Wetness indicator article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12324469-B2
Application number	US-201816156805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

The technology described herein relates to a three-layer outerwear garment panel comprising an outer layer, a middle membrane layer that is water resistant, and an inner layer. A water-repellant coating such as a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating is selectively applied to the outer layer, leaving areas of the outer layer free from the water-repellant coating. When precipitation hits the garment, the water is absorbed in the non-coated portions to reveal a pattern of shapes formed by the non-coated portions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A garment comprising:
an exterior surface;
an interior surface; and
a wetness indicator panel having:
a first layer comprised of a woven material or a knit material having a first surface forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the garment and an opposite second surface, wherein the first surface comprises a water-repellant coating material forming a pattern of a plurality of water-repellant coated portions and a plurality of non-water repellant coated portion, and wherein a first area collectively occupied by the plurality of water-repellant coated portions is larger than a second area collectively occupied by the plurality of non-water repellant coated portions;
a second layer comprised of a water resistant and breathable membrane having a third surface and an opposite fourth surface, wherein the opposite second surface of the first layer is bonded to the third surface of the second layer; and
a third layer comprised of a tricot knit or mesh material having a fifth surface and an opposite sixth surface, the opposite sixth surface forming at least a portion of the interior surface of the garment, wherein the opposite fourth surface of the second layer is bonded to the fifth surface of the third layer.

2. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of non-water repellant coated portions are comprised of discrete shapes.

3. The garment of claim 2 , wherein the discrete shapes comprise one or more of a logo, a symbol, a geometric shape, an organic shape, or an alphanumeric character.

4. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is invisible when the wetness indicator panel is dry.

5. The garment of claim 1 , wherein each non-water repellant coated portion in the plurality of non-water repellant coated portions is circumscribed by one or more of the plurality of water-repellant coated portions, and wherein the plurality of non-water repellant coated portions are distributed throughout the wetness indicator panel.

6. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the pattern becomes visible when the plurality of non-water repellant coated portions are exposed to moisture.

7. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the woven material of the first layer comprises a stretch woven construction.

8. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the first layer comprises a peach finish.

9. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are heat bonded to each other.

10. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment is an upper body garment, and wherein the wetness indicator panel is located in a shoulder area of the garment.

11. The garment of claim 1 , further comprising a non-indicator panel.

12. The garment of claim 11 , wherein a surface of the non-indicator panel forming the exterior surface of the garment is fully coated with a water-repellant coating material.

13. The garment of claim 11 , wherein the wetness indicator panel is located in an area of the garment that is more likely to be exposed to moisture.

14. The garment of claim 11 , wherein the garment is an upper body garment having the wetness indicator panel positioned at least at one of a shoulder area, an upper chest area, a hood, and an upper back area.

15. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the wetness indicator panel is located in an area of the garment that is more likely to be exposed to moisture.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Rose Payton
• Reynolds Jarrett L
• Vaughan Heidi A

Classifications

• D06N2211/10

  Clothing · CPC title

• D06N2209/126

  Permeability to liquids, absorption · CPC title

• A41D2500/54

  in coated form · CPC title

• A41D2500/20

  Woven · CPC title

• A41D2200/20

  Hoods · CPC title