US 11,981,116 B2
Joined fiber-reinforced composite material assembly with tunable anisotropic properties
Junus Ali Khan, Pasco, WA (US); Tyler Andre Kafentzis, Richland, WA (US); Kevin Lynn Simmons, Kennewick, WA (US); and Keshava Bhamidipaty, Richland, WA (US)
Assigned to Carbitex, Inc., Kennewick, WA (US)
Filed by Carbitex, Inc., Kennewick, WA (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/877,053.
Application 17/877,053 is a continuation of application No. 17/035,275, filed on Sep. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,407,200.
Application 17/035,275 is a continuation of application No. 15/942,259, filed on Mar. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,786,973, issued on Sep. 29, 2020.
Application 15/942,259 is a continuation of application No. 15/220,352, filed on Jul. 26, 2016, granted, now 9,993,993, issued on Jun. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/262,335, filed on Dec. 2, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0105878 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 13/02 (2022.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01); B32B 5/02 (2006.01); B32B 5/26 (2006.01); B32B 7/022 (2019.01); B32B 15/00 (2006.01); B32B 27/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/36 (2006.01)
CPC B32B 7/022 (2019.01) [A43B 13/026 (2013.01); A43B 13/12 (2013.01); A43B 13/141 (2013.01); B32B 5/024 (2013.01); B32B 5/26 (2013.01); B32B 15/00 (2013.01); B32B 27/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/365 (2013.01); B32B 2260/021 (2013.01); B32B 2260/046 (2013.01); B32B 2260/048 (2013.01); B32B 2262/106 (2013.01); B32B 2307/54 (2013.01); B32B 2307/546 (2013.01); B32B 2307/706 (2013.01); B32B 2437/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wearable protective footwear assembly for a wearer's foot movable within a normal range of motion, comprising:
an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer; and
a sole assembly coupled to the upper, the sole assembly having a midsole, a ground engaging surface coupled to the midsole, and a bendable anisotropic composite plate;
wherein the bendable anisotropic composite plate comprises:
a dorsal layer of composite material with a plurality of fibers within a low modulus matrix material, the dorsal layer having a first rigidity, a first tensile modulus and a first compressive modulus lower than the first tensile modulus, such that the dorsal layer is bendable and configured to elastically buckle under compression;
a stiff plantar layer fixedly coupled to the dorsal layer, the plantar layer having a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity;
wherein the plate is elastically bendable in a first direction corresponding to a motion of a wearer's foot within the normal range of motion and wherein an outer surface of the dorsal layer being in compression with first fibers of the plurality of fibers being in a buckled configuration, the assembly has a first bending stiffness during bending in the first direction; and
wherein the assembly is elastically bendable in a second direction away from the foot's normal range of motion and opposite the first direction with the outer surface of the dorsal layer being in tension and the first fibers being out of the buckled configuration, the assembly has a second bending stiffness greater than the first bending stiffness during bending in the second direction while exhibiting variable modulus behavior.