Two-Slider Invisible Zipper for Discreet Garment Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lower body garments with zippers do not allow female wearers to urinate without exposing themselves to cold or drawing the pants down, and existing solutions are unsuitable for gender-neutral or discreet access needs.
Innovation Solution
A lower body garment featuring a two-slider invisible zipper that extends from the front waistband to the rear, hidden within a seam and flaps, allowing for rear access without visible flaps or unusual closures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the zipper is extended to the rear waistband, then female wearers can urinate without drawing pants down, but the zipper becomes visible and the appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A fabric flap is introduced as an intermediary element that covers the extended zipper when closed. The flap is positioned to conceal the zipper extension from view while allowing the zipper to function for its intended purpose. This mediator resolves the contradiction by hiding the functional element that causes the appearance issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment has different visual properties in different regions: the front portion maintains a conventional appearance while the rear portion contains the extended zipper functionality. The flap creates a local distinction where the zipper extension is hidden only in the regions where it would be visible, allowing functional extension without compromising overall appearance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the zipper is made visible to allow rear access, then two-way access is enabled, but the garment loses its normal appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric flap serves as a mediator that allows the zipper to have extended functionality while maintaining a conventional appearance when closed. The flap conceals the extended zipper portion, enabling two-way access without permanently altering the visual appearance of the garment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap is designed to be movable, allowing it to be positioned to cover the extended zipper when a conventional appearance is desired, and can be moved aside when rear access is needed. This dynamic element allows the garment to switch between different functional states while maintaining aesthetic consistency.
3Ease of operation
If the pants are drawn down to the knees to urinate, then access is achieved, but warmth is lost and time is wasted re-tucking the shirt
Solution Approach 1:
The urination function is extracted from the conventional front zipper location and extended to the rear of the garment. This allows female wearers to access the aperture without disturbing the front closure or the shirt-tuck, separating the urination function from the shirt-closing action and eliminating the time loss associated with retucking.
4Ease of operation
If the pants are drawn down to the knees to urinate, then access is achieved, but warmth is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The urination access function is extracted and relocated to the rear of the garment through the extended zipper. This allows the aperture to be opened at the rear without drawing the entire pants down to the knees, keeping the majority of the garment in place around the waist and legs, thereby maintaining warmth while providing necessary access.
Data Source
AI summary
A lower body garment with an extended invisible zipper that extends past the perineum. The zipper may extend further upwards along the posterior of the wearer, perhaps to the waistline. The zipper is an invisible zipper having two sliders, a first slider which may unzip from the front to the back, and a second slider which may unzip from the back to the front. One or both sliders may tuck into a compartment, which in conjunction with the invisible zipper construction prevent others from knowing the wearer's pants may be unzipped from the rear. A flap may cover the chain of the zipper on the inside of the pants. A system may include pants or shorts with a two slider invisible zipper, and underwear including a flap from front to back forming an aperture sized the same as the aperture in the pants at the zipper.