Textured Breathable Textile Laminates for Abrasion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathable textile laminates with outward-facing permeable membranes struggle to balance properties like abrasion resistance, breathability, and aesthetics, often resulting in bulky and visually unappealing garments due to the need for additional protective layers.
Innovation Solution
A textured, breathable textile laminate with a water vapor permeable membrane that has a surface topography dimensionally coordinated with an underlying textile, providing a textile-like appearance while maintaining water vapor permeability and lightweight properties without visible underlying textiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional protective fabric layers are added to protect the permeable membrane from damage, then abrasion resistance and durability are improved, but the garment becomes bulky and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective membrane and the aesthetic textile layer into a single integrated laminate structure. The membrane is laminated directly to the textile substrate, eliminating the need for separate protective layers while maintaining both protection and appearance functions in one combined component.
Solution Approach 2:
The laminate structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: the membrane provides water vapor permeability and protection, while the textile substrate provides aesthetic appearance and structural support. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional specialized layers for each function.
2Reliability
If additional protective fabric layers are added to protect the permeable membrane, then durability against puncture and tearing is improved, but the garment weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective membrane and structural textile are combined into a single laminate where the textile substrate itself provides the structural durability needed to prevent puncture and tearing, eliminating the need for additional protective layers that would increase weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed as a thin film laminated to the textile substrate, providing protection without the weight of thicker protective layers. The thin film structure maintains durability while minimizing weight addition.
3Ease of manufacture
If the permeable membrane surface is made flat, then manufacturing is simplified, but the aesthetic appearance becomes unappealing to consumers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to make the membrane surface itself aesthetically pleasing through complex texturing, the patent inverts the approach by laminating the membrane to a textile substrate that already has the desired aesthetic appearance. The textile's surface characteristics are transferred to the outer surface of the laminate.
Solution Approach 2:
The textile substrate acts as a template that copies its aesthetic surface characteristics to the membrane-laminate combination. The textile's weave pattern, texture, and visual appearance are reproduced on the outer surface of the protective layer.
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 laminate achieves a desirable aesthetic appearance while offering the benefits of an outward-facing permeable membrane, including low water pickup and light weight, without the bulkiness of additional protective layers, enhancing wearer acceptance and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a water vapor permeable outward facing protective membrane
Implementation Method 2
The laminate is moisture vapor transmissive
Data Source
AI summary
A textile laminate as described herein comprises a water vapor permeable outward facing protective membrane comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and a textile attached to the inner surface of the membrane, wherein the textile has a surface having a pattern of high regions and low regions. The outer surface of the membrane has a surface topography comprising a pattern of high and low regions that are dimensionally coordinated with a pattern of high and low regions on the surface of the textile.