Supportive Textile Structure for Shaped Support and Wearer Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textiles lack the ability to provide effective support or strengthening functionality while maintaining comfort and flexibility, particularly in defining non-linear shapes for body parts or structures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a fabric strip folded around a plastics core with an adhesive tape applied to form a composite structure, adhered using heat and pressure, and shaped to create supportive textile elements with desired configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a structural support component is added to a textile garment, then the support functionality is improved, but the comfort to the wearer deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a fabric strip with a plastics core to form a structural support component. The fabric strip provides flexibility and comfort while the plastics core provides structural strength and shape definition. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating both soft (comfortable) and rigid (supportive) materials into a single functional element that delivers both wearer comfort and structural support.
2Strength
If a support portion is shaped to match a body part, then the support functionality is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the fabric strip around the plastics core to create a pre-shaped support component that matches the desired body contour. This pre-shaping is done during the manufacturing process before the component is integrated into the final garment, allowing complex non-linear shapes to be achieved through standardized manufacturing steps rather than custom fabrication for each application.
3Strength
If adhesive tape is applied to the textile element, then the adhesion strength is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the adhesive tape component: it provides adhesion strength to bond the fabric strip to the plastics core, and simultaneously serves as a protective layer for the adhesive surface. The adhesive tape is applied in a standardized manner during the manufacturing process, combining the bonding function with the protective function in a single material layer, thereby improving adhesion without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
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
The method allows for the creation of supportive textiles that maintain comfort and flexibility while providing structural support, suitable for garments and non-garment applications, with enhanced recyclability and sustainability options.
Implementation Method 1
the adhesive layer is a heat activated polyurethane adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
applying heat and pressure to the aligned textile carrier element and the one or more structural support component so as to adhere the textile carrier element to the or each structural support component
Implementation Method 3
applying heat and pressure to the aligned textile carrier element and the one or more structural support component so as to adhere the textile carrier element to the or each structural support component
Data Source
AI summary
A method of constructing a supportive textile comprises the steps of providing at least one structural support component in the form of a textile element including a fabric strip folded about a plastics core, the textile element further including an adhesive tape adhered to an outer surface of the textile element so as to present an adhesive layer facing outwardly from an outer surface of the textile element. The or each structural support component is located in a correspondingly shaped aperture formed in a jig so that the adhesive layer Is exposed. A textile carrier element is positioned relative to the or each structural support component so as to cover the adhesive layer on the or each structural support component in a predetermined configuration. Heat and pressure are applied to the aligned textile carrier element and the one or more structural support component so as to adhere the textile carrier element to the or each structural support component. The adhered textile carrier element and structural support component are formed into a supportive textile.