Self-Stowing Apparel Pocket Layout to Minimize Chafing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Carrying additional apparel items for inclement weather during outdoor activities can be burdensome, and existing solutions often cause chafing or are not conveniently stowable.

Innovation Solution

An apparel item with a pocket structure positioned to minimize chafing, such as near the neckline or waistband, allowing it to be stowed within the pocket for easy carrying, using lightweight materials and stretchable designs to accommodate various sizes and provide breathability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the apparel item is carried when not being worn, then protection from inclement weather is available, but it becomes a burdensome task

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of protectionVSAvoidconvenience of carrying

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparel item is nested within its own pocket structure, allowing the garment to be stored inside itself. The pocket is sized to receive the apparel item when it is not in use, creating a compact stowed configuration that eliminates the burden of carrying separate bags or containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage function is merged with the apparel item itself by integrating a pocket structure into the garment. The pocket structure becomes part of the apparel item, combining the protective function of the garment with the storage function in a single integrated unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the pocket structure is positioned for easy stowing, then convenience is improved, but chafing may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of stowingVSAvoidchafing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pocket structure is positioned at specific locations on the apparel item (such as the lower leg or hem area) where it does not contact or chafe the wearer's skin. The positioning optimizes convenience for stowing while avoiding harmful contact with the body by placing the pocket in areas with lower movement and friction against the skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the pocket structure is made compact for storage, then portability is improved, but accessibility may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompactness of stowed apparelVSAvoidaccessibility of apparel

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pocket structure is designed to be dynamically accessible, allowing the wearer to easily open and retrieve the apparel item when needed. The pocket includes features such as openings or access points that enable quick retrieval without requiring full unpacking or complex manipulation, maintaining ease of access despite the compact stowed configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3500123B1Stowable apparel item

Publication Date: 2026.04.08 NIKE INNOVATE CV

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

An apparel item (100, 200, 300) for an upper torso or a lower body portion of a wearer having a pocket structure (118, 218, 318) affixed to an inner-facing surface (108, 117, 308) of apparel item. The pocket structure is sized to be able to receive and store the apparel item when the apparel item is not being worn by a wearer, in what is referred to as a 'stowed' configuration. The apparel item may be formed from a lightweight material, such that when the apparel item is in the 'stowed' configuration, the apparel item may be easily carried in the hand of a wearer.