Article of Apparel With Dynamic Padding System

• US 20150297973A1
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Beers, Tiffany A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,908,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/015 with shock-absorbing means A41D13/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/05 protecting only a particular body part ear protectors A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0506 Hip
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0543 Legs knee or foot A41D13/06; protectors for the legs of players or sportmen A63B71/1225
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1208 for the breast and the abdomen, e.g. breast plates
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1233 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1241 for the thigh
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1216 for the genital area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

An article of apparel includes a padding system that dynamically changes configuration in response to an impending impact. The padding system may change from a state that has a high flexibility and offers low protection from impact to a state that has a low flexibility and offers increase protection from impact. The system may use a filament to constrict a plurality of padding elements together in order to increase the overall stiffness of the pad. The filament may be tightened and loosened by a spool. The spool may receive a signal regarding the impending impact from a sensor that is a part of the article of apparel, or a sensor that is separate from it.

Claims

1. An article of apparel comprising:

a dynamic padding system, the dynamic padding system including

a pad,

a spool, and

a filament;

wherein the filament is wound around the spool and extends through the pad;

wherein the spool is configured to reversibly wind the filament from a first length within the pad to a second length within the pad;

wherein the dynamic padding system is configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first state being associated with the first length of filament within the pad and the second state being associated with the second length of filament within the pad;

the first state being associated with a first stiffness, the second state being associate with a stiffness, the second stiffness being different from the first stiffness.

2. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein

the article of apparel further comprises a second dynamic padding system;

the second protective padding system including a second pad, a second spool, and a second filament;

wherein the second filament is wound around the second spool and extends through the second pad;

wherein the second spool is configured to reversibly wind the second filament from a first length within the second pad to a second length within the second pad;

wherein the second dynamic padding system is configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first state being associated with the first length of second filament within the second pad and the second state being associated with the second length of second filament within the second pad;

the first state being associated with a first stiffness, the second state being associate with a stiffness, the second stiffness being different from the first stiffness.

3. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the article of apparel is a shirt-type garment

4. The article of apparel according to claim 3, wherein

the dynamic padding system is a first dynamic padding system;

the first dynamic padding system is located on a first shoulder area of the shirt-type garment;

the shift-type garment article of apparel further includes a second dynamic padding system, a third dynamic padding system, and a fourth dynamic padding system;

the second dynamic padding system being located on a second shoulder area of the shirt-type garment;

the third dynamic padding system being located on a first side area of the shirt-type garment;

the fourth dynamic padding system being located on a second side area of the shirt-type garment;

wherein each of the four dynamic padding systems each respectively includes a pad, a spool, and a filament;

each filament is wound around each respective spool and extends through each respective pad;

each spool is configured to reversibly wind each respective filament from a first length within each respective pad to a second length within each respective pad;

each dynamic padding system is configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first state being associated with the first length of each respective filament within each respective pad and the second state being associated with the second length of each respective filament within each respective pad; and

each first state being associated with a first stiffness, each second state being associate with a stiffness, the second stiffness being different from the first stiffness.

5. The article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein the article of apparel is a pants-type garment.

6. The article of apparel according to claim 5, wherein

the dynamic padding system is a first dynamic padding system;

the first dynamic padding system is located on a first hip area of the pants-type garment;

the pants-type garment article of apparel further includes a second dynamic padding system;

the second dynamic padding system being located on a second hip area of the pants-type garment;

the second protective padding system including a second pad, a second spool, and a second filament;

wherein the second filament is wound around the second spool and extends through the second pad;

the second spool is configured to reversibly wind the second filament from a first length within the second pad to a second length within the second pad;

the second dynamic padding system is configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first state being associated with the first length of second filament within the second pad and the second state being associated with the second length of second filament within the second pad; and

the first state being associated with a first stiffness, the second state being associate with a stiffness, the second stiffness being different from the first stiffness.

7. An article of apparel comprising:

a dynamic padding system including

a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer,

a filament surrounding two or more of the padding elements,

a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool, and

an input source that is configured to deliver an input to the spool;

wherein the spool is configured to reversibly change the filament from a first configuration to a second configuration upon receiving the input from the input source; and

wherein the two or more padding elements which are surrounded by the filament have a first distance between them when the filament is in the first configuration, and have a second distance between them when the filament is in the second configuration, where the second distance is less than the first distance.

8. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein the input source is an antenna that is configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted by a signal source.

9. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein the input source is a proximity sensor.

10. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein

each padding element extends vertically from the base layer;

and each padding element is vertically compressible.

11. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein

at least one of the two or more padding elements is elastically deformed in a horizontal direction towards the other of the two or more padding element by the filament when the filament is in the second configuration.

12. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein the base layer is elastically deformed by force applied by the filament to the two or more padding elements surrounded by the filament, when the filament is in the second configuration.

13. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein the second distance is substantially zero, such that the two or more padding elements surrounded by the filament are adjacent to each other when the filament is in the second configuration.

14. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein the spool is configured to change the filament from the second configuration back to the first configuration in response to a second input.

15. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein the spool is configured to change the filament from the second configuration back to the first configuration after predetermined amount of time.

16. The article of apparel according to claim 7, wherein the article of apparel further comprises

a second filament, the second filament surrounding two or more padding elements out of the plurality of padding elements;

a second spool, a portion of the second filament being wound around the second spool; and

a second input source that is configured to deliver an input to the second spool;

wherein the second spool is configured to reversibly change the second filament from a first configuration to a second configuration upon receiving the input from the second input source;

wherein the two or more padding elements which are surrounded by the second filament have a first distance between them when the second filament is in the first configuration, and have a second distance between them when the second filament is in the second configuration, where the second distance is less than the first distance.

17. An article of apparel comprising

a dynamic padding system including

a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer,

a filament surrounding a first group of two or more of the padding elements in a first pattern,

a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool;

wherein the spool is configured to reversibly change the filament from a first configuration to a second configuration; and

wherein the two or more padding elements which are surrounded by the filament have a first distance between them when the filament is in the first configuration, and have a second distance between them when the filament is in the second configuration, where the second distance is less than the first distance.

18. The article of apparel according to claim 17, wherein the first pattern encompasses all of the plurality of padding elements.

19. The article of apparel according to claim 17, wherein

the first pattern encompasses at least two rows of padding elements, and

each row of padding elements within the first pattern is separated from each other row of padding elements within the first pattern by a row of padding elements that is outside the first pattern.

20. The article of apparel according to claim 17, wherein

the first pattern includes at least one point where the filament overlaps itself, such that the filament forms at least two closed loops each surrounding a respective subset of the first group of padding elements.

21. An athletic equipment system comprising:

an article of apparel including a dynamic padding system; and

a sensor;

wherein the dynamic padding system includes

a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer,

a filament surrounding two or more of the padding elements,

a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool, the spool being configured to receive an input originating from the sensor;

wherein the sensor is configured to

sense the position and velocity of a user wearing the article of apparel,

sense the position and velocity of a target,

compare the position and velocity of the user with the position and velocity of the target to determine whether the user and the target will impact, and

transmit a signal to the dynamic padding system;

wherein the spool is configured to reversibly change the filament from a first configuration to a second configuration upon receiving the input originating from the sensor; and

wherein the two or more padding elements which are surrounded by the filament have a first distance between them when the filament is in the first configuration, and have a second distance between them when the filament is in the second configuration, where the second distance is less than the first distance.

22. The athletic equipment system of claim 21, wherein

the article of apparel includes a plurality of dynamic padding systems;

each dynamic padding system is located on a separate area of the article of apparel;

each of the plurality of dynamic padding systems respectively includes a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a based layer;

a filament surrounding two of more of the respective padding elements, a spool having a portion of the respective filament wound around the spool, each spool being configured to receive an input originating from the sensor;

wherein each respective spool is configured to reversibly change each respective filament from a first configuration to a second configuration upon receiving the input originating from the sensor;

wherein each of the two or more padding elements which are surrounded by each respective filament have a first distance between them when each filament is in the first configuration, and have a second distance between them when each filament is in the second configuration, where the second distance is less than the first distance; and

wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a signal to a specific dynamic padding system of the plurality of dynamic padding systems, based on the location of an impact between the user wearing the article of apparel and the target.

23. The athletic equipment system of claim 21, wherein the sensor is mounted on the user wearing the article of apparel, and the sensor transmits the input to the spool via a wire.

24. The athletic equipment system of claim 21, wherein

the dynamic padding system includes further comprises an antenna;

the sensor is configured to transmit a wireless signal; and

the antenna is configured to receive the wireless signal from the sensor and deliver the input to the spool based on the wireless signal.