Back to results
US 11,076,651 B2Granted
Article of apparel incorporating a zoned modifiable textile structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsMichael R. Baron, Karin E. Carter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of apparel is disclosed that includes zones with a textile having a structure than changes or is otherwise modified by a physical stimulus, such as the presence of water or a temperature change, to modify a property of the textile. The zones may be along a center back area and/or side areas of the apparel, and the textile may increase in air permeability when exposed to water. In some embodiments, slits are formed in the textile.
Claims20
An upper-body article of apparel, comprising:
- a torso portion formed from a fabric, the torso portion having a front side, a back side, a left shoulder opening, a right shoulder opening, a neck opening, and a torso opening, wherein the fabric includes a yarn formed from a material that is dimensionally transformed when contacted with liquid water;
- a first row of incisions formed through the torso portion, each incision of the first row of incisions being spaced apart from an adjacent incision in the first row of incisions by a first spacing;
- a second row of incisions formed through the torso portion adjacent the first row of incisions, each incision of the second row of incisions being spaced apart from an adjacent incision in the second row of incisions by a second spacing, the second row of incisions offset from the first row of incisions, the incisions of the second row of incisions staggered from the incisions of the first row of incisions such that a respective first incision of the first row of incisions spans the second spacing and a respective second incision of the second row of incisions spans the first spacing;
- and
- a third row of incisions formed through the torso portion adjacent the second row of incisions, the third row of incisions offset from the second row of incisions, the incisions of the third row of incisions staggered from the incisions of the second row of incisions,
- wherein the second row of incisions includes at least one less incision than the first row of incisions, and the third row of incisions includes at least one less incision than the second row of incisions, and
- wherein the each incision of the first row of incisions, the each incision of the second row of incisions, and each incision of the third row are in a first closed configuration at a first state of the fabric, wherein the each incision of the first row of incisions, the each incision of the second row of incisions, and the each incision of the third row of incisions are in a second open configuration at a second state of the fabric, wherein the first state corresponds to moisture not being applied to the fabric, wherein the second state corresponds to moisture being applied to the fabric.
4 more elements
An article of apparel for a torso of a wearer, comprising:
- a torso portion formed from a fabric, the torso portion having a front side, a back side, a left shoulder opening, a right shoulder opening, a neck opening, and a torso opening, wherein the fabric includes a yarn formed from a material that dimensionally transforms when the fabric is exposed to moisture;
- the torso portion having a plurality of air permeability zones, each air permeability zone comprising an area across which a first row of incisions, a second row of incisions, and a third row of incisions are formed through the torso portion,
- each incision of the first row of incisions being in parallel, linear alignment, the each incision of the first row of incisions being spaced apart from an adjacent incision in the first row of incisions by a first spacing,
- each incision of the second row of incisions being in parallel, linear alignment, the each incision of the second row of incisions being spaced apart from an adjacent incision in the second row of incisions by a second spacing,
- each incision of the third row of incisions being in parallel, linear alignment, the each incision of the third row of incisions being spaced apart from an adjacent incision in the third row of incisions by a third spacing,
- wherein the first row of incisions and the third row of incisions are staggered from the second row of incisions such that a respective first incision of each of the first row of incisions and the third row of incisions spans the second spacing and a respective second incision of the second row of incisions spans the first spacing and the third spacing,
- wherein the second row of incisions includes at least one less incision than the first row of incisions, and the third row of incisions includes at least one less incision than the second row of incisions, and
- wherein the each incision of the first row of incisions, the each incision of the second row of incisions, and the each incision of the third row of incisions are in a first closed configuration at a first state of the fabric, wherein the each incision of the first row of incisions, the each incision of the second row of incisions, and the each incision of the third row of incisions are in a second open configuration at a second state of the fabric, wherein the first state corresponds to the fabric not being exposed to moisture and the second state corresponds to the fabric being exposed to moisture.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.