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US 11,994,649 B2Granted
Structurally-colored articles and methods for making and using structurally-colored articles
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJennifer Bee, Jeremy Gantz, Kim Kovel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles of manufacture and components of articles that incorporate an optical element that imparts structural color to the component or the article. The component comprises a cured or curable material, and can include or be made to have a textured surface.
Claims20
An article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment comprising:
- an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment including a first surface comprising a cured material;
- and
- an optical element having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, wherein the first side or the second side of the optical element is disposed on the cured material of the first surface and the optical element imparts a structural color to the article visible to a viewer having 20/20 visual acuity and normal color vision from a distance of about 1 meter from the article;
- wherein the structural color is a single hue structural color or a limited iridescent multi-hued structural color, wherein the single hue structural color has the same hue or substantially the same hue when viewed from at least 3 different angles of observation that are at least 15 degrees apart from each other, wherein the limited iridescent multi-hued structural color varies over a limited number of hues when viewed at different angles that are at least 15 degrees apart, wherein the limited number is 2 or 3.
1 more element
An article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment resulting from the method comprising:
- disposing a first side or a second side of an optical element on a first surface of the article, wherein the first surface is defined by a curable material,
- wherein the first side of the optical element imparts a structural color to the article;
- wherein the optical element and the optical element imparts a structural color to the article;
- wherein the structural color is a single hue structural color or a limited iridescent multi-hued structural color, wherein the single hue structural color has the same hue or substantially the same hue when viewed from at least 3 different angles of observation that are at least 15 degrees apart from each other, wherein the limited iridescent multi-hued structural color varies over a limited number of hues when viewed at different angles that are at least 15 degrees apart, wherein the limited number is 2 or 3.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.