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US 11,998,826 B1Granted
Sports apparatus with piezochromic strike area
OwnerBrooks River Robinsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sports apparatus having a piezochromic strike area according to any of devices, systems, assemblies and methods are shown and described. A sports apparatus may include a defined area serving as a strike area, a pod containing at least one piezochromic material integrated with a surface of the sports apparatus, that changes color with an impact force. In some instances, an initial color state is reobtained over a period of time with an absence of impact strikes.
Claims19
A soccer cleat
- comprising:
- an upper defining a surface layer,
- a defined area within the surface layer of the upper configured to strike another surface or implement during a sporting event,
- said surface layer of the upper comprising a piezochromic strike area,
- at least one strike zone in the defined area;
- a series of piezochromic pods embedded within the surface layer and located within the at least one strike zone;
- each of said piezochromic pods comprising a first layer of a first material and a second layer of a second material;
- wherein the material of the first layer and the material of the second layer intermingle in an activated state when an impact is directed to the at least one strike zone to form a color changing piezochromic strike area visible on the surface layer of the upper the soccer cleat.
5 more elements
A soccer cleat
- comprising:
- an upper defining a surface layer,
- a defined area within the surface layer of the upper configured to strike another surface of a soccer ball during a sporting event,
- said surface layer of the upper comprising a piezochromic strike area,
- at least one strike zone in the defined area;
- a series of piezochromic pods embedded within the surface layer and located within the at least one strike zone;
- each of said piezochromic pods comprising:
- a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side and a second side,
- a first material and a second material contained within each pod
- wherein the first material and the second material may be separated in a resting state and may be interspersed in an activated state;
- wherein an impact or force applied to the at least one strike zone acts as a catalyst for the activated state in which a piezochromic reaction occurs to form a color changing piezochromic strike area visible on the surface layer of the upper.
8 more elements
A method of indicating a force applied to a strike zone of a soccer cleat, comprising:
- said soccer cleat comprising
- an upper having a surface layer,
- a defined area within the surface layer of the upper configured to strike another surface or implement during a sporting event,
- said surface layer of the upper comprising a piezochromic strike area,
- at least one strike zone in the defined area;
- a series of piezochromic pods embedded within the surface layer and located within the at least one strike zone;
- each of said piezochromic pods comprising a first layer of a first material and a second layer of a second material;
- enabling a color change within each of said piezochromic pods such that the material of the first layer and the material of the second layer intermingle in an activated state when an impact is directed to the at least one strike zone to form a color changing piezochromic strike area visible on the surface layer of the upper;
- enabling a return to an original color when an impact is absent;
- and
- providing a transparent window in each of said pods so the color change is visible.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.