US 12,329,218 B2
Electroadhesive actuators with extended life
Steven H. Walker, Camas, WA (US); Iustinia Koshkaroff, Beaverton, OR (US); Daniel Stuart, Beaverton, OR (US); Eun Kyung Lee, Beaverton, OR (US); Christopher Andon, Portland, OR (US); and Nina Yashkova, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to Nike, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/536,197.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/164,227, filed on Mar. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/132,265, filed on Dec. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0202109 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. A41D 15/00 (2006.01); H02N 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC A41D 15/002 (2013.01) [H02N 13/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adaptive wearable article, comprising:
a textile forming an opening 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 comprising:
a first electrode assembly, comprising:
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;
a second electrode assembly comprising a second conductive member overlaying in part the first conductive member, the second electrode assembly comprising:
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 one another with the first and second polymeric substrates distal with respect to one another; and
an electrical signal generator configured to provide first and second signals to the first and second conductive members of the 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 the first electrode assembly is immobilized relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are applied;
wherein the electroadhesive clutch is configured to inhibit increasing a size of the opening when the first and second signals are applied to the first and second electrode assemblies and wherein the opening is enabled to increase in size when the first and second signals are not applied.