Article of footwear with color change portion and method of changing color

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11154111-B2
Application number	US-201815994613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2018
Priority date	Jun 22, 2010
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

An article with a color change portion and a method of changing color. The article includes at least one color change portion capable of changing colors. The color change portion includes composite material including a photonic lattice. The color change portion can change colors according to one or more performance parameters. The article can be connected to a computer and the color change portion can be controlled using the computer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article comprising:
a color change portion attached to an interior surface of the article, the color change portion including a photonic lattice having a surface opposing a user and operable to reflect infrared radiation in a direction back toward the user, the photonic lattice operable to receive an electrical signal to change a color of the color change portion.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is one of an article of clothing, an article of footwear, or an article of equipment.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is an article of clothing.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the photonic lattice is a component of a composite material.

5. The article of claim 4 , wherein the composite material includes a first conductive layer electrically connected to a first terminal and a second conductive layer electrically connected to a second terminal.

6. The article of claim 5 , wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on opposite sides of the photonic lattice.

7. The article of claim 5 , wherein the photonic lattice is printed on one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

8. The article of claim 5 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are in electrical communication with at least one of a control unit and a power source operable to change a color of the color change portion by changing dimensions of the photonic lattice.

9. The article of claim 5 , further comprising a protective layer disposed over one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

10. The article of claim 9 , further comprising a substrate disposed over the other of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

11. The article of claim 5 , wherein the composite material is integrated with materials forming an outer surface of the article.

12. The article of claim 11 , wherein the composite material is visible at the outer surface of the article.

13. An article of clothing comprising:
a color change portion including a photonic lattice having a first surface opposing a user and a second surface attached to an inner surface of the article of clothing, the photonic lattice operable to receive an electrical signal to change a color of the color change portion.

14. The article of clothing claim 13 , wherein the photonic lattice is operable to reflect infrared radiation in a direction back toward the user.

15. The article of clothing of claim 13 , wherein the photonic lattice is a component of a composite material.

16. The article of clothing of claim 15 , wherein the composite material includes a first conductive layer electrically connected to a first terminal and a second conductive layer electrically connected to a second terminal.

17. The article of clothing of claim 16 , wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on opposite sides of the photonic lattice.

18. The article of clothing of claim 16 , wherein the photonic lattice is printed on one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

19. The article of clothing of claim 16 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are in electrical communication with at least one of a control unit and a power source operable to change a color of the color change portion by changing dimensions of the photonic lattice.

20. The article of clothing of claim 16 , further comprising a protective layer disposed over one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

21. The article of clothing of claim 20 , further comprising a substrate disposed over the other of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

22. The article of clothing of claim 16 , wherein the composite material is integrated with materials forming an outer surface of the article of clothing.

23. The article of clothing of claim 22 , wherein the composite material is visible at the outer surface of the article of clothing.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Donovan Sharna M
• Hartford Sean D
• Mishler Michelle L
• Malhotra Vikram
• Molyneux James
• Owings Andrew A
• Weast Aaron B
• Wilkins Bradley W

Classifications

• A43B1/0027

  made at least partially from a material having special colours · CPC title

• A43B3/36 Primary

  with light sources · CPC title

• A43B3/34

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title

• A43B3/38

  with power sources · CPC title

• A43B3/0078

  provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence) · CPC title