Waterproof Cuff Band Overlap for Footwear and Handwear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterproof socks and gloves fail to effectively prevent water ingress between the cuff area and the wearer's body, allowing water to seep in, compromising their ability to keep hands and feet dry.
Innovation Solution
A composite footwear/handwear design featuring a main body with an outer, inner layer, and a waterproof breathable intermediate layer, incorporating a cuff arrangement with a waterproof cuff band that extends over the inner and outer layers, providing a secure seal by fixing at a distance from the opening to create an overlap, using stitching or adhesive for secure attachment, and employing stretchable materials for comfort and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple cuff arrangement is used, then the item is easier to manufacture and more comfortable, but water can seep between the sock/glove and the leg/arm of the wearer through the cuff area
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff arrangement is segmented into multiple functional components: an elastic cuff body providing stretch and comfort, a waterproof cuff band preventing water ingress, and a cuff lining enhancing comfort. This segmentation allows each component to address specific requirements without compromising the others.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproof cuff band is nested within the cuff arrangement, extending from the interior surface of the elastic cuff body. This nested structure integrates the waterproof function within the existing cuff geometry, providing enhanced protection without significantly increasing external complexity.
2Reliability
If the waterproof cuff band extends far beyond the opening, then water resistance is improved, but the item becomes less comfortable and more difficult to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproof cuff band is strategically positioned at the critical water ingress zone where the cuff meets the opening, providing maximum water resistance precisely where needed. The band does not extend unnecessarily far beyond the opening, maintaining a balanced design that prioritizes water resistance at the critical interface while preserving comfort.
3Reliability
If the waterproof cuff band is securely fixed to prevent water ingress, then waterproof performance is improved, but the comfort and flexibility of the cuff are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproof cuff band is constructed as a flexible component that can be made from elastic materials or coated with flexible waterproof coatings. This allows the band to maintain its waterproof integrity while conforming to the contours of the wearer's leg or arm, preserving comfort and flexibility despite the added waterproofing function.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite item of footwear and handwear having a main body to accommodate the hand/foot of a wearer of the item, the main body comprising an outer layer, an inner layer and a waterproof and breathable intermediate layer between the outer and inner layers, and an opening through which a foot/hand can be inserted, the opening defined by a cuff arrangement comprising a cuff region that comprises an end region of each of the inner and intermediate layers and a cuff inner portion of the outer layer that extends beyond the said end regions, the cuff arrangement further comprising a waterproof cuff band fixed to one or both of the cuff inner portion and end region of the inner layer to lie over and be fixed to the outside of the outer layer, the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer is at a distance from the opening that is greater than the distance between the opening and the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the cuff inner portion or end region of the inner layer.