Abstract
This research was intended to design an experimental girdle with thermal insulation function for adult women in their 20s. The design of the experimental girdle was based on the pattern of commercially available girdle. The final pattern of the experimental girdle was established according to the drawing equations determined based on the result of appearance evaluation. The equations were (waist circumference${\times}0.88$)/2 for waist circumference, (hip circumference${\times}0.77$)/2 for hip circumference, and (thigh circumference${\times}0.85$) for thigh circumference. In order to develop a heating device, the most effective fabric heater was adopted based on the experiments about the number of caron fibers, heater size and attachment site. Three heaters-one with a size of $14.5{\times}9.5$ cm, and the other two with the size of $8.0{\times}15.0$ cm-were attached to the areas corresponding to the lower abdomen and the hip, 5 cm below the waist. A heater was developed by connecting these heaters to a controller, 2 batteries (7.4 V 2000 mAh lithium polymer batteries) and a switch (for mode conversion between high/medium/low temperatures). The heater was integrated into the inside of the girdle, so that attachment and detachment were possible without the change of appearance. The tentative configuration plan was proposed for the development of a functional smart girdle with an excellent thermal insulation effect.