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US 10,870,778 B2Granted
Elastomeric tape with enhanced stretch characteristics
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsLindsey V. J. Martin, Andrew Gosse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elastomeric tape having a shape configuration that provides an enhanced longitudinal stretch characteristic is provided herein. The exemplary tape comprises a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first side and a second side opposite the first side where the first side comprises a series of alternating peaks and troughs and the second side comprises a series of alternating peaks and troughs.
Claims9
A lower-torso article of apparel comprising:
- a front panel of material forming a front of at least a first leg portion of the lower-torso article of apparel, the front panel of material having at least a first side edge;
- a separate back panel of material forming a back of the first leg portion of the lower-torso article of apparel, the back panel of material having at least a second side edge, wherein the first side edge of the front panel of material abuts the second side edge of the back panel of material to form a side seam located at a lateral aspect of the first leg portion, wherein the first side edge and the second side edge are in a planar relationship with the front panel of material and the back panel of material at the side seam, and wherein the front panel of material and the back panel of material are in a planar relationship with each other at the side seam;
- and
- an elastomeric tape adhered to an external-facing surface of the front panel of material and the back panel of material at the side seam so as to secure the side seam, wherein the side seam is secured without the use of stitching, and wherein the elastomeric tape includes a first end located at a lower edge of a waistband of the lower-torso article of apparel and a second end located at a leg opening of the first leg portion of the lower-torso article of apparel, the elastomeric tape extending vertically between the first end and the second end, the elastomeric tape having a shape configuration comprising:
- a first surface;
- a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface is affixed to the front panel of material and the back panel of material at the side seam;
- a first side having a shape configuration comprising a first series of alternating peaks and troughs;
- and
- a second side having a shape configuration comprising a second series of alternating peaks and troughs, wherein a first angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees is formed at an apex region of each trough of the first series of troughs and each trough of the second series of troughs when the elastomeric tape is in a non-stretched state, and a second angle is formed at the apex region of the each trough of the first series of troughs and the each trough of the second series of troughs when the elastomeric tape is in a longitudinally stretched state, the second angle greater than the first angle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.