Performance gauge for fabric and cushioning material
US10378875B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 7, 2017 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA43B13/12
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
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 colorless dye and/or 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 dye and co-reactant to mix and 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.