Undergarment Clip for Underwire Protrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing undergarments with rigid components like underwires and boning often cause discomfort and injury due to protrusion through the fabric, leading to premature replacement, as current solutions like tape and bandages are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
A compact, protective clip made of durable yet pliant plastic or polymer, designed to attach to undergarments and securely hold the ends of underwires or boning, preventing chafing and bruising by creating a snug fit within a track on the clip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid components like underwires and boning are used in undergarments, then structural support is improved, but discomfort and injury risk increase due to protrusion through fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate protective clip as an intermediary device that attaches to the undergarment and provides additional protection over the rigid underwire ends. This mediator absorbs the harmful effect of the rigid component by creating a buffer layer between the underwire and the wearer's skin, allowing the underwire to maintain its structural support function while eliminating the protrusion problem
Solution Approach 2:
The protective clip is designed as a separate component with a channel that receives and secures the end of the underwire, preventing it from protruding through the fabric. The clip attaches to the undergarment at the gore area, creating a localized protective structure that maintains the overall integrity of the undergarment while solving the specific problem of underwire exposure
2Ease of operation
If fabric is made thinner or more flexible for comfort, then wearability is improved, but protection against rigid component protrusion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective clip provides beforehand cushioning by creating a protective barrier at the vulnerable points (ends of underwires) before the thin fabric can fail. The clip's structure anticipates the potential failure of thin fabric and provides reinforcement in advance, allowing the fabric to remain thin and flexible for comfort while the clip prevents protrusion
3Reliability
If undergarments are replaced prematurely to avoid injury, then safety is improved, but cost and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is extracted from the main undergarment structure into a separate, removable clip. This allows the protective function to be maintained independently of the undergarment's fabric condition - the clip can remain effective even as the undergarment fabric degrades, eliminating the need to replace the entire undergarment for safety reasons
Solution Approach 2:
The protective clip can be detached and reused on different undergarments, while the undergarment itself can be replaced without losing the protective component. This separation allows recovery and reuse of the protective element, reducing overall waste and cost
Data Source
AI summary
An undergarment clip constraining the undercup support bands and wires of a brassiere or similar undergarment, and in particular a novel clip designed to attach to the edge of a brassiere having an underwire support to limit the protrusion of the underwire through the brassiere material. The device can also be utilized to similarly constrain boning and other support components in brassieres, corsets and other such undergarments.