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 or golf courses with dew.
Innovation Solution
A wetness indicator fabric or textile with a water-repellent coating applied in a pattern on one surface, which becomes visible when wet, providing a visual signal of moisture presence while maintaining breathability and comfort by preventing saturation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the garment absorbs moisture from the environment, then it provides moisture protection, but it becomes heavy and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The garment applies water-repellent coating material in a specific pattern on portions of the fabric surface, creating localized hydrophobic regions that prevent moisture absorption in critical areas while maintaining breathability in other regions. This selective treatment allows the garment to provide moisture protection where needed without becoming saturated and heavy throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment utilizes fabric with controlled porosity and water-repellent coating that allows vapor transmission while blocking liquid water penetration. The porous structure enables moisture vapor to escape from the interior, preventing the garment from becoming saturated with liquid moisture, thus maintaining comfort without compromising protection.
2Reliability
If the garment provides moisture protection, then it prevents saturation, but it reduces breathability
Solution Approach 1:
The water-repellent coating is applied in a specific pattern rather than uniformly across the entire garment. This creates zones with different properties: coated areas provide water protection while uncoated or less-coated areas maintain higher breathability, allowing the garment to balance protection and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment combines fabric material with water-repellent coating material to create a composite structure. The base fabric provides breathability and comfort, while the coating layer provides water repellency. This composite approach allows both functions to coexist without fully compromising either property.
3Reliability
If the garment uses uniform water-repellent coating, then it provides complete moisture protection, but it cannot provide visual indication of wet conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The water-repellent coating is applied in a specific pattern that creates visual contrast when wet. The coated portions and uncoated portions react differently to moisture, creating a visible pattern that indicates wet conditions. This selective application allows the garment to maintain protection while providing visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment utilizes the visual contrast between coated and uncoated fabric portions that becomes apparent when exposed to moisture. The pattern of water-repellent coating material creates a visible indication system where wet and dry areas display different appearances, providing real-time feedback to the wearer about environmental moisture conditions.
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 solution effectively protects against moisture absorption, maintains comfort, and provides a visual indication of wet conditions, allowing wearers and others to adjust accordingly, without compromising breathability or comfort.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of the first surface of the textile material is treated with a water-repellent coating material applied in a pattern
Implementation Method 2
the lower body garment may become heavy and uncomfortable close to the bottom edge portion of the lower body garment due to the absorption of large amounts of moisture
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described herein relates to a pair of long pants garment panel comprising a pattern of a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating that is selectively applied on to the pant legs of the pair of long pants. The pattern is comprised of a plurality of discrete shapes that are isolated from one another. In other words, the textile material surrounding each discrete shape in the plurality of discrete shapes is not coated by the DWR coating. A size of the plurality of discrete shapes in the pattern is gradually decreased moving up the pant legs starting from a hemmed edge up to a knee area. The pattern is visible during wet conditions and not visible during dry conditions.