Wetness indicator textile
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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 wet surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A wetness indicator fabric or textile with a water-repellant coating applied in a pattern on one surface, which becomes visible when exposed to moisture, allowing the garment to protect against saturation while signaling wet conditions through a visible pattern that disappears as moisture evaporates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional lower body garment is used, then the garment provides basic coverage, but the wearer becomes unaware of moisture absorption and the garment becomes heavy and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a water-reactive color change material to the garment that changes color when exposed to moisture, providing visual feedback to the wearer about moisture levels. This resolves the information loss by making moisture visible through color transformation, and maintains comfort by preventing the garment from becoming fully saturated and heavy.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment incorporates a feedback mechanism through color-changing material that provides real-time visual information to the wearer about moisture absorption. This allows the wearer to adjust behavior or change garments before discomfort sets in, resolving both the information loss and comfort issues.
2Reliability
If the garment absorbs large amounts of moisture, then the garment provides moisture protection, but the lower edge portion becomes heavy and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies water-repellent treatment to specific local areas of the garment, particularly at the lower edge portions, while allowing other areas to remain moisture-absorbent. This local differentiation provides moisture protection where needed without causing the entire garment to become heavy and uncomfortable.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment is divided into different functional zones with different moisture management properties. The lower edge portions have water-repellent properties for protection, while upper portions can absorb moisture. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing protection only where necessary.
3Reliability
If a water-repellant coating is applied to protect against moisture, then moisture protection is improved, but the visual indication of wet conditions becomes difficult to detect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines water-repellent coating with water-reactive color change material, so that when moisture contacts the garment, the color changes to provide visual indication. This resolves the detection difficulty while maintaining the moisture protection function of the water-repellent coating.
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 provides both moisture protection and a visual indication of wet conditions, maintaining comfort and allowing users to adjust their activities accordingly, without compromising breathability or moisture-wicking properties.
Implementation Method 1
The coated portions comprise a plurality of discrete shapes that are isolated from one another by surrounding interconnected non-coated perimeter portions
Implementation Method 2
The non-coated perimeter portions are interconnected and absorb moisture
Implementation Method 3
without compromising breathability or moisture-wicking properties
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.