US 11,987,073 B2
Structurally-colored articles having layers which taper in thickness
Jeremy Gantz, Lake Oswego, OR (US); Kim Kovel, Portland, OR (US); and Yuanmin Wang, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, INC., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on May 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/333,554.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/052,135, filed on Jul. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/052,143, filed on Jul. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,061, filed on May 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,076, filed on May 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,067, filed on May 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,081, filed on May 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,084, filed on May 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,090, filed on May 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,064, filed on May 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,052, filed on May 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0373215 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B32B 3/26 (2006.01); B32B 3/30 (2006.01); B32B 7/023 (2019.01); B44F 1/14 (2006.01); G02B 5/08 (2006.01); G02B 5/20 (2006.01); G02B 5/28 (2006.01); G03F 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B44F 1/14 (2013.01) [B32B 3/263 (2013.01); B32B 3/30 (2013.01); B32B 7/023 (2019.01); G02B 5/08 (2013.01); G02B 5/201 (2013.01); G02B 5/28 (2013.01); G02B 5/285 (2013.01); G03F 7/0005 (2013.01); B32B 2307/402 (2013.01); B32B 2307/404 (2013.01); B32B 2307/409 (2013.01); B32B 2307/416 (2013.01); B32B 2307/732 (2013.01); B32B 2437/00 (2013.01); B32B 2437/02 (2013.01); B32B 2451/00 (2013.01); B32B 2551/00 (2013.01); Y10T 428/24736 (2015.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structure comprising:
an optical element disposed on a surface of an article, wherein the optical element includes at least a first region A and a first region B disposed on a first area of the article and a second region A and a second region B disposed on a second area of the article, wherein the first region A and second region A of the optical element imparts a first structural color to the article, wherein the first region B and second region B of the optical element imparts a second structural color to the article, wherein an area between the first region B and the second region B is a middle region having a third color, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third color are each different from each other when viewed from the same angle of observation;
wherein the optical element comprises at least one layer, wherein a total number of the at least one layer in the first region A and the first region B of the optical element correspond and wherein a total number of the at least one layer in the second region A and the second region B of the optical element correspond, wherein each corresponding layer in the first region A, the first region B, the second region A and the second region B of the optical element consists essentially of the same material, wherein at least one of the layers of the first region B tapers from a first edge of the first region A to a first point of the first region B so that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than the thickness at the first point in the first region B, wherein at least one of the layers of the second region B tapers from a second edge of the second region A to a second point of the second region B so that the thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than the thickness at the second point in the second region B, wherein the middle region includes at least a first layer that consists essentially of the same material as one of the layers of the first region B or second region B.