Vented Garment Seam Openings for Moisture Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold-weather garments trap moisture vapor due to water-resistant and fill-proof textiles, leading to discomfort and reduced effectiveness in insulating the wearer, as they hinder the escape of moisture and heat.
Innovation Solution
The development of vented garments with strategically placed openings in seams that allow moisture and heat to escape, utilizing adhesive bonding, stitching, or both to create chambers filled with insulating materials, and positioning these openings to maximize heat retention while allowing for moisture venting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-resistant and fill-proof textiles are used to prevent moisture and fill penetration, then water resistance and fill retention are improved, but moisture vapor transmission is reduced causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into multiple functional layers: an inner layer for moisture vapor transmission, an insulating layer with chambers, and an outer water-resistant layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, with the inner layer handling breathability and the outer layer providing water resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer with its chamber structure acts as an intermediary between the inner and outer layers. The chambers filled with insulating material provide thermal insulation while the spaced-apart configuration allows moisture vapor to pass through, mediating between the conflicting requirements of insulation and breathability.
2Temperature
If insulation material is added to retain body heat, then thermal insulation is improved, but moisture vapor transmission rate is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating material is placed specifically in the chambers of the insulating layer rather than uniformly throughout the garment. This localized placement provides thermal insulation where needed while maintaining moisture vapor transmission pathways in other areas, particularly in the inner layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer is designed with a porous chamber structure that allows moisture vapor to pass through while retaining thermal insulation. The spaced-apart chamber configuration creates pathways for vapor transmission while the insulating material within chambers provides thermal protection.
3Reliability
If seams are sealed to prevent fill material penetration, then fill retention is improved, but moisture vapor escape is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The seam structure is segmented into multiple components: outer layer, inner layer, and insulating layer with chambers. This segmentation creates multiple pathways for moisture vapor to escape through the seam regions while maintaining fill retention through the chamber design.
Solution Approach 2:
The seam design extends into the third dimension by incorporating the insulating layer with chambers between the outer and inner layers. This vertical dimensionality allows moisture vapor to escape through the chamber spaces while the seam structure maintains fill retention.
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 vented garment effectively regulates interior temperature and prevents moisture buildup, maintaining warmth and comfort during physical activity by facilitating the escape of moisture and heat, thus enhancing the wearer's experience in cold weather.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more seams may be formed by actively adhering the interior surfaces of the interior and exterior garment layers together with, for example, a suitable adhesive
Implementation Method 2
the one or more seams may be formed by stitching the interior and the exterior garment layers together forming seam boundaries
Implementation Method 3
Each chamber is filled with thermally insulating materials such as synthetic fill material and/or down for thermal insulation
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of openings formed on one or more seams joining, for instance, exterior and interior garment layers, each comprising an interior and an opposite exterior surface, where each opening in the plurality of openings extends through the seams, through the exterior and the interior garment layers
Implementation Method 5
the technology may regulate an interior temperature of the garment by facilitating a transfer of heat through the garment
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described herein relates to breathable, vented, and insulating garments. More particularly, the technology described herein relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Openings along seams between the insulating chambers may achieve evaporative moisture or air transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment. In an aspect, the garments comprise one or more insulated zones provided with one or more vented-insulation sections provided at locations on the garment configured to align with one or more areas of a wearer's body that are more sensitive to environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) and/or are prone to faster heat loss.