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US 12,193,520 B2Granted
Electroadhesives for apparel fit
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSteven H. Walker, Iustinia Koshkaroff, Daniel Stuart, Eun Kyung Lee, Christopher Andon, Nina Yashkova
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adaptive article of apparel can include a textile with an opening that is configured to admit a body part of a wearer, and an electroadhesive clutch secured to the textile and extending around at least a portion of the opening. The electroadhesive clutch can be configured to permit or inhibit changing a size of the opening.
Claims26
An adaptive article of apparel, comprising:
- a textile forming an opening configured to admit a body part of a wearer;
- and
- an electroadhesive clutch secured to the textile and extending around at least a portion of the opening, the electroadhesive clutch comprising:
- a first electrode assembly comprising a first conductive member;
- a second electrode assembly comprising a second conductive member overlaying in part the first conductive member;
- and
- an electrical signal generator configured to provide first and second signals to the first and second conductive members of the first and second electrode assemblies, respectively, wherein the first electrode assembly is configured to slide laterally relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are absent and the first electrode assembly is configured to be laterally immobilized relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are applied;
- wherein the electroadhesive clutch is configured to inhibit changing a size of the opening when the first and second signals are applied to the first and second electrode assemblies and wherein the size of the opening is adjustable when the first and second signals are absent.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- forming a textile having an opening configured to admit a body part of a wearer;
- and
- securing an electroadhesive clutch to the textile, the electroadhesive clutch extending around at least a portion of the opening, the electroadhesive clutch comprising:
- a first electrode assembly comprising a first conductive member;
- a second electrode assembly comprising a second conductive member overlaying in part the first conductive member;
- and
- an electrical signal generator configured to provide first and second signals to the first and second conductive members of the first and second electrode assemblies, respectively, wherein the first electrode assembly is configured to slide laterally relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are not applied and remain static relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are applied;
- wherein the electroadhesive clutch is configured to inhibit increasing a size of the opening when the first and second signals are applied to the first and second electrode assemblies.
5 more elements
A garment comprising:
- a garment base layer;
- a pocket portion at least partially affixed to the garment base layer, the pocket portion including a pocket aperture at a first edge of the pocket portion;
- and
- an electroadhesive clutch assembly comprising first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode is coupled at or near the pocket aperture at the first edge of the pocket portion, and the second electrode is coupled to the garment base layer, and wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to selectively close the pocket aperture in accordance with actuation of the electroadhesive clutch assembly.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.