Shirt Sleeve Retention Mechanism Using Button and Tab Loop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sleeve retention mechanisms in clothing, such as long strips of fabric, are costly to manufacture, uncomfortable, bulky, and prone to snagging, while offering limited versatility in rolling up sleeves and an unstreamlined appearance.

Innovation Solution

A sleeve retention mechanism featuring a button on the exterior and a tab loop on the interior of the shirt, where the tab loop is positioned to align with the button when the sleeve is rolled up, allowing for secure retention without excess fabric, providing multiple options for rolling and a more streamlined look.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a long strip of fabric is used for sleeve retention, then the sleeve can be retained in a rolled-up position, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleeve retentionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The long strip of fabric is segmented into two separate components: a button attached to the exterior of the sleeve and a buttonhole attached to the interior of the sleeve. This segmentation eliminates the need for a continuous long fabric strip, reducing fabric consumption and manufacturing cost while maintaining the sleeve retention function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The buttonhole is extracted from the long fabric strip and repositioned to the interior of the sleeve, separate from the button. This extraction allows the retention mechanism to function without requiring a long connecting fabric strip, thereby reducing material usage and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a long strip of fabric is used for sleeve retention, then the sleeve can be retained in a rolled-up position, but the comfort and bulkiness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleeve retentionVSAvoidcomfort and bulkiness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the long fabric strip into separate button and buttonhole components eliminates excess fabric that would otherwise contact the wearer's arm and create bulkiness, improving comfort while maintaining retention reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a long strip of fabric is used for sleeve retention, then the sleeve can be retained in a rolled-up position, but the visual appearance becomes less streamlined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleeve retentionVSAvoidvisual appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented button and buttonhole components create a clean, minimal appearance without the visual bulk of a long fabric strip, achieving a streamlined look while maintaining retention function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Replacing the permanent, visible long fabric strip with small, discrete button and buttonhole components creates a more aesthetically pleasing appearance that does not protrude or create visual clutter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Reliability

If a long strip of fabric is used for sleeve retention, then the sleeve can be retained in a rolled-up position, but the fabric may stick out and become a nuisance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleeve retentionVSAvoidusability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Separating the button and buttonhole eliminates the long fabric strip that would otherwise stick out from the sleeve bottom, preventing interference with activities while maintaining retention capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

5Reliability

If a long strip of fabric is used for sleeve retention, then the sleeve can be retained in a rolled-up position, but the loop created may get caught or snagged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleeve retentionVSAvoidsnagging risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Extracting the buttonhole from the long fabric strip and positioning it independently on the sleeve interior eliminates the continuous fabric loop that could be caught or snagged during activities, reducing the harmful effect while preserving retention function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10729196B2Shirt having retainer for rolled-up sleeves

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 WRANGLER APPAREL CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure describes a garment, such as a shirt, having first and second sleeves, each of which comprises a sleeve retention mechanism that includes (a) a button affixed to an exterior surface of the sleeve and (b) a tab loop affixed to an interior surface of the sleeve. The shirt is configured so that, when the sleeve is rolled up, i.e. when the distal end of the sleeve is folded outward and toward the proximal end of the sleeve, a predetermined number of times, the tab loop is positioned substantially adjacent to the exterior button so that the tab loop may be secured to the button to retain the sleeve in the rolled-up position.