Raised-Pile Insulated Composite Fabric for Breathable Warmth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional down fabric constructions with nonwoven filler materials face issues such as fiber migration, reduced thermal insulation due to quilting, and poor air permeability, which affects breathability and comfort.

Innovation Solution

The use of a textile fabric with a raised surface as an insulating filler material, enclosed between inner and outer fabric layers, providing a double face warp knit or terry sinker loop construction with varying pile heights and densities to maintain insulation and air permeability while preventing fiber migration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If nonwoven filler material is used to provide thermal insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but fiber migration occurs causing discomfort and reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidfiber migration prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a three-dimensional porous filler material with controlled pore structure that provides thermal insulation while preventing fiber migration. The porous structure traps air for insulation but the interconnected network prevents individual fibers from migrating through the fabric layers, resolving the contradiction between insulation performance and fiber stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by enclosing the porous filler material between two woven fabric layers. This composite construction combines the insulating properties of the porous filler with the containment and structural integrity of the woven layers, preventing fiber migration while maintaining thermal insulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If woven fabric layers are made very tight to inhibit fiber migration, then fiber migration is prevented, but air permeability decreases affecting breathability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber migration preventionVSAvoidair permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous filler material that provides inherent fiber containment through its three-dimensional structure rather than relying on tight weaving. This allows the outer fabric layers to maintain higher air permeability for breathability while the porous filler itself prevents fiber migration through its structured pore network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The porous filler material acts as an intermediary layer between the inner and outer fabric layers. It provides the primary fiber containment function, allowing the outer fabric to be more open and breathable without compromising fiber migration prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Weight of stationary object

If conventional nonwoven filler material is used, then lightweight and good packability are achieved, but thermal insulation is reduced under compression

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelightweightVSAvoidthermal insulation under compression
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a three-dimensional porous filler material with a rigid yet lightweight cellular structure that resists compression. The porous structure maintains its volume and trapped air insulation even when compressed, unlike conventional nonwoven materials that flatten and lose insulating properties, while still keeping the garment lightweight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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

This solution maintains thermal insulation even under compression, enhances air permeability, and prevents fiber migration, resulting in a more comfortable and breathable fabric.

Implementation Method 1

The insulating-filler fabric layer is a textile fabric with a raised surface on at least one side of the fabric... provides insulation of about 0.2 clo per 33.9 grams per square meter to about 1.6 clo per 33.9 grams per square meter... maintains thermal insulation even under compression

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

enhances air permeability... The shell fabric is breathable... The insulating-filler fabric layer has a pile surface including a plurality of discrete regions of no pile interspersed among regions of pile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir permeability: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP2470035B1Insulated composite fabric
Publication Date: 2016.12.28 MMI IPCO LLC
  • EP2470035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2470035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2470035B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

An insulated composite fabric that includes an inner fabric layer, an outer fabric layer, and an insulating-filler fabric layer enclosed between the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer. The insulating-filler fabric layer is a textile fabric with a raised surface on at least one side of the fabric.