U.S. patent application number 16/520326 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-16 for performance gauge for fabric and cushioning material.
This patent application is currently assigned to Stretch Canary, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Stretch Canary, LLC. Invention is credited to Jonathan Cranin, Deepa Thomas, Matthew Thomas.
Application Number | 20200018588 16/520326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62076825 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200018588 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cranin; Jonathan ; et
al. |
January 16, 2020 |
PERFORMANCE GAUGE FOR FABRIC AND CUSHIONING MATERIAL
Abstract
Athletic apparel, including compression garments and athletic
footwear, is disclosed as capable of monitoring the wear of
compression fabric and/or cushioning material by attaching a
performance gauge onto the apparel. The performance gauge includes
microcapsules that contain a co-reactant, wherein the microcapsules
can breakdown in concert with the wear and degradation of the
compression fabric or cushioning material, thereby allowing the
co-reactant to produce color indication. As the wear of the fabric
and cushioning material increases, more microcapsules breakdown
resulting in a progression of color change visible through
additional layers on the performance gauge, or by the fabric and/or
cushioning material. The microcapsules can be engineered to
breakdown based on any variation of factors that correspond to the
degradation of compressive fabric and cushioning material,
including shear force, tension, impact force, and/or exposure to
high temperature and water.
Inventors: |
Cranin; Jonathan; (New York,
NY) ; Thomas; Deepa; (San Francisco, CA) ;
Thomas; Matthew; (Portola Valley, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stretch Canary, LLC |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Stretch Canary, LLC
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
62076825 |
Appl. No.: |
16/520326 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15805577 |
Nov 7, 2017 |
10378875 |
|
|
16520326 |
|
|
|
|
62418671 |
Nov 7, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 31/02 20130101;
A61B 5/00 20130101; A43B 3/0005 20130101; A43B 1/0027 20130101;
A43B 5/00 20130101; A41D 13/0015 20130101; A41D 31/102 20190201;
A41D 1/002 20130101; A41H 1/02 20130101; G01B 7/16 20130101; B32B
27/12 20130101; A43B 23/0225 20130101; A43B 23/0235 20130101; A43B
13/12 20130101; A41D 31/185 20190201 |
International
Class: |
G01B 7/16 20060101
G01B007/16; A41D 1/00 20060101 A41D001/00; A41D 13/00 20060101
A41D013/00; A61B 5/00 20060101 A61B005/00; B32B 27/12 20060101
B32B027/12; A43B 1/00 20060101 A43B001/00; A43B 23/02 20060101
A43B023/02; A41D 31/02 20060101 A41D031/02; A41H 1/02 20060101
A41H001/02; A43B 3/00 20060101 A43B003/00 |
Claims
1. A performance gauge that provides for monitoring fabric
degradation and/or cushioning material degradation, comprising: a
body that can be affixed to fabric and/or cushioning material, the
body having a halochromatic material therein; a plurality of
microcapsules embedded within said body, each microcapsule having
(a) a outer shell encompassing a inner volume and b) a co-reactant
that is contained within said inner volume, wherein said
co-reactant can escape the inner volume upon rupture of the outer
shell, and said co-reactant activates upon contact with the
halochromatic material, to produce color indication.
2. The performance gauge defined in claim 1, wherein the outer
shells for each microcapsule will progressively rupture when
subjected to pressure and shear forces, impact forces, ground
resultant forces, tension, friction, high temperature, and/or
exposure to detergent, sweat, or water.
3. The performance gauge defined in claim 1, wherein the body
includes a layer of textile, foam, or rubber, and further comprises
a laminate or coating layer that absorbs and displays the color
indication, said laminate or coating layer further comprising a) a
hydrophobic film that is microporous and/or b) a hydrophilic film
that is non-porous.
4. An athletic apparel that provides for monitoring fabric
degradation, comprising: an apparel body having a compressive
fabric, the apparel body configured to conform to a portion of the
wearer; and a performance gauge secured to the compressive fabric
of the apparel body, the performance gauge having: a body that can
be affixed to fabric and/or cushioning material, the body having a
halochromatic material therein; a plurality of microcapsules
embedded within said body, each microcapsule having (a) a outer
shell encompassing a inner volume and b) a co-reactant that is
contained within said inner volume, wherein said co-reactant can
escape the inner volume upon rupture of the outer shell, and said
co-reactant activates upon contact with the halochromatic material,
to produce color indication.
5. The athletic apparel defined in claim 4, wherein the performance
gauge further comprises a binder layer affixed to the compressive
fabric, and said plurality of microcapsules are embedded within the
binder layer.
6. The athletic apparel defined in claim 4, wherein the outer shell
for each microcapsule will progressively rupture when subject to
pressure and shear forces, tension, friction, high temperature,
and/or exposure to detergent, sweat, or water.
7. The athletic apparel defined in claim 6, further comprising any
combination of microcapsules of any size less than or equal to 100
micrometers with any outer shell thickness less than the
corresponding microcapsule size.
8. The athletic apparel defined in claim 4, wherein the performance
gauge further comprises at least one indicating substrate that
absorbs and displays the color of the activated dye.
9. The athletic apparel defined in claim 8, wherein at least one
indicating substrate comprises a laminate or coating with a rubbery
material that absorbs impact and/or shock.
10. The athletic apparel defined in claim 8, wherein at least one
indicating substrate comprises a laminate or coating with a) a
hydrophobic film that is microporous and/or b) a hydrophilic film
that is non-porous.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/805,577, filed Nov. 7, 2017, which claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/418,671, filed Nov. 7,
2016, both of which are incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to fabric and
cushioning material, and more specifically, to a performance gauge
for high performance fabric used in athletic apparel, shapewear,
and so on, and to a performance gauge for cushioning material used
in high performance footwear, such as athletic shoes, hiking shoes,
and so on.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Athletic performance apparel has become increasingly popular
as they provide specific benefits for a given physical activity.
Some examples of such apparel include compression clothing, sports
bras, yoga pants, running shoes, and cross-training shoes. For
compression clothing, the principal functionality is to maintain a
skin-tight fit, and can further apply pressure to parts of the body
to prevent injury and improve blood flow during exercise, providing
the benefit of an improved performance and recovery. For running
shoes, the principle functionality is to provide sufficient
stability and cushioning to absorb shock and to reduce the
magnitude of localized pressure peaks, thereby providing the
benefit of reduced stress to the foot and improved performance.
[0004] Athletic apparel is expected to develop further in the
future, adding more functionality and benefits. This includes
compression athletic wear that is customized to the athlete's
dimensions and type of activity. With the increase in
hyper-engineered apparel costs, consumers will demand perfection
and want to know definitively when their apparel is deteriorating
in performance. Fabric performance is also important in other
contexts, such as bras, shapewear, and mattresses.
[0005] High performance fabric is made out of synthetic polymeric
fibers. The unique material properties of polymeric fibers
contribute to the desired performance of the fabric for athletic
activity and/or support. Polymers are compliant, i.e., have a low
elastic modulus, which contributes to the fabric's flexibility.
Upon being stretched, polymers can store energy, which allows the
polymeric fibers to return to their original state with force after
an athletic movement.
[0006] However, the polymeric fibers lose their elastic recovery
over time by undergoing irreversible deformation. The fibers
stretch over time, but without storing energy that would allow the
fibers to return to their original state. Therefore, the clothing
loses its shape and the compressive performance of the fibers is
compromised. Fatigue deformation of polymers is controlled by a
viscoelastic phenomenon called creep and stress relaxation. On a
micro scale, with continuously applied moderate force, the polymer
chains slowly swim around each other and align with the direction
of force. On a macro scale, the fibers stretch and thin out.
Eventually, as the cross-sectional area of the fibers decreases,
the polymer chains can no longer accommodate the force and bonds
within the chains, and cross-links between the chains will break.
Thus, the user may continue to use such apparel without knowing
that its benefit has run its course due to prolonged exposure to a
variety of factors, including, but not limited to, stretching,
shear force, high temperature, and water.
[0007] For high performance footwear, the cushioning material
embedded in the midsole, outsole, and heel help redistribute the
ground resultant force acting on the body during physical
activities such as walking, running, or jumping. The cushioning
material used in the midsole can vary over different types, such as
foam materials or polyurethane, while the outsole and heel are
typically made from rubber. Similar to the polymers in high
performance fabrics, the cushioning material in high performance
footwear, when receiving a pressure load, can store energy when
being elastically deformed, and thus allowing for an elastic
recovery to its original shape when the pressure load is
removed.
[0008] However, also similar to the fibers found in high
performance fabrics, the cushioning in the shoe does not store all
the energy from the ground resultant pressure force in its deformed
state, but instead some energy is released as heat. Thus over time,
the recurrence effects of activity and heat build-up within the
cushioning causes the material to eventually denature, and thereby
leading to a reduction in the elasticity of the cushioning
material, ie stiffening. Moreover, the impact forces and friction
forces, along with heat and water exposure, may result in a
reduction in the thickness on the outsole and heel, thereby also
reducing the shock absorbency and cushioning for the wearer. Thus,
similar to high performance fabric, a user may continue to use a
high performance footwear without realizing that benefits, such as
absorbing shock and distributing stress points, are no longer
available.
[0009] It should, therefore, be appreciated that there is a need
for fabric and cushioning material that can each accurately alert
the user when it is ceasing to perform adequately, particularly
when it is a component of athletic apparel, wherein such alerting
mechanism will be readily indicative and not be overly intrusive
nor aesthetically displeasing to the apparel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Briefly, and in general terms, a performance gauge for
athletic apparel material, including footwear, is provided, wherein
microcapsules are used to visually cue loss of performance in
fabric and cushioning material.
[0011] More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the
performance gauge is built into apparel, as a tag or stamp below
the waist or neckband of a garment, inside of a shoe opening, on
the outsole or heel of a shoe, or in any other suitable position.
The performance gauge will indicate wear by changing color
gradually as the fabric deteriorates, or as the shoe cushioning
material deteriorates and/or stiffens. The performance gauge could
be any shape, including for example, a short strip that changes
color gradually; a round shape that changes color clockwise; or
three or four chevrons that change color sequentially from left to
right.
[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the performance gauge uses
microcapsule breakdown to remove a barrier between a colorless dye
and its co-reactant activator, allowing for gradual color change as
more microcapsules are ruptured.
[0013] In a detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the
microcapsules are disposed in a layer with a binder that is affixed
to the fabric and/or cushioning material.
[0014] In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, an
indicating substrate is further provided, wherein said indicating
substrate can be a laminate or coating.
[0015] In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the
microcapsules may be sprayed, coated, or immersed into the fibers
of the garment, or may be mixed into a laminate or plastisol
ink.
[0016] In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the
microcapsules may be sprayed, coated, or immersed into the material
of the shoe sole, heel, and/or insole
[0017] In another exemplary embodiment, the microcapsules contain a
co-reactant that activates color formation upon contact with a
halochromic material disposed about the performance gauge.
[0018] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the microcapsules
contain a pre-activated dye, such that the microcapsules display
the color of the dye. The performance gauge will indicate wear of
the fabric and/or cushioning material as the initial color
gradually fades away resulting from microcapsule breakdown and the
progressive washing away of the released dye.
[0019] For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages
achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention
have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that
not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance
with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example,
those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be
embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one
advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without
necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or
suggested herein.
[0020] All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope
of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of
the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention
not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment
disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in
which:
[0022] FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a sports bra having a
performance gauge in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of athletic pants having
a performance gauge in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a view of a performance gauge in accordance with
the present invention, showing its behavior over time when used on
fabrics, depicting a laminate/coating layer, microcapsules embedded
in a binder layer, a fabric layer, and the progression of
microcapsules rupturing due to the fabric stretching.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates microcapsules in accordance with the
present invention, depicting an outer shell, an inner volume, dye
located in one inner volume, and a co-reactant located in another
inner volume.
[0026] FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of a footwear assembly
having multiple performance gauges in accordance with the present
invention, depicting an outsole, a midsole, a heel and two
performance gauges.
[0027] FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view of the footwear
assembly in FIG. 1A, depicting the outsole and heel, each with a
corresponding performance gauge
[0028] FIG. 5 is a top perspective of a shoe insole with two
performance gauges
[0029] FIG. 6 is a view of a performance gauge in accordance with
the present invention, showing its behavior over time when used on
cushioning material about a heel. FIG. 6 depicts a laminate/coating
layer, microcapsules embedded in a binder layer, a cushioning
material about the heel, and the progression of microcapsules
rupturing due to the cushioning material stiffening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1A-1B,
there is shown athletic apparel 100 bearing a performance gauge 10
for fabrics. The performance gauge 10 measures the wear of
compression fabrics by displaying color change in a tag, stamp, or
other similar form. The performance gauge 10 can be affixed to
apparel in any location, such as in the waistband of a pair of
pants, the neckband of a shirt, or about the opening of a shoe.
FIG. 1A shows a sports bra, wherein a rectangular performance gauge
10 is on the lower front portion of the garment. FIG. 1B shows
athletic pants, wherein a rectangular performance gauge 10 is on
the upper back portion of the garment, specifically the rear end of
the waistband.
[0031] The performance gauge 10 may be used on any appropriate
athletic apparel, e.g., compression shorts and shirts, bras,
shapewear, yoga pants, and footwear with a compressive footwear
opening. The performance gauge can also be used to indicate wear on
a mattress, or anywhere the performance of fabric is important. The
size of the performance gauge can be optimized to allow the
indicator to be readily indicative while limiting the amount of
specialized material required. The performance gauge may change
color gradually, be a round shape that changes color clockwise, be
three or four chevrons that change color sequentially from left to
right, or any configuration and/or shape desired. Placement of each
performance gauge will ideally account for areas of critical
performance, such as the bicep or calve, and also account for
visual convenience and/or aesthetic.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a performance
gauge 10 in accordance with the present invention, showing its
behavior over time, when used on fabrics. At the top is a
substantially new performance gauge 10, which comprises of a
microcapsule and binder layer 2, and a laminate/coating layer 1,
both covering the fabric 3. Over time, stretching, washing,
exposure to human sweat, and/or aging causes the microcapsules 4 to
rupture, releasing a colorless dye and possibly a co-reactant from
within, activating color formation (further described below). Thus,
breakdown of the microcapsules 4 removes the barrier between
colorless dye 30 and its co-reactant activator 31, allowing for a
gradual color change as more microcapsules 4 are ruptured.
Additional stretching, washing, exposure to human sweat, and/or
aging will result in the laminate/coating 1 and/or fabric 3 to
absorb additional color 5,6 as more microcapsules 4 rupture.
[0033] As aforementioned, activated dye may be absorbed by the
fibers of the fabric 3,6 and/or the laminate/coating 1,5. If strong
bonding of the activated dye to the fiber is necessary, this can be
accomplished with heat during a normal washing/drying cycle. An
additive may further be used to promote curing and bonding to the
fabric 3. The activated dye may also be suspended between the
fabric 3 and laminate/coating 1, wherein the laminate/coating layer
is transparent to enable color visibility.
[0034] A binder layer 2 with embedded microcapsules 4 may be
affixed to the fabric to prevent the microcapsules 4 and/or
released dye from washing away during wash cycles. The binder layer
2 may also ensure that there is suitable mechanical stress transfer
between the fibers of the fabric 3 and microcapsules 4 during
stretching, thereby enhancing the fabric wear predictability. The
proximity of the binder layer 2 to the fabric 3 also allows for
color absorption of the activated dye. The binder layer 2 can be of
any suitable textile. Alternative embodiments of the performance
gauge 10 may not include a binder layer 2, but instead the
microcapsules 4 can be sprayed, coated, or immersed onto the fibers
of the garment 100, or may be mixed into a plastic laminate/coating
1 or plastisol ink.
[0035] An indicating substrate may also be provided with the
performance gauge 10. The indicating substrate can be a small
region of garment fibers, external fibers sewn into the garment,
plastisol printed onto the garment, and/or plastic laminated/coated
onto the garment. The purpose of the indicating substrate is to
absorb released dye and display the color change. Although the
laminate/coating 1 or fabric 3 may also serve this purpose, the
absorption of the dye may not be to a satisfactory degree and
additional material (fiber or plastic) may be necessary for the
performance gauge 10 to better display the color change. For
example, external natural fibers (known to absorb dye better than
synthetic fibers commonly used in athletic wear) may be sewn into
the performance gauge region of the garment with the sole purpose
of absorbing dye. The laminate/coating 1 may act as an indicating
substrate.
[0036] Additionally, the laminate/coating 1 may serve several other
purposes. It can attenuate microcapsule 4 breakdown from
stimulation and washing in favor of stretching and human sweat
breakdown. This is achieved by disposing a rubbery laminate/coating
over the sensing region of the garment (where the performance gauge
is located), which will absorb impact damage in order to increase
the effect of fiber stretch on microcapsule 4 breakdown. The
laminate/coating 1 may also serve to prevent the washing away of
released dye and co-reactant during a wash cycle, by regulating the
rate of water transfer to the sensing region such that the
microcapsules 4 are not oversensitive to wash cycles (further
described below).
[0037] The laminate/coating 1 may include a hydrophobic film that
is microporous, i.e., having openings from roughly 1-50 .mu.m in
diameter. This allows individual water vapor molecules to pass
through, while blocking the passage of larger water droplets. The
size of the pores can also selectively allow small water molecules
to pass through without allowing larger dye molecules to pass
through. The size of pores, or lack thereof, of hydrophobic films
regulates the type or phase of chemicals that are allowed to pass
through. In another embodiment, the laminate/coating 1 may include
a hydrophilic film without pores that permits water vapor transport
via diffusion through the film. Hydrophilic films should be solid
and only permit passage of water via diffusion. The driving forces
for diffusion are differences in humidity and temperature either
between the sensing region of the garment and the external climate,
or between the sensing region of the garment 100 and the human
body.
[0038] The laminate/coating 1 should be made of polyurethane, PTFE,
or similar material. The thickness of the laminate/coating 1
controls water vapor transmission rate and the degree of impact
absorption. The film can have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic
components to further control the type of species that can pass
through and the rate at which they pass. Contamination of PTFE with
oil, sweat, and chemicals can diminish the hydrophobicity of PTFE,
thus allowing increased permeability of water to the sensing region
with extended use of the garment. PTFE film can be coated with its
own protective film to sustain hydrophobicity, or this effect can
be exploited to further increase microcapsule 4 breakdown with
extended use of the garment 100.
[0039] The laminate/coating 1 may also comprise of halochromic
material that is activated by a co-reactant contained within the
microcapsules 4, or by contact with detergent, such as during a
wash cycle, wherein such activation results in color indication
(further described below). As aforementioned, membranes in the
laminate/coating 1 can regulate detergent contact with the
halochromic material.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the microcapsules 4,
comprising an inner volume 33 surrounded by an outer shell 32.
Separate microcapsules 4 may house dye 30 and/or co-reactant
activators 31 for that dye, thereby separating a colorless (inert)
dye 30 from its respective co-reactant 31. In the absence of the
microcapsule barrier 4, the co-reactant 31 will activate the dye 30
and cause it to change color, e.g., from clear to any desired
color. The microcapsules 4 may contain one type of dye color or a
variety of dye colors used in concert to indicate a spectrum of
damage. The embodiment disclosed in FIG. 3 represents a two-part
leuco dye system wherein one set of microcapsules 4 contains
colorless dye 30 and the other set of microcapsules contains the
respective co-reactant 31 that will initiate color change.
Alternatively, one set of microcapsules can be used wherein the
microcapsules 4 contain only the co-reactant 31, which upon release
activate a halochromic material contained within a laminate/coating
1, and thereby initiate color indication. In another embodiment,
these microcapsules 4 may only contain the colorless dye 30, which
are activated by an environmental or detergent stimulus upon
release to initiate color indication.
[0041] In yet another embodiment, the microcapsules 4 will contain
pre-activated dye, such that the microcapsules, and therefore
performance gauge, will initially display the color of the dye. In
this alternate embodiment, the performance gauge lacks a
laminate/coating layer, thus enabling the released pre-activated
dye, from microcapsule breakdown due to wear of the fabric, to be
susceptible of being washed away. The performance gauge will
thereby indicate wear of a fabric through the progressive washing
away of the dye and gradual uncovering of the color of the base
apparel.
[0042] The microcapsules 4 are designed to break down over time
from the same factors that would damage athletic apparel 100 over
time, which as aforementioned include, among other factors,
stretching, washing, exposure to human sweat, and/or aging. In the
exemplary embodiment, as more microcapsules 4 rupture, more dye 30
will be activated and the color change will be more pronounced.
[0043] The stretching of fibers will directly connect the garment
100 fiber condition to the microcapsule breakdown since stretching
of the fibers will decrease the cross-sectional area of the fibers
of the fabric 3 or laminate/coating 1, thereby subjecting the
microcapsules 4 to pressure and shear forces, causing the
microcapsules 4 to rupture over time. The friction between textile
fibers during movement can also serve to break down the outer shell
32 of the microcapsules 4.
[0044] The microcapsules 4 may further be designed to breakdown
more slowly over a period of high-temperature wash cycles, or
designed to dissolve more slowly due to exposure to detergent or
sweat. Thus, by combining different microcapsule 4 designs, the
performance gauge 10 can depict a color change that favors a given
fabric breakdown stimulus, such as athletic activity and/or wash
cycles.
[0045] The size of the microcapsules can be approximately 100 .mu.m
or less. Microcapsule size is one of a number of parameters that
affects the release rate of the encapsulated dye and co-reactants.
For example, 10-micron microcapsules will release the inner volume
33 ingredient faster than 100-micron microcapsules, given the same
external loads. Thus, the performance gauge can be tailored to
produce color change in correlation with the loss of performance
integrity of a given garment 100 by specifying the size and number
of microcapsules 4, the thickness of the outer shell 32, and the
ratio of dye capsules 30 to co-reactant capsules 31.
[0046] Embodiments of the present invention can be considered a
hybrid of direct and indirect sensors for wear of athletic apparel.
It is direct in the respect that the stretching of fibers will act
as a stimulus to color change via microcapsule breakdown. Indirect
sensing is also achieved via microcapsules designed to melt slowly
over a period of high-temperature wash cycles or dissolve slowly
due to exposure to detergent or sweat. The performance gauge can
contain a combination of the capsules mentioned above so that it is
designed to change color slowly over a period of fatigue via
athletic activity and/or wash cycles.
[0047] Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4B, there is shown a high
performance footwear 200 bearing a performance gauge 208. The
performance gauge 208 measures the deterioration of cushioning
material in a footwear assembly by displaying color change in a
tag, stamp, or other similar form. The performance gauge 208 can be
affixed to any location on the outsole 206, heel 204, or insole. In
an alternative embodiment, the performance gauge 208 can be
attached to a midsole 202. Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown
a top perspective of the insole 210 of the footwear 200 wherein a
circular performance gauge 212 is located on the ball and heel
locations of an insole 210.
[0048] The performance gauge 208, 212 may be used on any
appropriate footwear, e.g., high performance shoes such as running
and cross-training shoes, hiking shoes, outdoor shoes, and so on.
The performance gauges 208,212 can contain similar characteristics
as described when used for fabrics, including size, shape(s), and
color changing progression. Placement of each performance gauge
208,212 will ideally account for areas of high impact and stress,
such as the heel and ball of the foot, and also account for visual
convenience or aesthetic appeal.
[0049] FIG. 6 provides an exemplary embodiment of a performance
gauge 208 in accordance with the present invention, showing its
behavior over time when attached to the heel 204 of a footwear,
which contains a cushioning material. At the bottom is a
substantially new performance gauge 208. The sensing region on the
heel 204 is covered by microcapsules 214 embedded within a binder
layer 216, followed by a laminate/coating layer 220. As
aforementioned for fabric performance gauges, the binder layer 216
helps in preventing the microcapsules from being displaced away
from the sensing region. Over time, impact forces, specifically
ground resultant forces due to walking, running, and jumping, and
impact forces such as from a user's foot, along with factors such
as friction force, heat and water exposure causes the microcapsules
214 to rupture, releasing dye and possibly a co-reactant from
within, activating color formation 218. After prolonged exposure to
ground resultant forces, other impact forces, friction, water, and
heat, the laminate/coating 224 and/or heel 222 absorb additional
color as more microcapsules 214 rupture. In an alternate
embodiment, the color activated dye will be suspended between the
outsole 206 and/or heel 204, and the laminate/coating 220, wherein
the laminate/coating is transparent, allowing for color visibility.
In yet another embodiment, an interface material may be located
between the performance gauge and the outsole 206 and/or heel 204,
so as to prevent color absorption to the shoe material in areas
that would lower the aesthetic appeal.
[0050] As mentioned previously for performance gauges used in
fabrics, the laminate/coating 220 can act as the color changing
substrate and may provide other purposes, such as minimizing the
cushion degradation due to water or sweat exposure. The
laminate/coating may also come with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic
film which can regulate the water transfer to the microcapsules.
This can also help in preventing the dye and/or co-reactants from
being washed away if the footwear is exposed to water.
[0051] The performance gauge for cushioning material will contain
microcapsules as previously described in FIG. 3 (reference
character 4). The size and number of the microcapsules, outer shell
thickness, and the ratio of the dye capsules to co-reactant
capsules may similarly be varied so that noticeable color change
correlates accurately with a loss of performance integrity of a
given footwear 200. Moreover, also similar to the performance gauge
used for fabrics, the microcapsules can be a two-part leuco dye
system wherein one set of microcapsules 4 contain a colorless dye
30 and another set of microcapsules contains the respective
co-reactant 31. The microcapsules 208, 212 may also contain one
type of dye color or a variety of dye colors used in concert to
indicate a spectrum of damage. Alternatively, the performance gauge
may contain one set of microcapsules that contain only a
co-reactant 31, and a laminate/coating 1 comprising a halochromic
material that is activated by the co-reactant upon release from the
respective microcapsules 4, thereby producing color indication.
[0052] In yet another embodiment, the microcapsules 4 will contain
pre-activated dye, such that the microcapsules, and therefore
performance gauge, will initially display the color of the dye. In
this alternate embodiment, the performance gauge lacks a
laminate/coating layer, thus enabling the released pre-activated
dye, from microcapsule breakdown due to wear of the cushioning
material, to be susceptible of being washed away. The performance
gauge will thereby indicate wear of a cushioning material through
the progressive washing away of dye and gradual uncovering of the
color of the base footwear.
[0053] In the exemplary embodiment, the binder layer can be of
suitable material such as textile, foam and/or rubber. In addition
to the binder layer, the microcapsules can be built into the
footwear by being coated onto or immersed into the material shoe
sole, heel, and/or insole. These microcapsules are also designed to
break down over time from the same factors that would damage the
cushioning material over time, which as aforementioned include
among others, ground resultant forces, impact forces from a user's
foot, friction forces, heat, and exposure to water. Similar for
fabrics, in the exemplary embodiment, as more microcapsules
rupture, more dye will be activated and the color change will be
more pronounced.
[0054] Ground resultant forces and other impact forces will be a
major stimulus in directly correlating color change to the wear of
the cushioning material, since the force applied to the
microcapsules will be directly related to the stiffness of the
cushioning material. As the cushioning material stiffens and loses
its ability to absorb shock over time, it will transfer more shock
forces to the user and the microcapsules, thereby further
accelerating the microcapsule breakdown. The direct relationship
between cushioning material deterioration and microcapsule rupture
can be further strengthened by engineering the microcapsule to
contain a fatigue strength that correlates with the fatigue
strength of the corresponding cushioning material.
[0055] It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present
invention provides a performance gauge for compression fabric and
cushioning material, which uses dye or halochromic material with
corresponding co-reactants separated by microcapsules, that break
down in concert with the degradation of the fabric and cushioning
material, thereby signaling the loss of functionality caused by
mechanical damage to the material. Thus, the invention lets the
user know definitively when the fabric or cushioning material is
deteriorating in performance.
[0056] The present invention has been described above in terms of
presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the
present invention can be conveyed. However, there are other
embodiments not specifically described herein for which the present
invention is applicable. Therefore, the present invention should
not to be seen as limited to the forms shown, which is to be
considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
[0057] Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with
reference only to the exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various other embodiments can be provided
without departing from the scope of the invention, to include any
and all combination of features discussed herein.
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