Dynamic materials integrated into articles for adjustable physical dimensional characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10143252-B2
Application number	US-201715585724-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2017
Priority date	Aug 27, 2012
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

Integrating dynamic materials into articles for adjustable physical characteristics (e.g., aesthetic, functional) can include various systems and methods. For example, in response to a human's body heat, a dynamic material may change shape to allow additional permeability in an article of clothing. Similarly, in response to the presence of moisture, an article of clothing may change shape to prevent the introduction of rain into an internal portion of the article. Additionally, it is contemplated that the shape changing material may change shape that affects a geometric structure of the article as a whole (e.g., protrusions, dimples, vents, etc.).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of apparel comprising:
a base material;
a first plurality of shape memory polymer members coupled to an upper surface of the base material;
a second plurality of shape memory polymer members coupled to a lower surface of the base material.

2. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of shape memory polymer members and second plurality of shape memory polymer members comprise a plurality of elongated portions.

3. The article of apparel of claim 2 , wherein the elongated portions of the first plurality of shape memory polymer members form a first lattice structure having a plurality of vertices, and wherein the elongated portions of the second plurality of shape memory polymer members form a second lattice structure having a plurality of vertices.

4. The article of apparel of claim 3 , wherein the distance between vertices of the first lattice structure and the distance between vertices of the second lattice structure increases in response to a stimulus.

5. The article of apparel of claim 3 , wherein the distance between vertices of the first lattice structure and the distance between vertices of the second lattice structure decreases in response to a stimulus.

6. The article of apparel of claim 3 , wherein the vertices of the first lattice structure and the vertices of the second lattice structure are coterminous.

7. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of shape memory polymer members are convex with respect to the base material, and wherein the second plurality of shape memory polymer members are concave with respect to the base material.

8. The article of apparel of claim 7 , wherein the convexity of the first plurality of shape memory polymer members and the concavity of the second plurality of shape memory polymer members increases in response to a stimulus.

9. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein at least one property of the first plurality of shape memory polymer members and at least one property of the second plurality of shape memory polymer members changes in response to a stimulus.

10. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the at least one property of the first plurality of shape memory polymer members and at least one property of the second plurality of shape memory polymer members is a thickness, a length or a width.

11. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the stimulus is selected from a group consisting of thermal energy, light, moisture, electrical, magnetic, or mechanical energy.

12. An article of apparel comprising:
a base material;
a first reactive framework having a plurality of convex shape memory polymer members with respect to the base material, the first reactive framework defining a first set of interstitial voids
a second reactive framework having a plurality of concave shape memory polymer members with respect to the base material; the second reactive framework defining a second set of interstitial voids;
wherein the first reactive framework is positioned in the second set of interstitial voids, and wherein the second reactive framework is positioned in the first set of interstitial voids.

13. The article of apparel of claim 12 , wherein the first reactive framework is convex and the second reactive framework is concave.

14. The article of apparel of claim 13 , wherein the first reactive framework defines a first plurality of vertices and wherein the second reactive framework defines a second plurality of vertices, and wherein the first plurality of vertices and second plurality of vertices are coterminous.

15. The article of apparel of claim 12 , wherein the first reactive framework further comprises at least one electrically activated polymer portion and a conductive link portion.

16. The article of apparel of claim 15 , wherein the conductive link portion facilitates transmission of electric current to at least one electrically activated polymer portion.

17. The article of apparel of claim 12 , wherein the first reactive framework and second reactive framework are formed from a shape memory polymer.

18. A method of manufacturing an article of apparel, the method comprising:
providing a base material having an upper surface and a lower surface;
coupling a first plurality of shape memory polymer members to the upper surface of the base material, the first plurality of shape memory polymer members having a first plurality of elongated portions,
coupling a second plurality of shape memory polymer members to the lower surface of the base material, the second plurality of shape memory polymer members having a second plurality of elongated portions
wherein the elongated portions of the first plurality of shape memory polymer members form a first lattice structure having a plurality of vertices, and wherein the elongated portions of the second plurality of shape memory polymer members form a second lattice structure having a plurality of vertices.

19. The method of manufacturing an article of apparel of claim 18 , wherein the first plurality of shape memory polymer members are convex, and wherein the second plurality of shape memory polymer members are concave.

20. The method of manufacturing an article of apparel of claim 18 , wherein the vertices of the first lattice structure and the vertices of the second lattice structure are coterminous.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Nordstrom Matthew D
• Williams Patrick

Classifications

• B32B2307/732

  Dimensional properties · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B32B3/28

  characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet {, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane}, e.g. corrugated, crumpled (B32B29/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B2250/02

  2 layers · CPC title

• B32B5/024

  Woven fabric · CPC title