Nike patents jacket panels that heat or cool you on demand
Nike has patented a system that adds active heating or cooling to clothing using small, removable electronic modules. These modules snap into a frame attached to the outside of a garment and sit directly against the wearer's skin to regulate temperature.
In the filing’s own words
Aspects herein are directed to an apparel thermo-regulatory system that actively heats or cools a wearer. The apparel thermo-regulatory system comprises an apparel item, a dimensionally stable frame comprising at least one aperture that is affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item at a predetermined location, an absorbent material applied to an exposed face of the dimensionally stable frame, and at least one thermoelectric module that is releasably positioned within the aperture of the dimensionally stable frame.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. Thermoelectric module array comprising: a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface positioned directly adjacent to an inner-facing surface of an apparel item and releasably coupled thereto, and the second surface positioned directly adjacent to a skin-surface of a user; and a flexible substrate having an electronic circuit applied thereto, wherein the flexible substrate is physically and electrically coupled to each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein the thermoelectric module array is releasably mated to a dimensionally stable frame affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item, the dimensionally stable frame comprising a plurality of apertures each operable to receive a respective thermoelectric module, wherein each thermoelectric module comprises a base portion having the first surface and a flange portion having the second surface, the flange portion having a larger diameter or width than the base portion, and wherein an absorbent material is applied to a second surface of the dimensionally stable frame and adjacent to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- Apparel thermo-regulatory system
- Patent number
- US12733697B2
- Application number
- 17986648
- Filed
- Nov 14, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
A41D 13/005 Human necessitiesA41D 1/005 Human necessitiesA41D 13/0025 Human necessitiesA41D 27/28 Human necessitiesA45F 5/02 Human necessitiesA61B 5/6804 Human necessitiesMore from Nike in Wearables
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.