Multilayer Athletic Garment Structure for Waterproof Breathability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Athletic garments that provide protection from precipitation often trap perspiration, leading to discomfort and performance issues due to inadequate moisture management.
Innovation Solution
A multilayered garment design featuring a water-resistant outer layer with zoned vapor permeability and a moisture management inner layer, facilitated by an intermediate layer that enhances vapor transport, allowing perspiration to evaporate while preventing liquid water entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water-resistant outer layer is used to protect from precipitation, then water resistance is improved, but vapor permeability deteriorates causing perspiration to be trapped
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into multiple functional layers: an outer layer with water-resistant properties and controlled vapor permeability, an intermediate layer with selective permeability characteristics, and an inner moisture-wicking layer. Each layer segment performs a specific function to collectively resolve the contradiction between water resistance and vapor permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the garment have different permeability characteristics. The outer layer incorporates zones with varying densities of micro-perforations or mesh patterns, allowing high vapor permeability in areas needing breathability while maintaining water resistance in areas requiring protection from precipitation.
2Reliability
If the outer layer is made fully impermeable to water, then water protection is improved, but moisture management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate layer is introduced between the outer water-resistant layer and the inner moisture-wicking layer. This intermediate layer acts as a mediator with selective permeability properties, allowing water vapor to pass through while blocking liquid water, thus enabling both precipitation protection and moisture management.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer layer incorporates porous structures such as micro-perforations, mesh patterns, or foam structures that are sized to allow vapor molecules to pass through while being too small to permit liquid water droplets from precipitation to penetrate, achieving both water protection and moisture management.
3Ease of operation
If vapor permeability is increased to allow perspiration evaporation, then moisture management is improved, but water resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The physical parameters of the outer layer are optimized by controlling the size, shape, distribution, and geometry of perforations or pores. By adjusting these parameters, the material allows vapor to pass through while maintaining resistance to liquid water penetration, thus achieving both moisture management and water resistance simultaneously.
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 garment effectively protects against precipitation while allowing for temperature regulation through perspiration evaporation, addressing the trade-off between moisture management and water resistance in traditional athletic wear.
Implementation Method 1
The micro-perforations in the water resistant outer layer may be of a size, such as 0.5 millimeters in diameter, that permits water vapor to evaporate through the micro-perforation but that substantially prevents liquid water entering the garment through the micro-perforation.
Implementation Method 2
Examples of appropriate moisture management fabrics are fabrics that facilitate the movement of perspiration using capillary action, denier differential mechanisms, or other processes.
Implementation Method 3
The intermediate layer may comprise a PTFE film, which provides at least some inherent vapor permeability, with an adhesive applied to one or both sides of the PTFE film.
Data Source
AI summary
A water proof moisture management garment and a method of constructing such a garment in accordance with the present invention utilizes at least three layers. An outer layer may comprise a stretch woven textile treated with a durable water repellant finish. The outer layer may be micro-perforated to permit perspiration to evaporate through the micro-perforations. An inner layer may comprise a moisture management textile to facilitate the transport of perspiration away from the skin of a wearer. An intermediate layer may bond the outer layer to the inner layer. The intermediate layer may provide holes to permit the evaporation of perspiration from the inner layer through the micro-perforations of the outer layer.