IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,419,371
Granted Patent B2
US 11,419,371 · App. 17/063,242 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Dynamic materials integrated into articles for adjustable physical dimensional characteristics

Inventors: Matthew D. Nordstrom (Portland, OR); Patrick Williams (Beaverton, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A41D31/065A41D1/00A41D27/285A41D31/02B32B3/08B32B3/085B32B3/10B32B3/14B32B3/28B32B5/022B32B5/024B32B5/026B32B5/04B32B37/14B32B37/144D03D1/00D04B1/24A41D2400/10B32B2250/02B32B2250/03B32B2307/732B32B2437/00D10B2501/06Y10T29/49826
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,419,371
App. No.
17/063,242
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

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 (30)

1. A woven material, comprising:

a plurality of warp yarns comprising a shape memory polymer material; and

a plurality of weft yarns comprising a material different than the shape memory polymer material,

wherein the shape memory polymer material has a programmed shape associated with a stimulus, and

wherein, when the shape memory polymer material is exposed to the stimulus, it reverts to the programmed shape, thereby creating a deformation in the woven material.

2. The woven material of claim 1 , wherein the deformation forms a separation in the plurality of warp yarns that creates an opening.

3. The woven material of claim 1 , wherein the programmed shape is a non-linear configuration of the plurality of warp yarns.

4. The woven material of claim 1 , wherein the deformation of the woven material creates a void in the woven material.

5. The woven material of claim 1 , wherein the programmed shape results in at least some of the plurality of warp yarns separating from each other.

6. The woven material of claim 1 , wherein the deformation of the woven material occurs in response to receiving a predetermined level of intensity of the stimulus, wherein the stimulus is moisture or the stimulus is heat.

7. A woven material, comprising:

a plurality of warp yarns and a plurality of weft yarns,

wherein one or more of the plurality of warp yarns and/or one or more of the plurality of weft yarns comprise a shape memory polymer material,

wherein the shape memory polymer material has a programmed shape associated with a stimulus, and

wherein, when the shape memory polymer material is exposed to the stimulus, it reverts to the programmed shape, thereby creating a deformation in the woven material.

8. The woven material of claim 7 , wherein the deformation forms a separation in the plurality of warp yarns and/or the plurality of weft yarns that creates an opening.

9. The woven material of claim 7 , wherein the deformation generates a void in the woven material.

10. The woven material of claim 7 , wherein removal of the stimulus causes the woven material to transition to a state without the deformation.

11. The woven material of claim 7 , wherein the deformation of the woven material occurs in response to receiving a predetermined level of intensity of the stimulus, wherein the stimulus is moisture or the stimulus is heat.

12. A method of manufacturing a woven material, the method comprising:

weaving a plurality of warp yarns comprising a shape memory polymer material with a plurality of weft yarns, thereby forming the woven material, wherein the shape memory polymer material has a programmed shape associated with a stimulus; and

exposing the shape memory polymer material to the stimulus so that it reverts to the programmed shape, thereby creating a deformation in the woven material.

13. The method of manufacturing the woven material of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of weft yarns comprise a material different than the shape memory polymer material.

14. The method of manufacturing the woven material of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of weft yarns comprise the shape memory polymer material.

15. The method of manufacturing the woven material of claim 12 , wherein in response to the stimulus, adjacent warp yarns of the plurality of warp yarns move in opposing directions to create a void in the woven material.

16. The method of manufacturing the woven material of claim 12 , wherein in response to the stimulus, the plurality of warp yarns transition from a linear shape to a non-linear shape to create the deformation in the woven material.

17. The method of manufacturing the woven material of claim 16 , wherein the deformation of the woven material is removed in response to removal of the stimulus.

18. The woven material of claim 1 , wherein the material different than the shape memory polymer material is a non-shape memory polymer material.

19. The woven material of claim 7 , wherein the shape memory polymer material comprises a composite of two or more shape memory polymers.

20. The method of manufacturing the woven material of claim 13 , wherein the material different than the shape memory polymer material is a non-shape memory polymer material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2020
From: NORDSTROM, MATTHEW D.; WILLIAMS, PATRICK
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 054198/0770 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16180911 · Nov 5, 2018
Continuation 15585724 · May 3, 2017
Continuation 14936821 · Nov 10, 2015
Continuation 14011201 · Aug 27, 2013
Provisional Application 61693638 · Aug 27, 2012
Related Publication 20210015189A1 · Jan 21, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,672,689