Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a tubular knit sleeve for a below-the-knee amputee where the tubular knit sleeve includes zoned grip features, zoned cushioning features, zoned traction features, and zoned breathability/permeability features that facilitate the wearer participating in athletic activities, such as wrestling, without a prosthetic leg.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the inventive subject matter is directed to production of constructs of footwear and components thereof by jet extrusion. The inventive subject matter contemplates novel processes for making such constructs using jets or streams of materials that solidify as fibers, and which form into two- or three-dimensional webs as they are collected. The webs may be in the nature of films, membranes, or mats. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter generally relates to nonwoven textiles consisting of webs of superfine fibers, i.e., fibers with diameters in nanoscale or micronscale ranges.

Abstract: In some aspects, the inventive subject matter contemplates providing a substrate; providing a biomaterial to be affixed to the substrate; and subjecting the substrate and biomaterial to reactive species from a plasma generated by an atmospheric plasma apparatus until the biomaterial affixes to the substrate. The biomaterial may be silk or wool polypeptide. The biomaterial is deposited as a monomeric film on the surface of the substrate before the substrate is subjected to the reactive species of the plasma. Once the substrate with the film of biomaterial is subjected to the reactive species, the reactive species facilitates the polymerization of the film as a coating on the underlying portion of substrate. The resulting coated substrates are novel constructs that have improved attributes based on the biomaterial selected for use. For example, silk proteins may be used improve the hand or strength of textile materials.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter relates to a fiber construct suitable for use as a fill material for insulation or padding, comprising: a primary fiber structure comprising a predetermined length of fiber; a secondary fiber structure, the secondary fiber structure comprising a plurality of relatively short loops spaced along a length of the primary fiber. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter relates to insulative fiber structures that mimic the structure and scale of natural down and thereby provide similar properties.

Abstract: In some aspects, the inventive subject matter contemplates: providing a substrate; providing a biomaterial to be affixed to the substrate; and subjecting the substrate and biomaterial to reactive species from a plasma generated by an atmospheric plasma apparatus until the biomaterial affixes to the substrate. The biomaterial may be silk or wool polypeptide. The biomaterial is deposited as a monomeric film on the surface of the substrate before the substrate is subjected to the reactive species of the plasma. Once the substrate with the film of biomaterial is subjected to the reactive species, the reactive species facilitates the polymerization of the film as a coating on the underlying portion of substrate. The resulting coated substrates are novel constructs that have improved attributes based on the biomaterial selected for use. For example, silk proteins may be used improve the hand or strength of textile materials.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter relates to a fiber construct suitable for use as a fill material for insulation or padding, comprising: a primary fiber structure comprising a predetermined length of fiber; a secondary fiber structure, the secondary fiber structure comprising a plurality of relatively short loops spaced along a length of the primary fiber. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter relates to insulative fiber structures that mimic the structure and scale of natural down and thereby provide similar properties.

Abstract: A construct, for use in articles like apparel, footwear, backpacks, etc., the construct including a substrate, e.g., a textile, foam, leather or rubber material, having a surface of plasma transformed textile material; colorant set in the plasma transformed textile material, providing a change to the color of the underlying substrate material; and wherein the colorant and the plasma transformed substrate material are chemically bonded together.

Abstract: A releasable closure having a first structure that encapsulates a magnetic composition based on magnetic particles, such as a smart fluid of the group electrorheological fluid, magnetorheological fluid, ferrofluid, or that is formed of a printable composition with dispersed magnetic particles. The first structure is magnetically attracted and thereby joinable to an opposing, second structure, with the first and second structures forming the releasable closure.

Abstract: A method of treating a substrate, comprising providing a substrate having a generally sheet or planar form or a fiber or yarn form; providing a colorant to be set at the surface of the substrate; and subjecting the substrate and colorant to reactive species from a plasma generated by an atmospheric plasma apparatus until the colorant is set at the surface of the substrate. A method of setting a colorant on a substrate, comprising performing an etch operation, or plasma pre-treatment to change surface charge, on a substrate using a plasma, particularly a plasma generated at atmospheric conditions, to create a desired surface texture, or surface charge, at the surface of substrate; and depositing a colorant on the surface under plasma or non-plasma conditions; and allowing the colorant to set at the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A releasable closure having a first structure that encapsulates a magnetic composition based on magnetic particles, such as a smart fluid of the group electrorheological fluid, magnetorheological fluid, ferrofluid, or that is formed of a printable composition with dispersed magnetic particles. The first structure is magnetically attracted and thereby joinable to an opposing, second structure, with the first and second structures forming the releasable closure.

Abstract: A textile construct has a first fiber configured to convert one or more forms of ambient energy to an electrical potential. A plurality of second fibers are mechanically coupled with the first fiber to define a textile. An electrical connector operatively couples to the first fiber to convey the electrical potential to a complementarily configured electrical device. An energy-harvesting platform can have such a textile construct. The complementarily configured electrical device can be a platform accessory.

Abstract: A releasable closure having a first structure that encapsulates a magnetic composition based on magnetic particles, such as a smart fluid of the group electrorheological fluid, magnetorheological fluid, ferrofluid, or that is formed of a printable composition with dispersed magnetic particles. The first structure is magnetically attracted and thereby joinable to an opposing, second structure, with the first and second structures forming the releasable closure.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the inventive subject matter is directed to production of constructs of footwear and components thereof by jet extrusion. The inventive subject matter contemplates novel processes for making such constructs using jets or streams of materials that solidify as fibers, and which form into two- or three-dimensional webs as they are collected. The webs may be in the nature of films, membranes, or mats. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter generally relates to nonwoven textiles consisting of webs of superfine fibers, i.e., fibers with diameters in nanoscale or micronscale ranges.

Abstract: Among other things, the inventive subject matter generally relates to bulk fill materials suitable for an insulative or cushioning material. The bulk fill material consists of a plurality of discrete units comprising clusters or loose webs of fibers. The fibers consist of superfine fibers and/or fibers in a range of 1 to 5 denier; the fibers being entangled to form the clusters or loose webs. In some embodiments the clusters or webs are multinode fiber structures that mimic natural down. The inventive subject matter is also directed to related methods of production.

Abstract: Among other things, the inventive subject matter generally relates to nonwoven textiles consisting of webs of superfine fibers, i.e., fibers with diameters in nanoscale or micronscale ranges, for use in articles that have, for example a predetermined degree of waterproofness with breathability, or windproofness with breathability.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter relates to a fiber construct suitable for use as a fill material for insulation or padding, comprising: a primary fiber structure comprising a predetermined length of fiber; a secondary fiber structure, the secondary fiber structure comprising a plurality of relatively short loops spaced along a length of the primary fiber.

Abstract: Constructs consisting of diatomized fibers, filaments, yarns, woven and non-woven textiles, fiber-based films, mats, and membranes, other constructs and finished products made from the foregoing. The inventive subject matter is particularly directed to apparel products and molded footwear outsoles, and other molded or textile-based products, wherein a plurality of diatomite particles embedded in the surface of a construct impart desired functionalities, such as moisture management, odor control, or traction or grip enhancement, water and dirt repellency, and wear resistance.

Abstract: A method of treating a substrate, comprising providing a substrate having a generally sheet or planar form or a fiber or yarn form; providing a colorant to be set at the surface of the substrate; and subjecting the substrate and colorant to reactive species from a plasma generated by an atmospheric plasma apparatus until the colorant is set at the surface of the substrate. A method of setting a colorant on a substrate, comprising performing an etch operation, or plasma pre-treatment to change surface charge, on a substrate using a plasma, particularly a plasma generated at atmospheric conditions, to create a desired surface texture, or surface charge, at the surface of substrate; and depositing a colorant on the surface under plasma or non-plasma conditions; and allowing the colorant to set at the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: In some aspects, the inventive subject matter contemplates: providing a substrate; providing a biomaterial to be affixed to the substrate; and subjecting the substrate and biomaterial to reactive species from a plasma generated by an atmospheric plasma apparatus until the biomaterial affixes to the substrate. The biomaterial may be silk or wool polypeptide. The biomaterial is deposited as a monomeric film on the surface of the substrate before the substrate is subjected to the reactive species of the plasma. Once the substrate with the film of biomaterial is subjected to the reactive species, the reactive species facilitates the polymerization of the film as a coating on the underlying portion of substrate. The resulting coated substrates are novel constructs that have improved attributes based on the biomaterial selected for use. For example, silk proteins may be used improve the hand or strength of textile materials.

Abstract: Among other things, the inventive subject matter generally relates to systems and methods for collecting fibers of any scale in agglomerations of generally parallel strands for use in forming yarns, for example.