DYNAMIC MATERIALS INTEGRATED INTO ARTICLES FOR ADJUSTABLE PHYSICAL DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20140053311A1
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Nordstrom, Matthew D., Williams, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,192,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/00 Garments for children A41D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/10 Heat retention or warming
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/285 with closure adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/02 Layered materials characterised by special function or use A41D31/04
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/065 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/02 2 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/00 Clothing anti-ballistic clothing B32B2571/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/085 spaced apart pieces on the surface of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/10 characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. formed of separate pieces of material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/14 characterised by a face layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/28 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 Class Codes: B32B 37/14 characterised by the properties of the layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/144 using layers with different mechanical or chemical conditions or properties, e.g. layers with different thermal shrinkage, layers under tension during bonding constructional features for tensioning B32B38/1825
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/04 characterised by a layer being specifically extensible by reason of its structure or arrangement , e.g. by reason of the chemical nature of the fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/00 : Woven fabrics designed to make specified articles
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/24 : wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/06 : Details of garments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods of integrating dynamic materials into articles for adjustable physical characteristics (e.g., aesthetic, functional). 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 close a vent to prevent the introduction of rain into an internal portion of the article. The shape changing material may change shape that merely affects a feature formed by the shape changing material. 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.).

Claims

1. An article of clothing having an auxetic structure, comprising:

a carrier material of flexible material;

a plurality of dynamic material portions physically associated with the carrier material such that the carrier material and the plurality of dynamic material portions form an auxetic structure geometrically responsive to a stimulus; and

the auxetic structure is able to transition from a first thickness to a second thickness in response to the stimulus.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is selected from a group comprising shirt, pants, shorts, outerwear, undergarment, socks, headwear, and hand wear.

3. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the carrier material is formed from a woven, knit, or non-woven material.

4. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the dynamic material portions are a shape memory polymer.

5. The article of clothing of claim 1 further comprising a biasing material.

6. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein the biasing material is positioned proximate the plurality of dynamic material portions.

7. The article of clothing of claim 6, wherein the auxetic structure is in a first geometric state in response to force applied by the biasing material and the auxetic structure is in a second geometric state in response to force applied by the plurality of dynamic material portions.

8. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dynamic material portions form a first thickness of the auxetic structure at a first stimulus level and form a second thickness of the auxetic structure at a second stimulus level.

9. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the first thickness is thicker than the second thickness and the first stimulus level is a lower temperature than the second stimulus level.

10. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dynamic material portions are physically associated with the carrier material by way of the dynamic material being printed, bonded, or internally integrated with the carrier material.

11. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein a first grouping of the plurality of dynamic material portions are radially oriented about a common point of the carrier material.

12. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein a first grouping of the plurality of dynamic material portions and a second grouping of the plurality of dynamic material portions are radially oriented about a common point of the carrier material, the first grouping is greater oriented and the second grouping is lesser oriented.

13. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein a first dynamic material portion forms a complex shape with a positive bend and a negative bend along a common axis of the first dynamic material portion.

14. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein a first dynamic material portion forms a complex curve with a concave curve and a convex curve along a common axis of the first dynamic material portion.

15. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein a first grouping of the dynamic material portions form vertices of a relationship triangle on the carrier material.

16. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein a first grouping dynamic materials are aligned in a parallel orientation and a second grouping of dynamic materials are aligned in a parallel orientation, a first axis of the first grouping of dynamic material intersects a second axis of the second grouping of dynamic materials at about a 60 degree angle.

17. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein a dynamic material portion of the plurality of dynamic material portions forms a vertex at a first dimensioned portion of the carrier material and a midpoint for a second dimensioned portion of the carrier material.

18. A method of manufacturing a dynamic material activated article, the method comprising:

integrating a dynamic material with an article;

programming the dynamic material in a first shape; and

exposing the dynamic material to a stimulus sufficient to changing from a second shape to the first shape.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the integrating the dynamic material is done in a two dimensional manner and the programming is done in a three dimensional manner.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the integrating the dynamic material is done in a three dimensional manner.