The present disclosure relates to articles of apparel that may be used for protective purposes in athletic activities.
A wide range of articles of apparel are known to be used in various sports. Generally, articles of apparel may be designed to address a variety of issues that may arise when engaging in sporting or exercise activities. For example, articles of apparel may be designed to address comfort, temperature regulation, friction, and protection. In particular, many sports use articles of apparel that include protective padding. Protective padding may be used in order to ensure the wearer's safety in the event of an impact with another player, or an impact with a ball or other sporting equipment.
Articles of apparel with protective padding are usually tailored to the needs of a specific sport. For example, football pads, hockey pads, and lacrosse pads are generally not interchangeable. However, articles of apparel with protective padding such as these may share certain general design goals. Namely, articles of apparel with protective padding generally seek to minimize bulkiness and increase flexibility, while still maintaining the necessary amount of protectiveness.
In general, the goal of providing increased flexibility may be difficult to balance with the goal of providing impact protection. A more flexible pad may transmit an impact force to the body of the wearer, risking potential injury. In contrast, a less flexible (more stiff) pad may absorb the impact force, but the stiffness may hinder the wearer's range of motion. Accordingly, a balance between these two design goals may be reached based on the types of impacts experienced and the necessary range of motion in a particular sport.
An article of apparel that is configured to change its flexibility and impact resistance as needed could potentially address a variety of these issues. Several examples exist in the art of attempts to provide such articles of apparel.
One example is shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0182040 to Davidson. The Davidson disclosure is directed to an impact minimization device that uses a sensor or a system of sensors associated with a processor that determines if an impact may occur based upon analysis of information received from the sensors. When the processor determines that an impact is imminent, the processor sends a signal to a trigger that triggers a gas source that inflates an inflatable member. The inflatable member provides protection from the impending impact. The inflatable member may be provided as part of a wearable garment. The disclosure of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0182040 to Davidson is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Another example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,048 to Buckman. The Buckman disclosure is directed to a system for impact protection on garments. When the sensors detect the start of a fall, the system quickly activates to protect sensitive areas. The protection may take the form of an inflatable or extendible protective element. For example, when a fall is detected the garment quickly inflates so that the wearer can land on a cushion, as shown in the embodiment with an inflatable pair of shorts. U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,048 to Buckman is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
However, known articles of apparel such as these do not necessarily provide all the advantages that may be desired or needed in order for the article of apparel to be used when playing sports. In particular, professional-level sports may require a certain level of flexibility and a certain level of protection from impact in order to both comply with governing body regulations and to accord with professional players' preferences.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for an article of apparel with a dynamic padding system that balances the need for flexibility with the need for protection from impacts when engaging in athletic activities.
Generally, this disclosure is directed to articles of apparel with padding systems that are configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration. An article of apparel with this ability to change from a first configuration to a second configuration may be referred as “dynamic.” The first configuration may be flexible with low protection, while the second configuration may be stiff with high protection. The flexible state allows for increased range of motion, while the stiff state provides increased protection from impact. The change occurs in a manner that is quick, reversible, and repeatable. The padding system may be configured to change in response to an impending impact, prior to the impact taking place.
In one aspect, this disclosure provides an article of apparel comprising: a dynamic padding system, the dynamic padding system including a pad, a spool, and a filament; wherein the filament is wound around the spool and extends through the pad; wherein the spool is configured to reversibly wind the filament from a first length within the pad to a second length within the pad; wherein the dynamic padding system is configured to reversibly change from a first state to a second state, the first state being associated with the first length of filament within the pad and the second state being associated with the second length of filament within the pad; the first state being associated with a first stiffness, the second state being associate with a stiffness, the second stiffness being different from the first stiffness.
In another aspect, this disclosure provides an article of apparel comprising: a dynamic padding system including a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer, a filament surrounding two or more of the padding elements, a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool, and an input source that is configured to deliver an input to the spool; wherein the spool is configured to reversibly change the filament from a first configuration to a second configuration upon receiving the input from the input source; and wherein the two or more padding elements which are surrounded by the filament have a first distance between them when the filament is in the first configuration, and have a second distance between them when the filament is in the second configuration, where the second distance is less than the first distance.
In a third aspect, this disclosure provides an athletic equipment system comprising: an article of apparel including a dynamic padding system; and a sensor; wherein the dynamic padding system includes a plurality of padding elements fixedly mounted on a base layer, a filament surrounding two or more of the padding elements, a spool, a portion of the filament being wound around the spool, the spool being configured to receive an input originating from the sensor; wherein the sensor is configured to sense the position and velocity of a user wearing the article of apparel, sense the position and velocity of a target, compare the position and velocity of the user with the position and velocity of the target to determine whether the user and the target will impact, and transmit a signal to the dynamic padding system; 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 sensor; and wherein the two or more padding elements which are surrounded by the filament have a first distance between them when the filament is in the first configuration, and have a second distance between them when the filament is in the second configuration, where the second distance is less than the first distance.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Generally, this disclosure provides an article of apparel with a padding system that dynamically changes flexibility and impact resistance. The padding system is configured to reversibly change from a high flexibility state to a high impact resistance state, and back again. The change may be triggered by a sensor that detects when an impact is imminent. This article of apparel allows a wearer to have increased range of motion when needed, but also to have increased impact protection when needed.
In particular, an article of apparel in accordance with this disclosure may be a shirt-type garment or a pants-type garment. A shirt-type garment may be any article of apparel that covers the upper torso of the wearer, and may extend over at least a portion of the wearer's arms. A pants-type garment may be any article of apparel that covers the lower torso of the wearer. A pants-type garment may extend over at least a portion of the wearer's legs.
First article of apparel 102 includes multiple padding systems. Namely, first shirt-type garment 104 includes first padding system 108 and second padding system 118. Each padding system generally includes the same three major components: a pad, a spool, and a filament. As discussed throughout this disclosure, in some embodiments, each padding system may differ from other padding systems on an article of apparel. However, for simplicity's sake, in the embodiment of first article of apparel 102 the multiple padding systems generally do not substantially differ from each other except with respect to the location and shape of the pad.
As shown variously in
Generally, unless noted, a padding system may be located in any area on the article of apparel. The location of a padding system may be selected based on the needs and customs of a particular sport. However, the location of a padding system in a particular location may also achieve specific advantages by addressing the flexibility needs and protective needs of that particular area of a wearer's 100 body. For example, the location of third padding system 128 and fourth padding system 138 on rib areas 9005 and 9007 may be particularly advantageous because many sports require flexibility in the core region of the body in order to bend or turn, yet the ribs are also prone to injury. Similarly, the location of fifth padding system 148 and sixth padding system 158 on hip areas 9009 and 9011 may be particularly advantageous because increased flexibility in these areas may be conducive to faster running, as is clearly required in many sports. Finally, the location of first padding system 108 and second padding system 118 on shoulder areas 9001 and 9003 may be particularly advantageous because increased flexibility in this particular region may be required to for reaching, catching, and throwing; while the shoulders are also particularly prone to collarbone injuries (among other injuries). Accordingly, the specific locations of the padding systems shown in
Each of the seven padding systems in first article of apparel 102 will briefly be discussed as shown in
Generally, first spool 110 may be any mechanism that is capable of rotating so as to wind first filament 114 around first spool 110. First filament 114 is connected to first spool 110 at all times, such as by being partially wound around first spool 110. First spool 110 may be configured to rotate in one direction to cause first filament 114 to be further wound around first spool 110, i.e. to shorten the length of first portion of first filament 114. First spool 110 is also configured to rotate in the opposite direction so that less of first filament 114 is wound around first spool 110, and first portion of first filament 114 is lengthened. For illustrative purposes, first spool 110 is shown in
First filament 114 may generally be any elongated string or wire that is sufficiently flexible as to fit the contours of first plurality of padding elements 116 while also having a sufficiently high tensile strength that first filament 114 can apply force to first plurality of padding elements 116 and resist an impact force without breaking. First filament 114 may generally be made from any natural or synthetic material. For example, first filament 114 may be made from a variety of polymers, metals, natural fibers such as cotton or wool, Kevlar, silk, and others. First filament 114 may be fibrous, consisting of smaller strands or yarns twisted together, or be of a monofilament with uniform cross-section. The structure of the filament is further discussed below with respect to additional figures.
First plurality of padding elements 116 may generally be any structures within first pad 112 that will absorb and attenuate and/or dissipate a force, such as a force from an impact. For example, padding elements may be compressible, such that the energy of an impact force will be absorbed by the compression of one or more padding elements. In particular, each padding element may extend vertically upwards and be vertically compressible. Each padding element may be made from a variety of compressible materials, such as polymer foam, open-celled foam, closed-cell foam, rubber, felt, and other materials.
First plurality of padding elements 116 may generally be arranged in a repeating pattern at some distance away from each other. A repeating pattern may include first plurality of padding elements 116 being each equally spaced from each other, or may be spaced apart from each other according to a mathematical formula. In this way, first pad 112 may be flexible because each padding element of first plurality of padding elements 116 may move independently from any other padding element of first plurality of padding elements 116. The structure of each padding element in each plurality of padding elements is further discussed below with respect to additional figures.
First padding system 108 is therefore comprised of three main components: first pad 112 (with plurality of padding elements 116), first filament 114, and first spool 110. Each of the other padding systems on first article of apparel 102 may be comprised of equivalent components. In particular, first shirt-type garment 104 further comprises a second padding system 118. Second padding system 118 includes second spool 120, second pad 122 (with second plurality of padding elements 126), and second filament 124. Because second padding system 118 is located on shoulder area 9003, second padding system 118 may be substantially similar to padding system 108 that is located on shoulder area 9001.
First shirt-type garment 104 may also include third padding system 128 and fourth padding system 138. Third padding system 128 includes third spool 130 (as shown in
As shown in
In
As shown in
The callout of
When in first configuration 221, padding elements 217 may be a first distance 227 from each other as shown in
Wearer 200 may also be wearing first sensor 209 that may emit first sensor field 211. First sensor 209 may be mounted on wearer 200, as shown, or may be mounted on second article of apparel 202 so as to be considered a part of second article of apparel 202. First sensor 209 is configured to be capable of determining when an impact between wearer 200 and another person (or object) is about to take place. Specifically, for example, first sensor 209 may be a proximity sensor. A variety of proximity sensors are known in the art, which generally are configured to emit first sensor field 211 in the electromagnetic spectrum and then send a signal as output when first sensor field 211 is disturbed by an object in close physical proximity. Details regarding various types of proximity sensors, and which particular part of the electromagnetic spectrum used for first sensor field 211, may be known to persons having ordinary skill in the art of electrical engineering and microelectronics.
As shown in
The change from first configuration 221 to second configuration 223 may be accomplished by using eighth filament 214 to tighten padding elements 217 together. Specifically, when eighth padding system 208 is in first configuration 221, eighth filament 214 may have first length 203 within eighth pad 212. Generally, the length of eighth filament 214 may be controlled by eighth spool 210. Namely, eighth spool 210 may unwind by rotating in one direction to allow a longer length of eighth filament 214 to extend into eighth pad 212 so that eighth filament 214 has first length 203. First length 203 refers to the length of the filament within the pad, apart from a length of filament that may be coiled on eighth spool 210 and apart from a length of filament that is outside the pad but nonetheless not coiled on eighth spool 210. The total length of eighth filament 214 does not substantially change from the first configuration to the second configuration, only the length of eighth filament 214 that is coiled on eighth spool 210 and the length of eighth filament 214 that is extending through eighth pad 212. Eighth spool 210 and eighth filament 214 may remain in first configuration 221, so that eighth filament 214 has first length 203, until receiving an input from first sensor 209.
Upon receiving an input from first sensor 209, eighth spool 210 may wind filament 214 by rotating. Eighth filament 214 then achieves second length 205 in eighth pad 212. Second length 205 may be shorter than first length 203. As a result of this decrease in length, padding elements 217 may be pushed together horizontally by eighth filament 214. Whereas padding elements 217 had first distance 227 between them when padding system 208 was in first configuration 221, padding elements 217 have second distance 229 between them when eighth padding system 208 is in second configuration 223. Second distance 229 may be less than first distance 227. The horizontal movement/deformation may be relative to a plane of second base layer 287. This is shown in
Specifically,
As a result of the decreased distance 229 (or 231) between padding elements 217 when eighth padding system 208 is in second configuration 223, the overall stiffness of eighth pad 212 may be increased. Specifically, padding elements 217 may no longer be free to move independently from each other padding element 217 in response to an impact force. Therefore, more of the impact force may be expended compressing the padding elements 217. Eighth pad 212 in second configuration 223 may therefore have a second stiffness value, where the second stiffness value is greater than the first stiffness value associated with first configuration 221. As a result of this difference in stiffness, less of an impact force may be transmitted to the wearer's 200 body when eighth pad 212 is in second configuration 223 as compared to an impact that occurs when eighth pad 212 was in first configuration 221.
Generally, second distance 229 (or 231) may be any distance that is less than first distance 227. In some embodiments, second distance 229 or 231 may be about 50% of first distance 227. In other embodiments, second distance 229 or 231 may be about 10% of first distance 227. In yet other embodiments, second distance 229 or 231 may be substantially zero. In embodiments were second distance 229 or 231 is substantially zero, at least a portion of adjacent padding elements 217 may be contiguous with each other. Generally, a smaller second distance 229/231 will result in a greater second stiffness of padding system 208 in second configuration 223. That is, the value of the second stiffness of second configuration 223 is inversely proportional to the size of distance 229/231.
The change from first configuration 221 to second configuration 223 (or 225) may preferably be reversible. Any deformation of padding elements 217 or second base layer 287 may be fully elastic. Once eighth padding system 208 has changed to second configuration 223, eighth spool 210 may ensure that eighth filament 214 remains at second length 205 until the impact occurs. Then, eighth padding system 208 may be configured to reset eighth filament 214 back to first length 203 by winding eighth spool 210 in an opposite direction as the winding that changed filament 214 from length 203 to length 205. This reset may be triggered by first sensor 209, such as by another interaction with first sensor field 211, or after a predetermined period of time. In embodiments where the reset occurs after a predetermined time, first sensor 209 may also include a timing mechanism as part of microprocessor controls (not shown) contained within first sensor 209.
In the embodiment shown in
Generally, an article of apparel in accordance with this disclosure may be used in a variety of sports.
As shown in
Next, first filament 114 may include first filament portion 107 that is wound around cylinder 183 when first padding system 108 is in first configuration 121. First filament 114 then also includes second filament portion 109 that extends through first pad 112 when first padding system 108 is in first configuration 121. First filament 114 may also be described as being arranged in first pad 112 in first filament pattern 115. A filament pattern may be described as the arrangement a filament makes as it winds around and between any associate padding elements. In the embodiment of
First padding system 108 also includes first antenna 181. First antenna 181 may be any known antenna that is configured to receive a signal from a sensor, such as first sensor 209 or second sensor 309. First padding system 108 may include first antenna 181 even in embodiments (such as second article of apparel 202 discussed above) where a sensor (such as first sensor 209) is mounted on wearer 200, in order to avoid the need for wires and reduce bulkiness and weight of the article of apparel. First antenna 181 may be connected to first spool 110 by first wire 182. Generally, first article of apparel 102 may include some input source for first spool 110 that triggers the spool to change the filament length from a first length to a second length. In the embodiment shown in
Next,
However, unlike most other embodiments described in this disclosure, fifteenth padding system 908 also includes a second spool, fourteenth spool 1010. Fourteenth spool 1010 includes fifth cylinder 1083, fifth mounting plate 1085, and fifth attachment 1084. Eighth sensor 1009 is attached to fourteenth spool 1010 by fifth wire 1082, and emits eighth sensor field 1011. Fourteenth spool 1010 is connected to fourteenth filament 1014, which in turn surrounds padding elements 1017 in fifth filament pattern 1015. Within padding elements 1017, fourteenth filament 1014 directly touches padding elements 1090 but does not touch padding elements 1091. In this embodiment, padding elements 1017 and padding elements 917 are two non-overlapping groups of padding elements. In other words, none of plurality of padding elements 916 belongs to both group 917 and group 1017. This occurs because thirteenth filament 914 and fourteenth filament 1014 are arranged in fourth filament pattern 915 and fifth filament pattern 1015, respectively, that do not overlap each other. This type of embodiment may be advantageous for isolating a certain area of twelfth pad 912 to achieve increased stiffness on demand, while allowing the remainder of twelfth pad 912 to simultaneously be flexible. This embodiment is also similar to the embodiment shown in
Furthermore,
Accordingly, as discussed above, the various embodiments shown in this disclosure may advantageously be used in sporting endeavors in order to providing impact protection when needed but also achieve flexibility when impact protection is not otherwise needed. The spool and filament system is advantageous in that it is robust in the face of stresses encountered in athletic activities, and is easily reversible. The sensor associated with the article of apparel may enable the padding system on the article of apparel to change from a low stiffness state to a high stiffness state before an impact occurs. Finally, the article of apparel and padding system may be tailored to suit the protective needs of a variety of sports.
Generally, unless this disclosure indicates to the contrary, any feature disclosed herein with respect to one embodiment may be combined with any other feature(s) disclosed with respect to any other embodiment, to form any combination or sub-combination thereof.
Although the embodiments in this disclosure depict articles of apparel with a dynamic padding system, it is contemplated that other embodiments could include dynamic systems in (for example) articles of footwear such as athletic sneakers or hiking books. In particular, any of the various features and embodiments disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with any features or disclosures in Rushbrook, U.S. Patent Publication Number US2015/0296922 published Oct. 22, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,380,834, filed Apr. 22, 2014, and titled “Article of Footwear with Dynamic Support” the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.
This application is a divisional application which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/877,151, entitled “Article of Apparel with Dynamic Padding System,” filed Jan. 22, 2018. U.S. application Ser. No. 15/877,151 is a divisional application which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/258,613, entitled “Article of Apparel with Dynamic Padding System,” filed Apr. 22, 2014. The entirety of both of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.
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