Patterned Moisture-Control Fabric for Breathable Sweat Concealment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sweat-proof materials either inhibit air flow and cause discomfort due to rigidity, or lead to full saturation and garment cling, failing to efficiently manage moisture and maintain wearer comfort.
Innovation Solution
A fabric structure with a hydrophobic outer surface and an inner surface featuring alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, allowing moisture to be directed away from the skin while preventing accumulation and promoting quick drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thin plastic film is incorporated to prevent water movement across layers, then moisture control is improved, but air flow is inhibited and fabric rigidity increases causing wearer discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous hydrophobic membrane that allows air and water vapor to pass through while blocking liquid water. The porous structure enables breathability and flexibility unlike solid plastic films, resolving the contradiction between moisture control and wearer comfort by allowing gas flow while preventing liquid penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining a hydrophobic membrane with hydrophilic fabric layers. This composite material approach allows the hydrophobic layer to block liquid moisture while the hydrophilic layers manage vapor transport, achieving both effective moisture control and breathability for wearer comfort.
2Ease of operation
If hydrophobic coatings are applied to prevent liquid movement through the material, then breathability is improved, but the inside of the fabric reaches full saturation causing garment cling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fabric into distinct functional layers: a hydrophobic membrane layer for liquid blocking and hydrophilic fabric layers for vapor management. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, preventing full saturation while maintaining breathability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the fabric structure. The hydrophobic membrane provides liquid resistance where needed, while hydrophilic regions facilitate vapor absorption and transport, creating local quality variations that resolve the contradiction between breathability and moisture control.
3Reliability
If inherently hydrophobic materials are used to create sweat-proof materials, then liquid penetration is prevented, but perspiration remains on the skin surface causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydrophobic membrane as an intermediary layer between the skin and the external environment. This membrane blocks liquid sweat penetration while allowing water vapor to pass through, preventing skin wetness while maintaining breathability for wearer comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic membrane is designed with a porous structure that allows water vapor molecules to pass through while blocking larger liquid water molecules. This porous design enables the membrane to provide sweat-proof protection while maintaining breathability to prevent skin discomfort.
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 fabric effectively manages moisture, reducing garment cling and drying time, while maintaining a dry outer surface and enhancing wearer comfort by directing sweat away from the skin.
Implementation Method 1
an outer surface comprising a hydrophobic material
Implementation Method 2
one or more second regions, wherein the one or more second regions each comprise a hydrophilic material
Implementation Method 3
evaporation of the fluid removes the heat from the surface underneath
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides articles of manufacture with improved moisture control as well as methods of making such articles. In some embodiments, provided herein the article has a fabric with an outer hydrophobic surface and an inner surface with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions where the hydrophilic regions can form a pattern, allowing moisture to collect and move through the pattern, and the hydrophobic regions prevent the whole inner surface from becoming moist and the outer hydrophobic regions does not show moisture. The fabric may be used to make garments. The entire inner surface of the garment may be patterned with hydrophilic patterns for partial absorption, and the entire outer surface of the garment is hydrophobic, thereby preventing perspiration from being seen from outside of the garment. Further provided herein are methods of making fabrics with improved moisture control including by printing or knitting.