Nike patents clothing with inflatable sections that change shape and look
Nike describes a garment component containing a fluid-filled chamber that can be inflated or deflated. Inside this chamber is a tether structure made of bonded layers that controls how the fabric expands and alters its visual appearance when filled with fluid.
In the filing’s own words
Garment components include one or more fluid-filled bladder chambers. The bladder chamber(s) may be convertible between a deflated condition and an inflated condition. In some examples, garment components may include a tether member having one or more layers within the bladder chamber of the garment component. Connections of the tether member with the garment’s interior-most layer and/or exterior-most layer and/or connections between layers of the tether member (if multi-layered) can be varied to control shape and configuration of the garment component when inflated. Additionally or alternatively, when a garment component is formed to include a transparent, partially transparent, and/or translucent component, variations in the above connections and/or variations in openings provided through the tether member may be varied to alter the visual appearance of the garment component when transitioning between the deflated configuration and an inflated configuration.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A garment component, comprising: a laminate structure including: (i) a first fabric having an inner face and an outer face, and (ii) a first film including at least one fluid impervious layer chosen from a polyurethane layer and a thermoplastic polyurethane layer, wherein the first film is adhesively bonded to the inner face of the first fabric; a first layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface located opposite the interior surface, wherein the interior surface is fixed with respect to the laminate structure to form a fluid impervious chamber between the first film and the first layer, wherein the fluid impervious chamber is changeable between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration; and a tether member located within the fluid impervious chamber, the tether member including a first sheet member having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a second sheet member having a third surface facing the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the tether member further including: (i) a plurality of first side bonded regions located within the fluid impervious chamber, wherein at the first side bonded regions (a) the first surface is bonded to the first film and (b) the second surface is unbonded to the third surface; (ii) a plurality of second side bonded regions located within the fluid impervious chamber, wherein at the second side bonded regions (a) the second surface is unbonded to the third surface and (b) the fourth surface is bonded to the first layer; and (iii) a plurality of intermediate bonded regions located within the fluid impervious chamber, wherein at the intermediate bonded regions (a) the second surface is bonded to the third surface, (b) the first surface is unbonded to the first film, and (c) the fourth surface is unbonded to the first layer.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- Garments Including Inflatable Components
- Publication number
- US20260314716A1
- Application number
- 19642532
- Filed
- Apr 8, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A41D 13/005 Human necessitiesA41D 31/06 Human necessitiesA41D 2400/14 Human necessitiesMore from Nike in Clothing & sport
- Nike patents clothing that stiffens instantly to protect against impacts Sep 15, 2026
- Nike patents underwear with electric straps that adjust tightness Sep 17, 2026
- Nike patents fabric that tightens when it gets wet Oct 15, 2026
- Nike patents shoe that pumps fluid to heel for cushioning Sep 8, 2026
- Nike patents top with built-in pocket for breast pumps Oct 1, 2026
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.