Nanoadhesion structures for sporting gear
An apparatus including a first surface configured to attach the apparatus to a second surface of another object, and a plurality of elongated nanofibers. Each nanofiber has one end connected to the first surface and an opposite end extending away from the first surface. The plurality of elongated nanofibers is configured to adhere to the second surface by nanoadhesion when brought into contact with the second surface.
1. An article of apparel comprising:
a first fabric panel comprising:
an edge,
a top surface having a first portion disposed proximate to the edge and a second portion disposed on a side of the first portion opposite of the edge,
a bottom surface,
a first set of nanofibers disposed on the first portion of the top surface of the first fabric panel, and
a first fold of the first fabric panel disposed between the first portion of the first fabric panel and the second portion of the first fabric panel such that the first portion of the first fabric panel is folded over onto the second portion of the top surface of the first fabric panel; and
a second fabric panel removably coupled to the first fabric panel, the second fabric panel comprising:
an edge,
a top surface,
a bottom surface having a third portion disposed proximate to the edge and a fourth portion disposed on a side of the first portion opposite of the edge,
a second set of nanofibers disposed on the third portion of the bottom surface of the second fabric panel, and
a second fold of the second fabric panel disposed between the third portion of the second fabric panel and the fourth portion of the second fabric panel such that the third portion of the second fabric panel is folded over onto the fourth portion of the bottom surface of the second fabric panel,
wherein the third portion of the second fabric panel abuts the first portion of the first fabric panel so that the first set of nanofibers couples to the second set of nanofibers via nanoadhesion, the first portion of the first fabric panel being disposed between the third portion of the second fabric panel and the fourth portion of the second fabric panel, and the third portion of the second fabric panel being disposed between the first portion of the first fabric panel and the second portion of the first fabric panel.
2. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein each nanofiber in the first set of nanofibers is generally perpendicular to the top surface of the first fabric panel and each nanofiber in the second set of nanofibers is generally perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second fabric panel.
3. The article of apparel of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one set of stitching disposed along an abutment of the first portion to the third portion.
4. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first fabric panel further comprises:
a third set of nanofibers disposed on a fifth portion of the bottom surface of the first fabric panel, the fifth portion being disposed proximate to the edge of the first fabric panel, and the fifth portion and the third set of nanofibers being disposed opposite the first portion and the first set of nanofibers; and
a fourth set of nanofibers disposed on the second portion of the top surface of the first fabric panel.
5. The article of apparel of claim 4 , wherein the second fabric panel further comprises:
a fifth set of nanofibers disposed on a sixth portion of the top surface of the second fabric panel, the sixth portion being disposed proximate to the edge of the second fabric panel, and the sixth portion and the fifth set of nanofibers being disposed opposite the third portion and the second set of nanofibers; and
a sixth set of nanofibers disposed on the fourth portion of the bottom surface of the second fabric panel.
6. The article of apparel of claim 5 , wherein when the second fabric panel is removably coupled to the first fabric panel, the third set of nanofibers couples to the sixth set of nanofibers via nanoadhesion, and the fourth set of nanofibers couples to the fifth set of nanofibers via nanoadhesion.
7. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first fabric panel is a first fabric panel of a shirt and the second fabric panel is a second fabric panel of the shirt.
8. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the first fabric panel is a bottom edge of a shirt, and the edge of the second fabric panel is a top edge of a pair of pants.
9. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the first fabric panel is a first edge of a cuff on a shirt sleeve, and the edge of the second fabric panel is a second edge of the cuff of the shirt sleeve.
10. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the second fabric panel is a pocket.
11. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first fabric panel is a fabric panel of a shirt and the second fabric panel is a hood.
12. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first fabric panel is a fabric panel of a body of a shirt and the second fabric panel is a sleeve.
13. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first fabric panel is a fabric panel of a shirt that includes at least one opening and the second fabric panel is a reconfigurable vent disposed proximate to the at least one opening to alter a size of at least one openings of the shirt.
14. An article of apparel comprising:
a first fabric panel comprising:
a top surface,
a bottom surface,
a first set of fabric folds forming a first edge, the first set of fabric folds forming a plurality of folds of the first fabric panel,
a first set of nanofibers disposed on the top surface of the first fabric panel and the bottom surface of the first fabric panel within the first set of fabric folds, and
a second set of nanofibers disposed on the top surface proximate to the first set of fabric folds; and
a second fabric panel removably coupled to the first fabric panel, the second fabric panel comprising:
a top surface,
a bottom surface,
a second set of fabric folds forming a second edge, the second set of fabric folds forming a plurality of folds of the second fabric panel,
a third set of nanofibers disposed on the top surface of the second fabric panel and the bottom surface of the second fabric panel within the second set of fabric folds, and
a fourth set of nanofibers disposed on the bottom surface proximate to the second set of fabric folds,
wherein, when the second fabric panel is removably coupled to the first fabric panel, a portion of the first set of nanofibers couples to the fourth set of nanofibers via nanoadhesion and a portion of the third set of nanofibers couples to the second set of nanofibers via nanoadhesion, the first set of fabric folds being disposed between the top surface of the first fabric panel and the bottom surface of the second fabric panel, the second set of fabric folds being disposed between the bottom surface of the second fabric panel and the top surface of the first fabric panel, and a first fold of the first set of fabric folds is in abutment with a second fold of the second set of fabric folds.