Environmentally responsive fibers and garments
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorPatrick Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a dynamic fiber capable of changing in response to external stimuli. The fiber in accordance with the present invention undergoes a radial symmetric change. The fiber in accordance with the present invention may be heat sensitive, moisture sensitive, magnetic field sensitive, electromagnetic field sensitive, etc. Fibers in accordance with the present invention may be incorporated into yarns that may be knitted or woven into textiles/fabrics. Garments or other articles of manufacture may be formed from textiles/fabrics incorporating dynamic fibers, permitting the properties of garments to alter in response to environmental conditions.
Claims10
A stimuli-sensitive composite fiber capable of undergoing a radial mechanical change, with its cross-sectional area comprising:
- a first material at a core of the fiber, the first material capable of undergoing a physicochemical change in response to an external stimulus, the first material at a core of the fiber having arms of substantially equal length extending outwards from the core, each arm progressively widening as the arm extends from the core;
- and
- a second material with a leg adjacent to both sides of each arm of the first material contacting and mechanically engaging each arm of the first material at at least one point, the legs of the second material being forced closer together when the arms of the first material expand, the second material further comprising protrusions that change in position in mechanical response to movements of the legs of the second material.
A garment made of an adaptive fabric/textile with a stimuli-sensitive composite fiber, the fiber comprising:
- a first material at a core of the fiber, the first material capable of undergoing a physicochemical change in response to an external stimulus, the first material at the core of the fiber having arms extending outwards from the core, each arm progressively widening as the arm extends from the core;
- and
- a second material with a leg adjacent to both sides of each arm of the first material contacting and mechanically engaging each arm of the first material at at least one point, the legs of the second material being forced closer together when the arms of the first material expand, the second material further comprising protrusions that change in position in mechanical response to movements of the legs of the second material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.