Apparatus for manipulating color changing materials in articles of wear
Assigneeadidas AG
InventorMichel Reginald Pierre Joseph Lussier
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Abstract
Apparatuses for manipulating a color displayed by an article of wear comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains are described. The apparatus includes (a) a magnetic field source, wherein a strength of a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source is tunable to control the color displayed by the article of wear, and (b) an energy source, wherein energy generated by the energy source is applied to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals to soften materials within the article of wear immediately surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied.
Claims26
An apparatus for manipulating a color displayed by a material comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains that is used to form an article of footwear or apparel, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a magnetic field source, wherein a strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source is tunable to control the color displayed by the material;
- and
- (b) an energy source, wherein energy generated by the energy source is applied to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals to soften portions within the material immediately surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied.
An apparatus for manipulating a color displayed by a material comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains that is used to form an article of footwear or apparel, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a platform comprising a substantially flat surface having a gap therein, wherein the platform is configured so that at least a portion of the material is positioned adjacent the surface of the platform and the gap therein;
- (b) a magnetic field source configured to generate a magnetic field, wherein at least a portion of the magnetic field passes through the gap and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface of the platform and the portion of the material positioned proximate the gap, wherein a strength of the magnetic field is tunable to control the color displayed by the portion of the material positioned proximate the gap;
- and
- (c) an energy source configured to generate energy directed into the gap, wherein the energy directed into the gap is configured to be applied to the chains of nanocrystals within the portion of the material positioned proximate the gap to soften portions of the material immediately surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied.
An apparatus for manipulating a color displayed by a material comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains that is used to form an article of footwear or apparel, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) an activation tunnel comprising a central opening, wherein the central opening is configured so that the material is located within the activation tunnel;
- (b) a magnetic field source comprising a plurality of solenoids substantially surrounding the activation tunnel and configured to generate a magnetic field within the central opening of the activation tunnel, wherein a strength of the magnetic field is tunable to control the color displayed by a portion of the material within the activation tunnel;
- and
- (c) an energy source configured to generate energy directed into the central opening of the activation tunnel, wherein the energy directed into the central opening of the activation tunnel is configured to be applied to the chains of nanocrystals within the material to soften portions within the material immediately surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.