Reversible Apparel Material with Dynamic Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Articles of apparel for athletic activities often face challenges in balancing permeability and environmental adaptability, as existing materials do not efficiently adjust to varying conditions such as heat retention, moisture management, and precipitation without compromising performance or comfort.
Innovation Solution
The development of a material element with a substrate and projections that can change permeability based on orientation, allowing for high or low air, water, and light permeability by adjusting the configuration of projections relative to the substrate, enabling the garment to adapt to different environmental conditions and user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If material elements with fixed permeability are used, then manufacturing is simple, but adaptability to different environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The material element incorporates projections that can dynamically change their configuration between convex and concave states, allowing the permeability to be adjusted in response to environmental conditions. This dynamic structural change enables the same material to adapt to varying requirements for air, water, and light permeability without requiring multiple different materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of surface configuration (convex vs. concave) of the projections to control permeability. By altering the geometric parameter of the projection orientation relative to the substrate, the material achieves different permeability states for air, water, and light, providing environmental adaptability through parameter variation rather than material composition changes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If projections are added to substrate to enable permeability adjustment, then adaptability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projections are integrated directly into the substrate as a unified structure rather than being separate components. This merging of the projection element and substrate into a single manufactured unit simplifies production by eliminating assembly steps, while still providing the permeability adjustment functionality through the integrated projection structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If reversible structure is implemented, then functional versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves reversible permeability control by inverting the configuration of projections between convex and concave states. This inversion principle allows the same structural element to perform opposite functions (high permeability vs. low permeability) simply by reversing its geometric orientation, providing versatility without requiring entirely different structures for each state.
Data Source
AI summary
An article of apparel is disclosed that is at least partially formed from a material element having a substrate and a plurality of projections. The substrate has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The projections extend from the first surface of the substrate, and the projections each have terminal ends located opposite the substrate. The material element has a first permeability when the first surface has a convex configuration, and the material element has a second permeability when the first surface has a concave configuration, the first permeability being greater than the second permeability. The apparel may be reversible such that either the first surface or the second surface of the substrate faces outward.