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US 12,734,428 B2Granted
Article of apparel with dynamic padding system
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorTiffany A. Beers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of apparel includes a padding system that dynamically changes configuration in response to an impending impact. The padding system may change from a state that has a high flexibility and offers low protection from impact to a state that has a low flexibility and offers increase protection from impact. The system may use a filament to constrict a plurality of padding elements together in order to increase the overall stiffness of the pad. The filament may be tightened and loosened by a spool. The spool may receive a signal regarding the impending impact from a sensor that is a part of the article of apparel, or a sensor that is separate from it.
Claims12
An article of apparel comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from a proximity sensor;
- a first dynamic padding system located at a first region of the article of apparel, wherein the first dynamic padding system is configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first dynamic padding system including:
- a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer, wherein a portion of the plurality of padding elements includes an aperture within each individual padding element,
- a filament threaded through each individual padding element having an aperture, such that the filament surrounds a first group of the plurality of padding elements,
- a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool;
- wherein the spool is configured to reversibly change the filament from a first configuration to a second configuration upon the antenna receiving the electromagnetic signal;
- and
- wherein when the first dynamic padding system is in the first state, the first group of the plurality of padding elements have a first distance between them such that the first dynamic padding system comprises a first stiffness and when the first dynamic padding system is in the second state, the first group of the plurality of padding elements surrounded by the filament have a second distance between them, such that the first dynamic padding system comprises a second stiffness, the second distance being less than the first distance.
5 more elements
An athletic equipment system comprising:
- an article of apparel including a first dynamic padding system configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first dynamic padding system including a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer, wherein a portion of the plurality of padding elements includes a through-hole;
- a filament passing through the through-hole of the portion of the plurality of padding elements;
- a proximity sensor configured to sense a position and a velocity of the article of apparel, sense the position and velocity of a target, compare the position and velocity of the article of apparel with the position and velocity of the target to determine whether the article of apparel and the target will impact, and transmit an electromagnetic signal to the first dynamic padding system;
- a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool, the spool being configured to receive an input originating from the proximity sensor, wherein the spool is configured to reversibly change the filament from a first configuration to a second configuration upon receiving the input originating from the proximity sensor;
- and
- wherein when the first dynamic padding system is in the first state, the portion of the padding elements having the through-hole have a first distance between them such that the first dynamic padding system comprises a first stiffness, and when the first dynamic padding system is in the second state, the two or more of the plurality of padding elements surrounded by the filament have a second distance between them, such that the first dynamic padding system comprises a second stiffness, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.
3 more elements
An article of apparel comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic signal from a proximity sensor;
- a first dynamic padding system located at a first region of the article of apparel, wherein the first dynamic padding system is configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first dynamic padding system including:
- a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer, wherein a portion of the plurality of padding elements includes a through-hole;
- a filament threaded through the through-hole of the portion of the plurality of padding elements,
- a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool;
- wherein when the electromagnetic signal is received at the antenna, the first dynamic padding system changes from the first state to the second state.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.