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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12419379-B2
Application number	US-202318473581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2023
Priority date	Jun 22, 2010
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

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 of footwear comprising:
an upper including an exterior surface; and
a color change portion attached to the exterior surface, the color change portion including (i) an outer surface spaced apart from the exterior surface and (ii) a composite material including a photonic lattice layer disposed between a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first terminal layer, and a second terminal layer, the first conductive layer electrically connected to the first terminal layer and the second conductive layer electrically connected to the second terminal layer, the photonic lattice layer operable to receive an electrical signal to change a color of the color change portion.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the color change portion is spaced apart from the exterior surface by a thickness of the color change portion.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on opposite sides of the photonic lattice layer.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the photonic lattice layer is printed on one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first terminal layer and the second terminal layer 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 layer.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer disposed over one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the protective layer defining the outer surface of the color change portion.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , further comprising a substrate disposed over the other of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the upper along a length of the outer surface.

9. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper including an exterior surface; and
a color change portion attached to the exterior surface, the color change portion including (i) an outer surface substantially following a contour of the exterior surface and (ii) a composite material including a photonic lattice layer disposed between a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first terminal layer, and a second terminal layer, the first conductive layer electrically conducted to the first terminal layer and the second conductive layer electrically connected to the second terminal layer, the photonic lattice layer operable to receive an electrical signal to change a color of the color change portion.

10. The article of footwear claim 9 , wherein the outer surface of the color change portion is spaced apart from the exterior surface by a thickness of the color change portion.

11. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed on opposite sides of the photonic lattice layer.

12. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the photonic lattice layer is printed on one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

13. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first terminal layer and the second terminal layer 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 layer.

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

15. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the protective layer defines the outer surface of the color change portion.

16. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the outer surface is substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the upper along a length of the outer surface.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G02F2001/1536

  additional, e.g. protective, layer inside the cell · CPC title

• G02F1/163

  Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor · CPC title

• G02F1/1533

  structural features not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A43B3/0036

  characterised by a special shape or design · CPC title

• A43B3/34

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title