Embodiments generally relate to clothing. More particularly, embodiments relate to cut-changing clothing based on adjustable stitching.
Conventional clothing articles may be made of fixed-size pieces of fabric that are stitched together with thread. The sizes and shapes of the fabric pieces, together with the type of stitch may be selected by a fashion designer in order to determine the style and fit of clothing. Once an article of clothing is created, making adjustments may involve manually re-stitching (e.g., by a tailor) various portions of the clothing. Moreover, regardless of the changes made by a tailor, the overall cut of the clothing may remain the same.
The various advantages of the embodiments will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which:
Turning now to
More particularly, the enlarged end view of
In order to automatically adjust the relative position between the two fabrics 10, an electrical current may be temporarily applied to a target thread such as, for example, the thread 14 (e.g., at time t1). Due to the electropermanent magnet properties of the thread 14, the electrical current may cause the thread 14 to have no net magnetic field (e.g., no longer operate as a permanent magnet). During such a condition, the illustrated thread 12, which still operates as a permanent magnet, may automatically form a magnetic bond with a nearby thread 16 that operates as a permanent magnet (e.g., provided that the polarizations are different). Thus, the electrical current may initiate a “slide” of the first fabric 10a across the second fabric 10b (e.g., causing a “snap-in” effect). Once the bond between the threads 12, 16 has been formed, the electrical current may be removed from the thread 14. Removal of the electrical current from the thread 14 may cause the thread 14 to automatically transform back into a permanent magnet and form a magnetic bond with an adjacent thread in the first fabric 10a.
The relative position between the two fabrics 10 may be further adjusted by temporarily applying an electrical current to another target thread such as, for example, the thread 16 (e.g., at time t2). Due to the electropermanent magnet properties of the thread 16, the electrical current may cause the thread 16 to have no net magnetic field. During such a condition, the illustrated thread 12, which still operates as a permanent magnet, may automatically form a magnetic bond with a nearby thread 18 that operates as a permanent magnet (e.g., provided that the polarizations are different). Once the bond between the threads 12, 18 has been formed, the electrical current may be removed from the thread 16. Removal of the electrical current from the thread 16 may cause the thread 16 to automatically transform back into a permanent magnet and form a magnetic bond with an adjacent thread in the first fabric 10a. The illustrated approach may be readily reversed to slide the fabrics 10 in the opposite direction.
Once the bond between the threads 36, 38 has been formed, the thread 38 may be treated as a second target thread by applying (e.g., at time t3) electrical current to the thread 38. The electrical current may cause the second target thread 38 to have no net magnetic field. Accordingly, threads 36, 34 may automatically form (e.g., at time t4) a magnetic bond with one another. In order to increase the size of the fold, the process may be repeated by applying (e.g., at time t5) electrical current to the thread 34 (e.g., causing it to function as a third target thread and have no net magnetic field). During such a condition, illustrated threads 36, 39 may still operate as permanent magnets. Accordingly, the threads 36, 39 may automatically form (e.g., at time t6) a magnetic bond that increases the size of the fold.
Similarly, the thread 39 may then be treated as a fourth target thread by applying (e.g., at time t7) electrical current to the thread 39. The electrical current may cause the fourth target thread 39 to have no net magnetic field. Accordingly, threads 36, 41 may automatically form (e.g., at time t8) a magnetic bond with one another. Once the appropriate fold size has been achieved, the electrical current may be removed from the target threads 32, 38, 34, 39, wherein removal of the electrical current may automatically transform the target threads 32, 38, 34, 39 back into permanent magnets. The illustrated process may be readily reversed to remove the fold.
Turning now to
Turning now to
In one example, the controller 68 communicates with a mobile platform 72 (e.g., tablet computer, smart phone, mobile Internet device/MID, wearable computer, etc.) that includes logic 74 (e.g., logic instructions, configurable logic and/or fixed-functionality hardware logic) to assist the controller 68 in selecting the target threads. For example, the logic 74 might present a user of the mobile platform 72 with an image of the clothing article as well as various options as to size/fit, temperature specifications, and so forth. In the case of thermal specifications, the mobile platform 72 might measure heart rate, perspiration levels and/or ambient temperature (e.g., using on-platform sensors and/or a network connection) and determine an optimal density of the fabric based on the measurements (e.g., relative to one or more comfort settings associated with the user). Such an approach may be particularly useful in active wear, anti-gravity flight suits (e.g., G suits), and so forth. In another example, the logic 74 may assist the controller 68 in automatically determining the appropriate filtering properties of a surgical mask being worn by medical personnel. The mobile platform 72 may also determine optimal placement and/or size of pockets, which may be useful in, for example, toolbelts, shirts, etc.
The mobile platform 72 may then communicate the selections wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.) to the controller 68 in the fabric 62 as well as to other fabrics in the clothing article. Alternatively, the mobile platform 72 may transmit the selections to a single “hub” controller, which may parse and/or relay the selection information to the appropriate fabric controllers. A security layer (e.g., encryption/decryption, authentication) may be superimposed on the wireless communications in order to prevent unauthorized changes in the fabric and/or magnetic stitches.
Although the illustrated view shows only vertical threads 64 for ease of discussion, the threads 64 of the fabric 62 may also be interwoven with a set of horizontal threads having a metal compound with electropermanent magnet properties (e.g., as well as a corresponding set of transmitters). Moreover, the threads having the electropermanent magnet properties may be a subset of all threads in the fabric 62, depending on the circumstances. For example, the electropermanent magnet threads may be selected to be in zones of the fabric 62 that are likely to be used for stitching and/or adjustments (e.g., via sliding or folding).
Illustrated processing block 78 provides a first fabric including a first set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the first set of threads includes a metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties. Block 80 may provide a second fabric including a set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the second set of threads includes the metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties. Additionally, one or more of the first set of threads may be positioned adjacent to one or more of the second set of threads at block 82. As already noted, positioning the threads adjacent to one another may automatically create a magnetic bond between threads having reverse polarities. In this regard, increasing the number of threads involved in the magnetic bond may generate a force strong enough to hold fabric pieces together while being worn (e.g., during the adjustment).
Illustrated processing block 86 may determine whether a relative shift between fabrics in a clothing article is to be conducted. Block 86 may including decrypting, authenticating, parsing and/or analyzing one or more communications from a mobile platform such as, for example, the mobile platform 72 (
Example 1 may include a clothing article comprising a first fabric including a first set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the first set of threads includes a metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties, and a second fabric coupled to the first fabric, the second fabric including a second set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the second set of threads includes the metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties.
Example 2 may include the clothing article of Example 1, wherein the metal compound includes an electromagnet, and a dual material permanent magnet.
Example 3 may include the clothing article of any one of Examples 1 or 2, further including a first set of transmitters coupled to the first set of threads, a second set of transmitters coupled to the second set of threads, and one or more controllers coupled to the first set of transmitters and the second set of transmitters, the one or more controllers to apply electrical current to one or more target threads in one or more of the first set of threads or the second set of threads via one or more of the first set of transmitters or the second set of transmitters, respectively.
Example 4 may include the clothing article of Example 3, wherein the electrical current is to initiate creation of a fold among the one or more target threads.
Example 5 may include the clothing article of Example 3, wherein the electrical current is to initiate a slide of the first fabric across the second fabric.
Example 6 may include the clothing article of Example 3, wherein the one or more controllers are to temporarily apply the electrical current to the one or more target threads.
Example 7 may include the clothing article of Example 1, further including a power source.
Example 8 may include a fabric comprising a set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the set of threads includes a metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties.
Example 9 may include the fabric of Example 8, wherein the metal compound includes an electromagnet, and a dual material permanent magnet.
Example 10 may include the fabric of any one of Examples 8 or 9, further including a set of transmitters coupled to the set of threads, and a controller coupled to the set of transmitters, the controller to apply electrical current to one or more target threads in the set of threads via the set of transmitters.
Example 11 may include the fabric of Example 10, wherein the electrical current is to initiate creation of a fold among the one or more target threads.
Example 12 may include a method of operating a controller, comprising applying an electrical current to one or more target threads in one or more of a first set of threads or a second set of threads via one or more of a first set of transmitters or a second set of transmitters, respectively, wherein the first set of threads is part of a first fabric and the second set of threads is part of a second fabric, and wherein each thread in the first set of threads and the second set of threads includes a metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties.
Example 13 may include the method of Example 12, wherein the electrical current initiates creation of a fold among the one or more target threads.
Example 14 may include the method of Example 12, wherein the electrical current initiates a slide of the first fabric across the second fabric.
Example 15 may include the method of any one of Examples 12 to 14, wherein the electrical current is temporarily applied to the one or more target threads.
Example 16 may include at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions, which when executed by a controller, cause the controller to apply electrical current to one or more target threads in one or more of a first set of threads or a second set of threads via one or more of a first set of transmitters or a second set of transmitters, respectively, wherein the first set of threads is part of a first fabric and the second set of threads is part of a second fabric, and wherein each thread in the first set of threads and the second set of threads includes a metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties.
Example 17 may include the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of Example 16, wherein the electrical current is to initiate creation of a fold among the one or more target threads.
Example 18 may include the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of Example 16, wherein the electrical current is to initiate a slide of the first fabric across the second fabric.
Example 19 may include the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of any one of Examples 16 to 18, wherein the electrical current is to be temporarily applied to the one or more target threads.
Example 20 may include a method of constructing a clothing article, comprising providing a first fabric including a first set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the first set of threads includes a metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties, providing a second fabric including a second set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the second set of threads includes the metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties, and positioning one or more of the first set of threads adjacent to one or more of the second set of threads.
Example 21 may include the method of Example 20, wherein the metal compound includes an electromagnet, and a dual material permanent magnet.
Example 22 may include the method of any one of Examples 20 or 21, further including applying electrical current to one or more target threads in one or more of the first set of threads or the second set of threads via one or more of a first set of transmitters or a second set of transmitters, respectively.
Example 23 may include the method of Example 22, wherein the electrical current initiates creation of a fold among the one or more target threads.
Example 24 may include the method of Example 22, wherein the electrical current initiates a slide of the first fabric across the second fabric.
Example 25 may include the method of Example 22, wherein the electrical current is temporarily applied to the one or more target threads.
Example 26 may include a controller to construct clothing articles, comprising means for providing a first fabric including a first set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the first set of threads includes a metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties, means for providing a second fabric including a second set of threads coupled to one another, wherein each thread in the second set of threads includes the metal compound having electropermanent magnet properties, means for positioning one or more of the first set of threads adjacent to one or more of the second set of threads.
Example 27 may include the controller of Example 26, wherein the metal compound is to include an electromagnet, and a dual material permanent magnet.
Example 28 may include the controller of any one of Examples 26 or 27, further including means for applying electrical current to one or more target threads in one or more of the first set of threads or the second set of threads via one or more of a first set of transmitters or a second set of transmitters, respectively.
Example 29 may include the controller of Example 28, wherein the electrical current is to initiate creation of a fold among the one or more target threads.
Example 30 may include the controller of Example 28, wherein the electrical current is to initiate a slide of the first fabric across the second fabric.
Example 31 may include the controller of Example 28, wherein the electrical current is to be temporarily applied to the one or more target threads.
Thus, techniques may provide for dynamically adjusting the bond lines between fabrics and folding excess fabric in order to modify articles of clothing both in size and tailor cut. The programmable bond lines may be located anywhere on the fabric, while enabling clean clothing cuts to be automatically obtained without the expense or time of manual tailoring. Moreover, the amount of time involved in bonding fabric pieces together may be small enough to be considered instantaneous from the perspective of the wearer.
Embodiments are applicable for use with all types of semiconductor integrated circuit (“IC”) chips. Examples of these IC chips include but are not limited to processors, controllers, chipset components, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), memory chips, network chips, systems on chip (SoCs), SSD/NAND controller ASICs, and the like. In addition, in some of the drawings, signal conductor lines are represented with lines. Some may be different, to indicate more constituent signal paths, have a number label, to indicate a number of constituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, to indicate primary information flow direction. This, however, should not be construed in a limiting manner. Rather, such added detail may be used in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments to facilitate easier understanding of a circuit. Any represented signal lines, whether or not having additional information, may actually comprise one or more signals that may travel in multiple directions and may be implemented with any suitable type of signal scheme, e.g., digital or analog lines implemented with differential pairs, optical fiber lines, and/or single-ended lines.
Example sizes/models/values/ranges may have been given, although embodiments are not limited to the same. As manufacturing techniques (e.g., photolithography) mature over time, it is expected that devices of smaller size could be manufactured. In addition, well known power/ground connections to IC chips and other components may or may not be shown within the figures, for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure certain aspects of the embodiments. Further, arrangements may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring embodiments, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respect to implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highly dependent upon the platform within which the embodiment is to be implemented, i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of one skilled in the art. Where specific details (e.g., circuits) are set forth in order to describe example embodiments, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments can be practiced without, or with variation of, these specific details. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.
The term “coupled” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.
As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “one or more of” may mean any combination of the listed terms. For example, the phrases “one or more of A, B or C” may mean A, B, C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180160758 A1 | Jun 2018 | US |