Radiussed Garment Former with Protective Container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Garments such as shirts and blouses tend to become creased during transportation, especially when carried in rucksacks or cycling, due to the lack of effective protection against folding and external pressure, which affects their presentation quality.

Innovation Solution

A garment transport device comprising a radiussed garment former and a protective container that prevents creasing by using a planar body with curved edges and a collar support, allowing the garment to be wrapped without causing creases, and a rigid or flexible container to shield the garment from external pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a garment is folded and placed in a rucksack or suitcase for transport, then the garment can be carried during cycling or jogging, but the garment becomes creased and loses its presentation quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveportability of garmentVSAvoidpresentation quality of garment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The former incorporates radiussed edges with specific radii of curvature that match the natural fold lines of the garment. This curvature allows the garment to wrap around the former without creating sharp creases, while the radiussed geometry prevents fabric stress concentration that would otherwise cause permanent creasing during transport

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The former acts as an intermediary object between the garment and the container. It provides a structured support form that the garment can wrap around, mediating between the need for compact transport and the requirement to maintain garment presentation quality by distributing mechanical stresses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a rigid container is used to protect the garment from external pressure, then the garment is shielded from creasing, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from external pressureVSAvoidstructure of transport device
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container may be formed from flexible or resilient material rather than requiring entirely rigid construction. This flexible shell provides sufficient protection from external pressure and creasing while reducing the overall structural complexity and weight of the transport device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The garment is wrapped around the former in advance before placement in the container. This preliminary wrapping action creates a protected configuration that reduces the need for complex container structures, as the garment-former assembly is already pre-positioned and stabilized

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2482687A2Garment carrier
Publication Date: 2012.08.08 BRUNDAN ANDREW

AI summary

A garment carrier is disclosed, comprising a former (3) having a body (6) with the opposed edges (8, 9) radiussed so that a garment wrapped round the former is not creased by being wrapped round the radiussed edges. The former is preferably generally rectangular in shape having a collar support (7) extending from one end, and the radiussed edges extending along its sides and optionally its other end. A shirt is mounted to the former by spreading out the buttoned shirt face down, placing the former on the back of the shirt with the collar support inside the back of the collar, and folding the sleeves round the radiussed edges. The shirt and former are then placed in a protective container (4) for transport, located within the container by cushioned blocks (20). The protective container may be weatherproof, and may be adapted to be secured to a bicycle.