Abstract: A garment includes a supercapacitor and/or heated fabrics including a first conductive yarn knitted to as to form a current collector and a second conductive yarn knitted to as to form an electrode that is in electrical contact with the current collector. The conductive yarns are knitted into a predetermined supercapacitor design having respective electrodes that are not in electrical contact with each other. An electrolyte saturates at least the electrode material either before or after knitting, and an ionically permeable electronic separator allows the electrodes to be in close proximity to each other without being in electrical contact with each other. A heating element may also be formed by knitting at least one of the first and second conductive yarns into a linear resistor or by knitting an insulated conductive yarn into a sheet of fabric. Such a heating element is connected to the supercapacitor via a switch.

Abstract: The present invention is a multi-component fiber includes a core and a sheathing surrounding the core. The core includes a first aliphatic polyester or copolymer of an aliphatic polyester. The sheathing includes a second aliphatic polyester or copolymer of an aliphatic polyester or a polyamide, and a hydrophobic agent. The second aliphatic polyester or copolymer of an aliphatic polyester or a polyamide has a melt flow index of between about 0.5 and about 19.5 g/10 min using a 2.16 Kg weight at 190° C.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting changes in an environment of an open circuit resonator configured to generate a signal when wirelessly powered by an external oscillating magnetic field, wherein the signal varies as a function of one or more environmental factors associated with the environment about the open circuit resonator. A monitoring device receives the signal from the open circuit resonator, captures data representative of the signal, compares the captured data to data previously received from the sensor to determine changes in the data, and estimates, based on the changes in the data, changes in one or more of the environmental factors.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for converting a multilayer filament to a plurality of nano-ribbons. The process includes co-extruding a first layer and a second layer to form the multilayer filament, and separating the multilayer filaments to form a plurality of nano-ribbons having substantially flat cross-sections.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for converting a multilayer film to a plurality of nano-ribbons. The process includes co-extruding a first film and a second film to form the multilayer film, slitting the multilayer film to form a plurality of multilayer ribbons, and separating the multilayer ribbons to form a plurality of nano-ribbons having substantially flat cross-sections.

Abstract: A method includes receiving sensor information generated by a sensor embedded in an article of apparel. The method includes determining, based at least in part on the sensor information, a thermal comfort score indicative of a probability that a user of the article of apparel will be comfortable at a future time. The method also includes determining, based on the thermal comfort score, whether the user of the article of apparel is likely to be comfortable at the future time. The method further includes responsive to determining that the user of the article of apparel is not likely to be comfortable at the future time, performing an operation.

Abstract: A melt additive compound has the general formula (I) wherein R represents a linear alkylene group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; n represents an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive; and Rf1 is represented by the general formula II wherein Rf represents a perfluorinated group having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms. Compositions comprising a thermoplastic polymer and the melt additive compound, methods of extruding them and extruded articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer composites and methods of making wherein the polymer composites include a continuous matrix phase and a reinforcing phase, with varying properties (material and/or physical).

Abstract: A garment includes a supercapacitor and/or heated fabrics including a first conductive yarn knitted to as to form a current collector and a second conductive yarn knitted to as to form an electrode that is in electrical contact with the current collector. The conductive yarns are knitted into a predetermined supercapacitor design having respective electrodes that are not in electrical contact with each other. An electrolyte saturates at least the electrode material either before or after knitting, and an ionically permeable electronic separator allows the electrodes to be in close proximity to each other without being in electrical contact with each other. A heating element may also be formed by knitting at least one of the first and second conductive yarns into a linear resistor or by knitting an insulated conductive yarn into a sheet of fabric. Such a heating element is connected to the supercapacitor via a switch.

Abstract: A shoe degradation sensor assembly includes a first sensor disposed in or proximate to a material layer of a shoe between a foot space and an outer surface of the shoe, and an electrical contact assembly operable to removably electrically connect the shoe degradation sensor assembly to a reader. The material layer changes in at least one physical property with degradation to the shoe, and the first sensor is configured to indicate the changing physical property of the material layer thereby indicating a degree of degradation to the shoe.

Abstract: A melt additive compound has the general formula (I) wherein R represents a linear alkylene group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; n represents an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive; and Rf1 is represented by the general formula II wherein Rf represents a perfluorinated group having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms. Compositions comprising a thermoplastic polymer and the melt additive compound, methods of extruding them and extruded articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A shoe degradation sensor assembly includes a first sensor disposed in or proximate to a material layer of a shoe between a foot space and an outer surface of the shoe, and an electrical contact assembly operable to removably electrically connect the shoe degradation sensor assembly to a reader. The material layer changes in at least one physical property with degradation to the shoe, and the first sensor is configured to indicate the changing physical property of the material layer thereby indicating a degree of degradation to the shoe.

Abstract: A shoe (606) degradation sensor (1012, 608) assembly includes a first sensor (1002) disposed in or proximate to a material layer of a shoe (606) between a foot space and an outer surface of the shoe (606). The material layer changes in at least one physical property with degradation to the shoe (606), and the first sensor (1002) is configured to indicate the changing physical property of the material layer thereby indicating a degree of degradation to the shoe (606).

Abstract: A wearable power harvesting system includes a knitted fabric rectenna including an antenna adapted to receive radio-frequency energy within a desired frequency band and a rectifier circuit that converts received radio-frequency energy into a DC current and voltage. A knitted fabric load/storage unit stores DC power from the rectifier circuit. The power harvesting system is adapted to harvest the radio-frequency energy within the desired frequency band, which may include WLAN frequencies such as the standard 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN standard frequencies.

Abstract: A wearable power harvesting system includes a knitted fabric rectenna including an antenna adapted to receive radio-frequency energy within a desired frequency band and a rectifier circuit that converts received radio-frequency energy into a DC current and voltage. A knitted fabric load/storage unit stores DC power from the rectifier circuit. The power harvesting system is adapted to harvest the radio-frequency energy within the desired frequency band, which may include WLAN frequencies such as the standard 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN standard frequencies.

Abstract: A garment includes a supercapacitor and/or heated fabrics including a first conductive yarn knitted to as to form a current collector and a second conductive yarn knitted to as to form an electrode that is in electrical contact with the current collector. The conductive yarns are knitted into a predetermined supercapacitor design having respective electrodes that are not in electrical contact with each other. An electrolyte saturates at least the electrode material either before or after knitting, and an ionically permeable electronic separator allows the electrodes to be in close proximity to each other without being in electrical contact with each other. A heating element may also be formed by knitting at least one of the first and second conductive yarns into a linear resistor or by knitting an insulated conductive yarn into a sheet of fabric. Such a heating element is connected to the supercapacitor via a switch.