laminate of a textile (12) bonded to a barrier layer (14), an insulation layer (18) and an inner layer (20) comprising an air permeable textile.