The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 2025
Filed:
May. 25, 2021
Technische Universitat Dresden, Dresden, DE;
Abstract
This disclosure relates to a stimulus-responsive mesh made from hydrogel fibers that provide varying degrees of ventilation depending on environmental conditions. The hydrogel fibers may be arranged into a mesh with openings that change size depending on the degree of swelling of the hydrogel fibers. As the hydrogel fibers of the mesh change (e.g., from a contracted state to/from a swollen state), fluids may flow through the mesh at a variable flow rate that depends on the degree of swelling. The swelling of the hydrogel fibers may be responsive to changes in the ambient environment experienced by the mesh, including, for example, the moisture level at the mesh, the temperature level of the mesh, the chemical composition of the moisture incident the mesh, the presence of magnetic/electric fields near the mesh, and/or the light level at the mesh. In this manner, the ambient environment may determine the degree of swelling of the hydrogel fibers, and changes in the environment may cause moisture to be actively expelled from the mesh. The stimulus-responsive mesh may be used in a variety of products and may be particular useful, for example, for outdoor products such as bicycle helmets, tent screens, and outdoor clothing.