Nike, Inc.

Daniel Stuart

Steven H Walker

Christopher Andon

Eun Kyung Lee

Iustinia Koshkaroff

Nina Yashkova

An electrode device for an electroadhesive clutch can include a planar conductive member and a housing that encloses at least a portion of the conductive member. In an example, the housing can include a flexible polymeric substrate provided adjacent to at least a first surface of the conductive member, and a dielectric member comprising a first portion provided adjacent to an opposite second surface of the conductive member, and a second portion provided adjacent to a first side edge of the conducive member and coupled to the flexible polymeric substrate.

Electroadhesives system isolation in apparel

An adaptive wearable article can include an electroadhesive clutch secured to a textile and extending around at least a portion of an opening. The clutch can include a first conductive member and a first polymeric substrate applied to the first conductive member and having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the first conductive member, and the clutch can include a second electrode assembly comprising a second conductive member configured to partially overlay the first conductive member. The second electrode assembly can include a second conductive member and a second polymeric substrate applied to the second conductive member, the second polymeric substrate having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the second conductive member, wherein the first and second conductive members are proximate each other with the first and second polymeric substrates distal with respect to each other.

Electroadhesive actuators with extended life

An article of apparel can include or use an electroadhesive clutch device. The device can include an elongate encasing for a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly each having a respective first and second electrode. The first and second electrodes can be at least partially overlapping and configured to slide or move relative to each other. The device can include an electrical signal generator configured to provide first and second signals to the first and second electrode assemblies, respectively, wherein the first electrode assembly is configured to slide laterally relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are not applied, and is configured to remain static relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are applied. The apparel can include a textile material to which the encasing is attached at least at a first end of the encasing.

Encasement for electroadhesive clutch

An article of apparel can include an aperture. An electroadhesive clutch device can be coupled to, or integrated with, the article of apparel, and the clutch device can be configured to selectively open and close the aperture. An electric signal generator can be coupled to the clutch device and configured to provide one or more signals to the clutch device to thereby open or close the aperture.

Controllable apparel venting

An adaptive article of apparel can include a textile with an opening that is configured to admit a body part of a wearer, and an electroadhesive clutch secured to the textile and extending around at least a portion of the opening. The electroadhesive clutch can be configured to permit or inhibit changing a size of the opening.

Electroadhesives for apparel fit

An electroadhesive clutch can be coupled to a textile. The clutch can include a first electrode assembly comprising a first conductive member, and a second electrode assembly comprising a second conductive member overlaying in part the first conductive member. In an example, the clutch includes or uses an elastic encasing within which the first and second electrode assemblies are positioned. The elastic encasing can form a first bond with the first conductive member at a first location of the elastic encasing and a second bond with the second conductive member proximate a second location of the elastic encasing different than the first location.

Interface for electroadhesive system and textile

A support garment can include a textile layer forming a supportive region and configured to adjustably permit or inhibit displacement of a body part of the wearer that is positioned adjacent or proximate the supportive region. The garment can include an electroadhesive clutch device to help control displacement. In an example, the garment includes an underwear garment or a portion thereof.

Apparel with controllable displacement system

An electroadhesive clutch device can include a first electrode assembly comprising a first conductive portion that is at least partially covered by a first dielectric insulator, a second electrode assembly comprising a second conductive portion that is at least partially covered by a second dielectric insulator, and an electrical signal generator configured to provide first and second signals to the first and second conductive portions of the electrode assemblies, respectively. The first and second electrode assemblies can be at least partially overlapping and configured to slide relative to each other at respective surfaces that comprise the first and second dielectric insulators.

Growing community of inventors

Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Daniel Stuart