Stretchable Clothing Channels Using Venturi Pumping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing climate membranes, such as Goretex® and Sympatex®, are inadequate in dissipating heat and moisture during extremely physically demanding activities, limiting their effectiveness in regulating body climate.
Innovation Solution
The clothing features channels embedded within the carrier material that change cross-section dimensions due to stretchability, creating a continuous pumping effect for enhanced heat and sweat dissipation, with options for one or both ends being open to facilitate airflow, utilizing the Venturi principle for improved heat regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional climate membranes are used, then wind and water protection is achieved, but heat and moisture dissipation is insufficient during extreme physical activity
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple channels running through the carrier material, creating segmented pathways for sweat and heat transport. This segmentation increases the total surface area and capacity for moisture wicking and heat dissipation while maintaining the protective barrier function.
Solution Approach 2:
The channels are designed with varying cross-sections that dynamically adjust during physical activity. The channels have narrowings in their middle sections and can change dimension due to fabric stretching, creating a pumping effect that enhances sweat transport capability during movement while maintaining protection when at rest.
2Strength
If climate membranes with limited vapor permeability are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but sweat transport capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the membrane have different properties: the carrier material provides structural integrity while the embedded channels provide high-capacity sweat transport pathways. The channels with varying cross-sections create localized pumping zones that enhance transport capacity without compromising overall membrane strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel dimensions are designed to dynamically respond to physical activity intensity. During exercise, fabric stretching enlarges channel cross-sections to increase sweat transport capacity, while at rest the channels return to their original configuration, maintaining structural integrity and appropriate vapor permeability.
3Ease of manufacture
If channels with constant cross-section are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but pumping effect and heat regulation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The channels incorporate narrowings in their middle sections, creating a non-uniform cross-section that generates a pumping effect through the fabric during movement. This dynamic geometry enhances sweat and heat transport efficiency by creating pressure differentials that actively move moisture from the skin outward, improving productivity without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
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 design enables effective heat and sweat dissipation even under high physical exertion, enhancing body climate regulation beyond the capabilities of traditional climate membranes by leveraging the stretchable carrier material and Venturi effect.
Implementation Method 1
the carrier material (12) between can be changed between the stretched and non-stretched state in order to enable a continuous enlargement and subsequent reduction in the cross section of the channels (13), so that a continuous pumping effect can be generated
Implementation Method 2
The channels have a narrowing (15) of their cross section in their middle. The narrowing leads to an acceleration of the air transported in the duct. The channels then work according to the Venturi principle and thus enable an additional improvement in heat regulation.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The invention relates to an article of clothing, in particular for being worn directly on the skin, made of water- and/or wind-proof woven fabric, comprising a climate membrane and a substrate material, wherein the substrate material faces the skin. Channels (13) are formed in the substrate material (12).