Wetness indicator garment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lower body garments fail to provide effective moisture protection and visual indication of wet conditions, leading to discomfort and unawareness of moisture absorption, especially in environments like grass fields.
Innovation Solution
A lower body garment with a wetness indicator fabric featuring a water-repellent coating applied in a pattern on one surface, which becomes visible when wet, providing both moisture protection and visual signaling of wet conditions, while maintaining breathability and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the garment absorbs moisture to provide protection, then moisture protection is improved, but the garment becomes heavy and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The water-repellent coating is applied selectively to specific portions of the garment (e.g., lower portions more prone to moisture exposure) rather than the entire garment, providing localized moisture protection where needed most while maintaining breathability and comfort in other areas
Solution Approach 2:
The garment combines different materials with complementary properties: a base fabric material that provides breathability and comfort, and a water-repellent coating material applied to specific areas that provides moisture protection without significant weight increase
2Reliability
If the garment uses a water-repellent coating to repel moisture, then moisture absorption is reduced, but the visual indication of wet conditions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The water-repellent coating is applied in a pattern that creates visual contrast when wet versus dry conditions, allowing the coating pattern itself to serve as a visual indicator of moisture presence while maintaining the moisture-repellent function
Solution Approach 2:
The water-repellent coating serves dual functions: it repels moisture to keep the garment dry and comfortable, and simultaneously provides visual indication of wet conditions through its pattern, eliminating the need for separate indicator systems
3Reliability
If the garment provides full moisture protection, then comfort is improved, but breathability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The water-repellent coating is applied selectively to specific portions of the garment rather than uniformly across all areas, providing moisture protection where exposure is most likely while leaving other areas open for breathability and comfort
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying water-repellent treatment to the entire garment, the coating is applied partially to specific high-risk areas, providing sufficient moisture protection where needed while maintaining overall garment breathability and comfort
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 prevents saturation and discomfort by repelling moisture, while visually indicating wet conditions to the wearer and others, enhancing safety and comfort in wet environments.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of the first surface of the textile material is treated with a water-repellent coating material
Implementation Method 2
when lower portions of, for example, the pant legs come in contact with and absorb some moisture
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
The technology described herein relates to a pair of long pants garment (300) panel comprising a pattern (122, 132, 222, 370) of a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating that is selectively applied on to the pant legs (320A) of the pair of long pants. The pattern (122, 132, 222, 370) is comprised of a plurality of discrete shapes (342, 344, 348) that are isolated from one another. In other words, the textile (100) material surrounding each discrete shape in the plurality of discrete shapes (342, 344, 348) is not coated by the DWR coating. A size of the plurality of discrete shapes (342, 344, 348) in the pattern (122, 132, 222, 370) is gradually decreased moving up the pant legs (320A) starting from a hemmed edge up to a knee area (240, 250, 340, 350). The pattern (122, 132, 222, 370) is visible during wet conditions and not visible during dry conditions.