Space-Treated Yarn Textiles for Modulated Functional Properties

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing textile and garment manufacturing processes fail to effectively incorporate functional finishes into yarns without altering their visual appearance, limiting the ability to engineer textiles with specific, modulated functional properties.

Innovation Solution

A space-treating process is used to apply functional finishes to yarns, allowing for the creation of textiles with engineered properties by controlling the length and distribution of contiguous segments with different finishes, enabling a staggered or gradient pattern that imparts desired functional attributes without altering the yarn's visual appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If functional finishes are applied to yarns using traditional methods, then the yarn visual appearance is altered, but the ability to maintain aesthetic characteristics is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional performanceVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different functional finishes to different segments of the yarn while maintaining the overall visual appearance. By treating only specific portions of the yarn with functional finishes (such as hydrophobic or hydrophilic treatments) rather than the entire yarn, the invention achieves localized functional properties without compromising the overall aesthetic characteristics of the textile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If functional finishes are applied uniformly to yarns, then functional properties are achieved, but the ability to modulate functional properties in different textile areas is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional property modulationVSAvoidspace-treating process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the yarn into multiple segments along its length, with each segment receiving different functional treatments. This segmentation allows different portions of the textile to exhibit different functional properties (e.g., hydrophobic zones, hydrophilic zones, moisture-wicking zones) while using a systematic space-treating process that can be integrated into existing manufacturing workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces spatial variation along the yarn length dimension, creating gradients and patterns of functional finishes. By controlling the distribution of functional treatments along the longitudinal axis of the yarn, the invention enables modulated functional properties in different textile areas without requiring complex multi-dimensional processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If traditional dyeing space-treating processes are used for functional finishes, then aesthetic characteristics are altered, but the ability to maintain visual appearance while applying functional properties is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional finish applicationVSAvoidyarn visual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies traditional dyeing space-treating processes to apply functional finishes locally to specific yarn segments rather than uniformly throughout. This localized application allows the functional properties to be imparted without significantly altering the visual appearance of the yarn, as the functional treatments are concentrated in specific zones rather than distributed throughout the entire yarn length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 approach allows for textiles with modulated functional properties, such as hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments, which can effectively manage sweat distribution and absorption, providing improved wearer comfort and performance.

Implementation Method 1

hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments, which can effectively manage sweat distribution and absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments, which can effectively manage sweat distribution and absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilic effect: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentEP3523470B1Textiles formed using yarns space-treated with functional finishes
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 NIKE INNOVATE CV
  • EP3523470B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3523470B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3523470B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Aspects herein are directed to using a space-treating process to apply functional finishes to a yarn and incorporating the treated yarn into a textile and/or a garment to impart engineered functional properties to the textile and/or garment.