Tapered Firefighter Jacket Pockets for Mobility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firefighter jackets with large, protruding pockets at the front hinder flexibility and safety due to bulk and weight, causing snagging and restricted movement, especially in tight spaces.
Innovation Solution
Designing pockets that vary in depth along their width, with the deepest part positioned towards the back, integrated into the jacket's structure to prevent bulk at the front and reduce protrusion, using materials like aramid fibers for safety and flexibility, and incorporating features like internal reinforcement and angled openings for easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large pockets are sewn directly onto the front of the firefighter jacket, then tool storage capacity is improved, but flexibility and movement freedom deteriorate due to bulk and weight at the front
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket depth varies along the width of the jacket, transitioning from shallow at the front to deep at the back. This dimensional variation allows the pocket to provide substantial storage capacity while maintaining a low profile at the front, preventing bulk and weight from interfering with firefighter movement and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the pocket serve different functions: the front portion is shallow to maintain flexibility and prevent snagging, while the back portion is deep to provide adequate tool storage capacity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between storage needs and movement freedom.
2Ease of operation
If large pockets are positioned at the bottom front of the jacket, then tool accessibility is improved, but safety deteriorates due to protrusions that can snag and catch on things
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket depth transitions from shallow at the front to deep at the back, creating a tapered profile that eliminates protruding edges at the front where snagging would occur. Tools remain accessible through the front opening while the tapered design prevents the pocket from catching on objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The pocket has an asymmetric depth profile rather than a uniform depth, with the deepest portion located at the back and the shallowest at the front. This asymmetric design provides both accessibility and safety by allowing easy tool insertion/removal at the front while preventing snagging.
3Quantity of substance
If deep pockets are positioned at the front of the jacket, then tool storage capacity is improved, but mobility deteriorates due to bulk preventing firefighters from squeezing through tight doorways and confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket depth varies along the width of the jacket, being shallow at the front and deep at the back. This dimensional variation provides substantial tool storage capacity in the back portion while maintaining a slim front profile that allows firefighters to move freely and squeeze through confined spaces without bulk interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A firefighter jacket that comprises a torso-covering portion and a pair of sleeves, wherein at least one pocket is positioned on the torso-covering portion. The pockets comprise an interior chamber and an opening to the interior chamber. The interior chamber has a width and a depth that varies along the width. The opening to the interior chamber is of a width that is less than the width of the interior chamber.