Removable Stiffener Inserts for Open Collar Shape Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open collared shirts tend to crumple or buckle under the weight of the collar, leading to an unattractive appearance, and existing stiffening methods using starch are temporary and uncomfortable, while non-removable stiffener solutions do not fully address the issue of maintaining a desired shape.
Innovation Solution
The integration of removable stiffener inserts into pockets on the shirt's edge areas, which can be easily inserted and removed to maintain the desired shape of the upper front section, allowing for comfort and flexibility in styling, and can be replaced when they lose stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If starch is used to stiffen portions of the shirt, then the open collar appearance is maintained, but the effects dissipate over time and overly starched areas become uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening function is extracted from the fabric itself and placed into separate removable insert elements that can be inserted into pockets on the shirt's edge areas. This allows the stiffening property to be separated from the comfort property of the fabric, enabling the stiffener to be removed when comfort is needed while maintaining collar shape when inserted.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening system is made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The removable inserts can be inserted or removed based on the desired level of stiffness and comfort, allowing the collar shape maintenance to adapt to different situations and time periods.
2Shape
If non-removable stiffener members are used to maintain open collar appearance, then the collar shape is maintained, but the stiffener loses stiffness over time after repeated washings and cannot be replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening system is segmented into separate components: the shirt body with pockets and the removable insert elements. This segmentation allows the stiffener to be independently replaced when it loses effectiveness, while the shirt body with pockets remains intact and reusable.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable inserts can be discarded when they lose their stiffness after washing and replaced with new ones, while the shirt body with pockets is recovered and reused. This extends the overall system lifespan and maintains reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If removable stiffener inserts are used to maintain desired shape, then flexibility and comfort are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removable stiffener inserts are nested within pockets that are part of the shirt's edge areas. This nesting approach integrates the stiffening function into the existing shirt structure without adding external complexity, as the pockets and inserts work together as a unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
A stiffener assembly for a shirt with an open collar includes a pair of stiffener pockets, and a pair of removable stiffener inserts to be inserted into the pair of stiffener pockets to hold the open collar of the shirt in a desired shape. Each stiffener pocket includes an outer pocket panel, and an inner pocket panel aligned with the outer pocket panel. The outer and inner pocket panels each have a top, a bottom and sides extending between the top and bottom. Stitching couples together the outer and inner pocket panels along the sides and bottom thereof so as to form a passageway extending between the outer and inner pockets panel. The top of the outer and inner pocket panels are not stitched so as to form a stiffener pocket opening. The removable stiffener inserts are inserted into the passageways of the stiffener pockets through the stiffener pocket openings.