Structurally colored articles and methods for making and using structurally colored articles

Abstract

As described above, one or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles having structural color, as well as methods of manufacturing articles having structural color. The articles include optical elements (e.g., single layer reflectors, single layer filters, multi-layer reflectors, or multi-layer filters) that include one or more layers (e.g., reflective layers, constituent layers, and the like). The surface of the article can include optical elements having regions that impart different structural colors. The imparted different structural colors are at least partially due to different structures (e.g., cross-sectional structures) of the optical elements in certain regions.

Description

[0001] CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 032,052, filed May 29, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES,” and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 032,061, filed May 29, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES,” and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 032,064, filed May 29, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES,” and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 032,067, filed May 29, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES,” and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 032,076, filed May 29, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES,” and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 032,081, filed May 29, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES,” and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 032,084, and the rights and priorities of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 032,090, filed May 29, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES”; U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 052143, filed July 15, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES”; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 052135, filed July 15, 2020, entitled “STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING STRUCTURALLY-COLORED ARTICLES”.

[0003] background

[0004] Unlike colors derived from the presence of dyes or pigments (which absorb or reflect light of specific wavelengths based on their chemical properties), structural colors are caused by the physical interaction of light with the micron or nanometer features of the surface and host material. Colors derived from dyes and pigments can be problematic in many ways. For example, the dyes and pigments used in their manufacture and incorporation into finished products, along with their associated chemicals, may not be environmentally friendly. Attached Figure Description

[0005] Further embodiments of this disclosure will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of the various embodiments described below.

[0006] Figures 1A-1M Various footwear articles, clothing articles, sports equipment articles, container articles, electronic equipment articles, and vision wear articles are shown, including a primer layer according to this disclosure. Figures 1N(a)-1Q(e) The diagram illustrates additional details about different types of footwear.

[0007] Figure 2A and Figure 2B These are cross-sectional illustrations of optical elements with textured surfaces and generally flat surfaces, respectively.

[0008] Figures 3-4The image shows an item that includes optical components.

[0009] The accompanying drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure in any way.

[0010] describe

[0011] This disclosure provides articles that exhibit structural colors by using optical elements having one or more layers. Structural color (“monochromatic” or “polychromatic” or “polychromatic with full iridescence” or “polychromatic with finite iridescence”) is a visible color produced at least in part by optical effects (e.g., scattering, refraction, reflection, interference, and / or diffraction of light at visible wavelengths). The produced structural color can be characterized based on color parameters of the color as determined at a single viewing angle (e.g., hue, lightness, chromaticity, color space coordinates, iridescence type (finite or full) or any combination thereof) and whether the properties of the color change with the viewing angle. This disclosure provides monochromatic structural colors (colors that do not change between hues with changes in viewing angle) and polychromatic structural colors (e.g., polychromatic structural colors, polychromatic structural colors with finite iridescence, and polychromatic structural colors with full iridescence). Structural colors may not exhibit iridescence (e.g., monochromatic structural colors), may be polychromatic structural colors (e.g., appearing to change between hues), or may exhibit limited iridescence, or may exhibit full iridescence by changing between all or almost all hues of visible light when viewed from different angles. The methods and optical elements described herein can be used to impart two or more different colors to an article. Unlike conventional pigment-based or dye-based methods that use different types and / or different concentrations of colorants to impart different colors to an article, the optical elements described herein can be formed using a single process and a single set of raw materials, simultaneously producing an optical element with a layered structure that produces structural colors that vary across the surface of the article. This variation in the layered structure of the optical element imparts multiple different structural colors to different areas of the article's surface.

[0012] The article includes an optical element (e.g., a single-layer reflector, a single-layer filter, a multi-layer reflector, or a multi-layer filter) comprising one or more layers (e.g., a reflective layer, a constituent layer, and similar layers). The surface of the article may include optical elements having regions that impart different structural colors. The different structural colors are at least in part due to the different structures of the optical element in certain regions (e.g., cross-sectional structures).

[0013] For example, an optical element may include at least a first region A and a first region B disposed on a first area of ​​the article. Furthermore, the optical element may include a second region A and a second region B disposed on a second area of ​​the article. Between the first and second regions is an intermediate region, specifically, the intermediate region is between first region B and second region B. The intermediate region does not include any layer of the optical element, and therefore its color is the color of the surface of the article, unless otherwise modified. Different regions (e.g., first region A, first region B, second region A, and second region B) are part of the same optical element and may be given structural colors. Additional regions may also be part of the optical element.

[0014] The first region A and the second region B of the optical element impart a first structural color to the object. The first region B of the optical element imparts a second structural color to the object, while the second region B of the optical element imparts a third structural color to the object. The intermediate region has a fourth color.

[0015] When an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision observes an object from the same viewing angle at a distance of approximately 1 meter, the first structural color (e.g., characterized by color parameters such as hue, lightness, chromaticity, color space coordinates, iridescent type (finite or complete) or any combination thereof), the second structural color (e.g., characterized by color parameters such as hue, lightness, chromaticity, color space coordinates, iridescent type (finite or complete) or any combination thereof), and the third structural color (e.g., characterized by color parameters such as hue, lightness, chromaticity, color space coordinates, iridescent type (finite or complete) or any combination thereof) are different from each other (e.g., different in at least one color parameter such as hue, lightness, chromaticity, color space coordinates, iridescent type or any combination thereof, or different in at least one of hue, lightness, and chromaticity, or different in hue). In this way, when different segments of the optical element produce different colors when viewed from the same angle, the different segments of the optical element on the article can produce patterned or random designs. In this way, due to the variety of different structural colors, an aesthetically pleasing and unique appearance is achieved, avoiding the need to use multiple pigments or dyes or multiple coloring processes.

[0016] Various methods can be used to vary the thickness of layers in an optical element. In one instance, when using a deposition method to form layers, the layers can be deposited unevenly across a surface, depending on the positioning of the article relative to the source of the material that forms the layer. Differences in the relative height of elements (including elements on the surface, or masks, or both) on or above the surface can cast shadows onto one or more segments of the surface during the deposition process, resulting in variability in the thickness of one or more layers. In another instance, a mask can be used to cover one or more segments of the surface during the deposition process, resulting in variability in the thickness of one or more layers. When using a deposition method, the material to be deposited can be attracted to a segment of the article, for example, by using a magnet, and / or the material to be deposited can be repelled from a segment of the article, for example, by using a gas, to vary the thickness of the layers. One or more of these methods can be used to vary the thickness of one or more layers within a single optical element.

[0017] An optical element comprises at least one layer (e.g., a constituent layer, a reflective layer). The total number of one or more layers in each of the first region A, first region B, second region A, and second region B of the optical element corresponds (e.g., each region has the same number of layers). Each corresponding layer in the first region A, first region B, second region A, and second region B of the optical element is substantially composed of the same material. Vertically adjacent layers may be made of different materials. First region A and first region B are structurally different, and second region A and second region B are structurally different from each other. For example, the cross-sections of first region A and second region A are similar or identical. The cross-sections of first region A and first region B are different. The cross-sections of second region A and second region B are different. The cross-sections of first region B and second region B are different.

[0018] First region A and second region B have stacked (if more than one layer) layer structures, wherein each layer independently has the same or substantially the same thickness along its length and width. In contrast, first region B and second region B can each independently have a sloping design, a tapering design, or a stepped design, such that from the top surface of the optical element, the layers tend downwards towards the surface of the object at the edges of the intermediate regions, and the structures of first region B and second region B differ structurally to produce different structural colors. At the downward-facing portions of the layers, the layers are thicker than where they terminate at the surface of the object or at the location of another layer.

[0019] In a cross-sectional view, for example, the intermediate region may represent a channel or a lower region within the optical element between the first region B and the second region B. For example, at least one layer in the first region B tapers from a first edge of the first region A to a first portion of the first region B, such that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than its thickness at the first portion of the first region B. Although the structure of the second region B is different, at least one layer in the second region B tapers from a second edge of the second region A to a second portion of the second region B, such that the thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than its thickness at the second portion of the second region B. In one aspect, the first distance from the first edge to the first portion is different from the second distance from the second edge to the second portion. In another aspect, the length of the first region B is different from the length of the second region B, or the length of the first region B is the same as the length of the second region B. In yet another aspect, each layer in the first region B terminates at the same portion on the surface of the article, wherein at least one layer in the second region B does not terminate at the same portion as other layers. The layers in the first region B slope downwards from one side to the edge of the intermediate region, while the layers in the second region B slope downwards from another side (e.g., the side opposite to the first region B) to the edge of the intermediate region, such that the intermediate region lies between the first region B and the second region B. The cross-sections of the first region B and the second region B are different, and respectively produce a second structural color and a third structural color. At least one layer in the first region A has an average thickness greater than the average thickness of the corresponding layer in the first region B. Similarly, at least one layer in the second region A has an average thickness greater than the average thickness of the corresponding layer in the second region B.

[0020] Furthermore, depending on the design, the optical element may include an optional textured surface, wherein the optical element is disposed on the surface of the article, with an optional textured surface between the optical element and the surface, or wherein the textured surface is part of the optical element. The combination of the optical element and the optional textured surface can help to impart a first structural color and / or a second structural color to the article, wherein one or both of the structural colors can be designed to be different from the color of the components and / or the underlying material of the optical element, optionally with or without pigments or dyes applied to the article.

[0021] In this way, structural colors can give objects an aesthetically pleasing patterned or random design without the need for inks or pigments and without the environmental impact associated with their use, although structural colors can optionally be modified by applying pigments or dyes to the objects.

[0022] After optical elements are attached to an article, the article exhibits a color different from that of its lower surface. For example, the structural color may differ from the color of the lower surface of the article based on color parameters such as hue, lightness, chroma, color space coordinates, iridescent type (finite or full), or any combination thereof. In specific instances, the structural color itself and / or the structural color and the color of the lower surface of the article differ from each other in hue and / or iridescent type. The article can be a final product, such as, for example, footwear, clothing, or sports equipment. The article can be a component of footwear, clothing, or sports equipment, such as, for example, the upper or sole of a footwear item, a belt, sleeve, or hood of a clothing item, the brim of a hat, a portion of a backpack, or the panel of a football and similar components. Optical elements can be disposed on a surface such that the layer of the optical element is parallel to or substantially parallel to the surface (e.g., the plane of the layer is parallel to the plane of the surface of the article) (also referred to as "in-line" or "in-line" configuration), or such that the layer is perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the surface (also referred to as "optical element placed "on its side" or "on its side" configuration).

[0023] Optical elements can be disposed (e.g., attached, bonded, adhered, combined, joined) on the surface of one or more parts of footwear, such as being disposed on the upper and / or sole of a shoe. Optical elements can be incorporated into the sole by integrating them into cushioning elements such as pouches or foam. The sole and / or upper can be designed such that one or more portions of the structurally colored parts are visible in the final article through transparent parts and the like, including openings or coverings of structurally colored parts.

[0024] In this embodiment, optical elements can be disposed on the surface of a polymer layer of the article, wherein the polymer layer has a minimum transmittance of 30%, allowing structural color to be observed from the side facing the polymer layer. In this way, the optical elements can be used to provide structural color through the polymer layer.

[0025] This disclosure provides an article comprising: an optical element disposed on the surface of the article, wherein the optical element includes at least a first region A and a first region B disposed on a first region of the article, and a second region A and a second region B disposed on a second region of the article, wherein the first region A and the second region A of the optical element impart a first structural color to the article, wherein the first region B of the optical element imparts at least a second structural color, wherein the second region B of the optical element imparts at least a third structural color, wherein the area between the first region B and the second region B is an intermediate region having a fourth color, wherein when observed by an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision at a distance of approximately 1 meter from the same viewing angle under normal lighting conditions, the color parameters of the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color, such as hue, brightness, chromaticity, or any combination thereof, are different from each other, wherein when observed by an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision at a distance of approximately 1 meter from the same viewing angle under normal lighting conditions, the color parameters of the fourth color, such as hue, brightness, chromaticity, or any combination thereof, are different from the first structural color, the second structural color, the third structural color, or all three structural colors. The optical element is composed of at least one layer, wherein the total number of the at least one layer in the first region A and the second region A of the optical element corresponds, wherein the total number of the at least one layer in the first region B and the second region B of the optical element corresponds, wherein each corresponding layer in the first region A, the first region B, the second region A and the second region B of the optical element is substantially composed of the same material, wherein at least one layer in the first region B gradually tapers from a first edge of the first region A to a first portion of the first region B, such that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than the thickness at the first portion of the first region B, wherein at least one layer in the second region B gradually tapers from a second edge of the second region A to a second portion of the second region B, such that the thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than the thickness at the second portion of the second region B, wherein the cross-section of the first region B and the cross-section of the second region B are structurally different.

[0026] This disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an article, the method comprising: applying a masking element to or offsetting from a surface of the article to create a portion of the surface comprising adjacent masked and unmasked areas; disposing an optical element to the portion; removing the masking element from the portion; and exposing a structurally colored surface comprising at least a first structural color, a second structural color, and a third structural color, wherein the first and second structural colors are different from each other when viewed from the same viewing angle at a distance of about 1 meter under normal lighting conditions by an observer having 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision. In this aspect, the structurally colored surface includes an optical element having a structure comprising the structures described above and herein. The masking element may comprise a film, fiber, filament, or yarn, and may be applied directly to the surface of the article, for example, prior to forming a layer.

[0027] This disclosure will be better understood after reading the following numbered aspects, which should not be confused with the claims. In some cases, any aspect numbered below may be combined with aspects described elsewhere in this disclosure, and such combinations are intended to be part of this disclosure.

[0028] Aspect 1. An article comprising:

[0029] An optical element disposed on the surface of an article, wherein the optical element includes at least a first region A and a first region B disposed on a first region of the article, and a second region A and a second region B disposed on a second region of the article, wherein the first region A and the second region A of the optical element impart a first structural color to the article (characterized by a first color parameter, such as a first hue, brightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent color type, or any combination thereof), wherein the first region B of the optical element imparts at least a second structural color (characterized by a second color parameter, such as a second hue, brightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent color type, or any combination thereof), wherein the second region B of the optical element imparts at least a third structural color (characterized by a third color parameter, such as a third hue, brightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent color type, or any combination thereof), wherein the area between the first region B and the second region B is an intermediate area having a fourth color (characterized by a fourth color parameter, such as a fourth hue, brightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent color type, or any combination thereof).

[0030] Wherein, when observed from the same viewing angle at a distance of approximately 1 meter by, for example, an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision under normal lighting conditions, the first, second, and third structural colors differ from each other (e.g., differing in at least one color parameter, such as at least one of hue, lightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent type, or any combination thereof, or differing in at least one of hue, lightness, and chromaticity, or differing in hue), and wherein, when observed from the same viewing angle, the fourth color differs from the first, second, and third structural colors or all three structural colors (e.g., differing in at least one color parameter, such as at least one of hue, lightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent type, or any combination thereof, or differing in at least one of hue, lightness, and chromaticity, or differing in hue); and

[0031] The optical element comprises at least one layer, wherein the total number of at least one layer in the first region A and the second region A of the optical element corresponds, and the total number of at least one layer in the first region B and the second region B of the optical element also corresponds. Each corresponding layer in the first region A, the first region B, the second region A, and the second region B of the optical element is substantially composed of the same material. At least one layer in the first region B gradually tapers from a first edge of the first region A to a first portion of the first region B, such that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than the thickness at the first portion of the first region B. At least one layer in the second region B gradually tapers from a second edge of the second region A to a second portion of the second region B, such that the thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than the thickness at the second portion of the second region B.

[0032] The cross-sections of the first region B and the second region B are structurally different.

[0033] Aspect 2. The article according to aspect 1, wherein a first distance from a first edge to a first portion is different from a second distance from a second edge to a second portion, or wherein a first distance from a first edge to a first portion is the same as a second distance from a second edge to a second portion.

[0034] Aspect 3. The article according to aspect 1, wherein each layer in the first region B terminates at the same location on the surface of the article, wherein at least one layer in the second region B does not terminate at the same location as the other layers.

[0035] Aspect 4. The article according to aspect 1, wherein the length of the first region B is different from the length of the second region B, or wherein the length of the first region B is the same as the length of the second region B.

[0036] Aspect 5. The article according to aspect 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by the following: each layer of the first region B gradually tapers from a first edge of the first region A to a first portion of the first region B, such that the thickness of each layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than the thickness at the first portion of the first region B (optionally, the first portion is the thinnest thickness of each layer in the first region B).

[0037] Aspect 6. The article according to aspect 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by: at least one layer of the layers of the first region B gradually tapers from a first edge of the first region A to a third portion of the first region B, such that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than the thickness at the third portion of the second region B, wherein the first portion and the third portion are at different locations.

[0038] Aspect 7. The article according to aspect 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by the following: at least one of the layers of the first region B gradually tapers from a first edge of the first region A to a first end of the layer, such that the first end has the thinnest thickness of each of the layers in the first region B at that first end (optionally, wherein the first end is at a position where the layer terminates on the surface of the article; optionally, wherein the first end is at a position where the layer terminates on another layer in the first region B).

[0039] Aspect 8. The article according to aspect 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by the following: at least one of the layers of the first region B gradually tapers in a stepped manner from the first edge of the first region A to the first part of the first region B.

[0040] Aspect 9. The article according to aspect 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by the following: the first region B has a cross-section of the first region B, the cross-section of the first region B being a stepped cross-section.

[0041] Aspect 10. The article according to aspect 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the layers of the first region B does not gradually taper from the third portion to the fifth portion, such that the thickness from the third portion to the fifth portion of the first region B is substantially the same (optionally, wherein the thickness of the layer gradually decreases from the fifth portion to the seventh portion of the first region B).

[0042] Aspect 11. The article according to aspect 10, wherein each layer of the first region B does not gradually taper from the third to the fifth portion, such that the thickness of each individual layer from the third to the fifth portion of the first region B is substantially the same, wherein each individual layer independently has a thickness that is the same as or different from the thickness of the other layers (optionally, wherein the thickness of each layer gradually decreases from the fifth portion to the seventh portion of the first region B).

[0043] Aspect 12. The article according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the first surface of the intermediate region is the surface of the article.

[0044] Aspect 13. The article according to aspect 1, wherein at least one layer of the first region A has an average thickness of layer A, and at least one layer of the first region B has an average thickness of layer B, wherein the average thickness of layer B is about 5% to 90% of the average thickness of layer A; wherein at least one layer of the second region A has an average thickness of layer A, and at least one layer of the second region B has an average thickness of layer B, wherein the average thickness of layer B is about 5% to 90% of the average thickness of layer A; wherein the average thickness of layer B is different from the average thickness of layer B.

[0045] Aspect 14. An article according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the surface of the article is a flat surface or a substantially flat surface, or wherein the surface of the article is non-flat or substantially non-flat.

[0046] Aspect 15. A method of manufacturing an article, comprising: setting an optical element according to any one of aspects 1 to 14 onto the surface of the article.

[0047] Aspect 16. A method of manufacturing an article, comprising:

[0048] Applying a masking element to or offsetting it from the surface of an object creates a portion of that surface that includes both adjacent masked and unmasked areas.

[0049] The optical element is disposed on the aforementioned portion of the surface.

[0050] The masking element is removed from the portion to expose a surface with structural coloring comprising at least a first structural color (characterized by a first color parameter, such as a first hue, lightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent type, or any combination thereof) and a second structural color (characterized by a second color parameter, such as a second hue, lightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent type, or any combination thereof), wherein when viewed from the same viewing angle, the first structural color and the second structural color are different from each other (e.g., different in at least one color parameter, such as different in at least one of hue, lightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent type, or any combination thereof, or different in at least one of hue, lightness, and chromaticity, or different in hue).

[0051] Aspect 17. The method according to aspect 16, wherein the structure-colored surface includes an optical element having a structure including the structure described in the articles according to aspects 1-15.

[0052] Aspect 18. The method according to aspect 16 or 17, wherein the masking element comprises a membrane, fiber, filament, or yarn.

[0053] Aspect 19. The method according to any one of Aspects 16 to 18, wherein masking includes bringing a surface into direct contact with a masking element during setup, and setting an optical element to a masking region includes setting at least one layer to the masking region, and removing the masking element includes exposing an intermediate region of the optical element that does not contain the at least one layer.

[0054] Aspect 20. The method according to aspect 19, wherein the masking element is attached to the surface of the article with an adhesive.

[0055] Aspect 21. An article comprising: a product of the method according to any one of Aspects 15-20.

[0056] Aspect 22. The article or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein when measured according to the CIE 1976 color space under given illumination conditions at a first viewing angle of about -15 degrees to 180 degrees or about -15 degrees and +60 degrees, the optical element has a first color measurement value measured from a first region B (or a first region A, or a second region A) of the optical element, the first color measurement value having coordinates L1* and a1* and b1*, and the optical element has a second color measurement value measured from a second region B of the optical element, the second color measurement value having coordinates L2* and a2* and b2*, wherein ΔE* ab =[(L1*-L2*) 2 +(a1*–a2*) 2 +(b1*-b2*) 2 ] 1 / 2ΔE* between the first color measurement value and the second color measurement value ab Greater than approximately 2.2, or optionally ΔE* ab The second structure color (or the first structure color) and the third structure color are different if the value is greater than approximately 3, or optionally greater than 4, or optionally greater than 5.

[0057] Aspect 23. The article or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein when measured according to the CIE 1976 color space under given illumination conditions at a first viewing angle of about -15 degrees to 180 degrees or about -15 degrees and +60 degrees, the optical element has a first color measurement value measured from a first region B (or first region A, or second region A) of the optical element, the first color measurement value having coordinates L1* and a1* and b1*, and the optical element has a second color measurement value measured from a second region B of the optical element, the second color measurement value having coordinates L2* and a2* and b2*, wherein the second structural color (or the first structural color) and the third structural color are different structural colors when the measured value and the assigned value in the L*a*b* system differ by at least 5 percent for at least one of the L*, a*, or b* coordinates, or differ by at least 10 percent for at least one of the L*, a*, or b* coordinates.

[0058] Aspect 24. The article or method according to any one aspect, wherein the optical element is on and visible from the outer surface of the article, or the optical element is on and visible from the inner surface of the article.

[0059] Aspect 25. The article or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the optical element is a single-layer reflector, a single-layer filter, a multi-layer reflector, or a multi-layer filter.

[0060] Aspect 26. The article or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the optical element comprises at least one layer, optionally wherein the at least one layer comprises at least one constituent layer, optionally wherein the at least one layer comprises at least one reflective layer, optionally wherein the at least one layer comprises at least one constituent layer and at least one reflective layer.

[0061] Aspect 27. The article or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the optical element is an inorganic optical element, an organic optical element, or a hybrid inorganic / organic optical element.

[0062] Aspect 28. An article or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the organic optical element has at least one layer made of an organic material, optionally wherein at least one layer is made of a non-metallic material or a non-metallic oxide material, optionally wherein at least one layer is made of a polymeric material (optionally a synthetic polymeric material), optionally wherein at least one layer is made of an organic material that does not contain metals or metal oxides, optionally wherein at least one layer is made of a polymer that does not contain metals or metal oxides (optionally a synthetic polymeric material).

[0063] Aspect 29. The article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the optical element has 2 to 20 constituent layers, and wherein optionally, each constituent layer has a thickness of about one-quarter wavelength of the wavelength to be reflected.

[0064] Aspect 30. The article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein each of the constituent layers has a different refractive index.

[0065] Aspect 31. The article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein each constituent layer has a thickness of at least 10 nanometers (optionally at least 30 nanometers, optionally at least 40 nanometers, optionally at least 50 nanometers, optionally at least 60 nanometers, optionally from about 10 nanometers to about 100 nanometers, or from about 30 nanometers to about 80 nanometers, or from about 40 nanometers to about 60 nanometers).

[0066] Aspect 32. The article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the optical element has a thickness of about 100 nanometers to about 700 nanometers or about 200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers.

[0067] Aspect 33. The article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least one constituent layer is made of a material selected from metals or metal oxides.

[0068] Aspect 34. The article according to any one aspect, wherein at least one constituent layer is made of metal.

[0069] Aspect 35. An article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of: titanium, aluminum, silver, zirconium, chromium, magnesium, silicon, gold, platinum and combinations thereof.

[0070] Aspect 36. The article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least one of the constituent layers comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, silver, zirconium, chromium, magnesium, silicon, gold, platinum, niobium, an oxide of any one of these metals, and combinations thereof.

[0071] Aspect 37. The article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least one of the constituent layers is made of a material selected from the group consisting of: silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, magnesium fluoride, tantalum pentoxide, and combinations thereof.

[0072] Aspect 38. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the surface of the article is made of a material selected from: thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, elastomeric polymers, siloxane polymers, natural rubber and synthetic rubber; composite materials, including polymers reinforced with carbon fibers and / or glass; natural leather; natural stone; ceramic materials; ceramic materials, metallic materials, glass materials and combinations thereof.

[0073] Aspect 39. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises one or more thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyethers, thermoplastic polyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, thermoplastic polyolefins, thermoplastic copolymers thereof, or combinations thereof.

[0074] Aspect 40. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least one constituent layer further comprises a textured surface, and the textured surface and optical elements impart a first structural color, a second structural color, or both.

[0075] Aspect 41. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the surface of the article is a textured surface, wherein at least one constituent layer is on the textured surface, and the textured surface of the substrate and the optical elements are given a first structural color, a second structural color, or both.

[0076] Aspect 42. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the textured surface includes more than one contour feature and a flat planar area, wherein the contour feature extends above the flat area of ​​the textured surface, optionally wherein the size of the contour feature, the shape of the contour feature, and the spacing between the more than one contour feature are combined with the optical element to produce a first structural color, a second structural color, or both, optionally wherein for a particular area, the contour features are in a random position relative to each other, optionally wherein the spacing between the contour features is set to reduce the distortion effect of the contour features interfering with each other with the first structural color, the second structural color, or both of the article, optionally wherein the contour feature and the flat area result in at least one layer of the optical element having a wavy appearance structure across the textured surface, wherein there is a planar area between adjacent contour features, the planar area being planar with the flat planar area of ​​the textured surface, wherein the planar area has a size relative to the contour feature to impart the first structural color, the second structural color, or both, optionally wherein the contour feature and the flat area result in each layer of the optical element having a wavy appearance structure across the textured surface.

[0077] Aspect 43. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the height of the contour feature is from about 50 micrometers to 250 micrometers, optionally wherein at least one of the length and width of the contour feature is less than 250 micrometers, or both the length and width of the contour feature are less than 250 micrometers.

[0078] Aspect 44. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least one dimension of the contour feature is in the nanometer range, while at least one other dimension is in the micrometer range.

[0079] Aspect 45. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the nanometer range is from about 10 nanometers to about 1,000 nanometers, and the micrometer range is from about 5 micrometers to 250 micrometers.

[0080] Aspect 46. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least one of the length and width of the contour feature is in the nanometer range, and the other of the length and width of the contour feature is in the micrometer range.

[0081] Aspect 47. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least one of the length and width of the contour feature is in the nanometer range and the other is in the micrometer range, wherein the height is about 250 nanometers to 250 micrometers.

[0082] Aspect 48. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the spatial orientation of the contour features is periodic.

[0083] Aspect 49. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the spatial orientation of the contour features is a semi-random pattern or a predetermined pattern.

[0084] Aspect 50. The article and / or method according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the surface of the layer of the optical element is a substantially three-dimensionally flat planar surface or a three-dimensionally flat planar surface.

[0085] Aspect 51. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein when viewed from different angles spaced at least 15 degrees apart, the first structural color and the second structural color independently present a monochromatic hue or a plurality of different hue groups or hues.

[0086] Aspect 52. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a fiber.

[0087] Aspect 53. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a yarn, optionally a monofilament yarn.

[0088] Aspect 54. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a rolled good.

[0089] Aspect 55. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a textile.

[0090] Aspect 56. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a knitted textile.

[0091] Aspect 57. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a nonwoven textile.

[0092] Aspect 58. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is synthetic leather.

[0093] Aspect 59. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a membrane.

[0094] Aspect 60. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a footwear article, a part of footwear, a clothing article, a part of clothing, a sports equipment article, or a part of sports equipment.

[0095] Aspect 61. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a footwear article.

[0096] Aspect 62. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a sole component of a footwear article.

[0097] Aspect 63. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a foam midsole component of footwear.

[0098] Aspect 64. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is an upper part of a footwear article.

[0099] Aspect 65. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a knitted upper component of a footwear article.

[0100] Aspect 66. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a nonwoven synthetic leather upper for footwear articles.

[0101] Aspect 67. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a capsule comprising a volume of fluid, wherein the capsule has a first capsule wall having a first capsule wall thickness, wherein the first capsule wall has a thickness of 15 cm for nitrogen gas relative to an average wall thickness of 20 mils. 3 / m 2 • atm • day or less of gas permeability.

[0102] Aspect 68. The method and / or article according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the article is a capsule and the optical element is optionally on the inner surface of the capsule, or optionally on the outer surface of the capsule.

[0103] Aspect 69. The method and / or article according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, the third structural color, or any combination of two are independently visible to an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision at a distance of about 1 meter from the sac.

[0104] Aspect 70. The method and / or article according to any of the foregoing aspects, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, the third structural color or any combination thereof is a monochromatic structural color.

[0105] Aspect 71. The method and / or article according to any of the foregoing aspects, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color and / or the third structural color are polychromatic colors having a complete iridescent appearance.

[0106] Aspect 72. The method and / or article according to any of the foregoing aspects, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color and / or the third structural color are polychromatic colors having a finite number of iridescent hues.

[0107] Aspect 73. The method and / or article according to the foregoing aspect, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color and / or the third structural color are polychromatic colors having a finite number of iridescent hues, such that when each of the structural colors is assigned a hue at the same angle, or wherein each color is visible at every possible viewing angle and is independently assigned to a monochromatic hue selected from a group of primary, secondary and tertiary colors on the red, yellow and blue (RYB) color wheel, all assigned hues fall into a monochromatic hue group, and the monochromatic hue group includes at least two (optionally at least three) hues selected from: red, red-orange, orange, orange-yellow, yellow, yellow-green, green, green-blue, blue, blue-violet, purple and magenta.

[0108] Aspect 74. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein in a monochromatic color group, the hues of at least two of the first, second, and third structural colors are directly adjacent to the other two hues on the RYB color wheel (the hues include two similar hues), optionally wherein the hues of all three structural colors are directly adjacent to each other on the RYB color wheel (all three hues are similar).

[0109] Aspect 75. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein the monochromatic phase group is one of the following: a) red and red-orange; b) red-orange and orange; c) orange and orange-yellow; d) orange-yellow and yellow; e) yellow and yellow-green; f) yellow-green and green; g) green and green-blue; h) green-blue and blue; i) blue and blue-violet; j) blue-violet and purple; k) purple and magenta; and l) magenta and red.

[0110] Aspect 76. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein the monochromatic phase group is one of the following: a) yellow-green, yellow, and orange-yellow; b) yellow, orange-yellow, and orange; c) orange-yellow, orange, and red-orange; d) red-orange, red, and magenta; e) red, magenta, and purple; f) red-purple, purple, and blue-purple; g) purple, blue-purple, and blue; h) blue-purple, blue, and green-blue; i) blue, green-blue, and green; and j) green-blue, green, and yellow-green.

[0111] Aspect 77. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein in a monochromatic color group, at least two of the hues of the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color are not directly adjacent to other hues on the RYB color wheel (at least two of the hues are not similar), optionally wherein the hues of all three of the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color are not directly adjacent to each other on the RYB color wheel (all three hues are not similar).

[0112] Aspect 78. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein the monochromatic phase group is one of the following: a) red and orange; b) red-orange and orange-yellow; c) yellow and green; d) yellow-green and green-blue; e) green and blue; f) green-blue and blue-violet; g) blue and purple; h) blue-violet and magenta; i) purple and red; and j) magenta and red-orange.

[0113] Aspect 79. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein the monochromatic phase group is one of the following: a) red and orange-yellow; b) red-orange and yellow; c) orange and yellow-green; d) yellow-orange and green; e) yellow and green-blue; f) yellow-green and blue; g) green and blue-violet; h) green-blue and purple; i) blue and magenta; j) blue-violet and red; k) purple and red-orange; and l) magenta and orange.

[0114] Aspect 80. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein the monochromatic phase group is one of the following: a) red and yellow; b) red-orange and yellow-green; c) orange and green; d) orange-yellow and green-blue; e) yellow and blue; f) yellow-green and blue-violet; g) green and purple; h) green-blue and magenta; i) blue and red; j) blue-violet and red-orange; k) purple and orange; and l) magenta and orange-yellow.

[0115] Aspect 81. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein the monochromatic phase group is one of the following: a) red and yellow-green; b) red-orange and green; c) orange and green-blue; d) orange-yellow and blue; e) yellow and blue-violet; f) yellow-green and purple; g) green and magenta; h) green-blue and red; i) blue and red-orange; j) blue-violet and orange; k) purple and orange-yellow; and l) magenta and yellow.

[0116] Aspect 82. The method and / or article according to aspect 72, wherein the monochromatic hue group comprises a pair of complementary hues, optionally wherein the pair of complementary hues comprises a) red and green; b) red-orange and green-blue; c) orange and blue; d) orange-yellow and blue-violet; e) yellow and purple; and f) yellow-green and magenta.

[0117] Aspect 83. The method and / or article according to the foregoing aspect, wherein at least one of the first structural color, the second structural color and the third structural color is a non-color color, optionally wherein the non-color color is black, gray or white.

[0118] The implementation scheme of this disclosure has now been generally described, and further discussion of the implementation scheme will follow in more detail.

[0119] This disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described, and therefore is subject to change. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be restrictive, as the scope of this disclosure will be limited only by the appended aspects.

[0120] When a range of values ​​is provided, every intermediate value between the upper and lower limits of that range (in units of one-tenth of the lower limit, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise) and any other stated value or intermediate value within that range are included in this disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may be independently included in the smaller ranges and are also included in this disclosure, subject to any specific excluded limits within the stated range. When a stated range includes one or both limits, ranges excluding any one or both of those included limits are also included in this disclosure.

[0121] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure that each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features that can be readily separated from or combined with features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of this disclosure. Any described method may be performed in the order of the described events or in any other logically possible order.

[0122] Unless otherwise stated, embodiments of this disclosure will employ materials science, chemical, textile, polymer chemistry, and similar techniques within the scope of the art. Such techniques are fully explained in the literature.

[0123] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the fields of materials science, chemistry, textiles, polymer chemistry, and similar fields. While similar or equivalent methods and materials may be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described herein.

[0124] As used in the specification and appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may include plural indicators unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a support” includes more than one support. Throughout this specification and appended claims, numerous terms will be referenced, which should be defined as having the following meanings unless the contrary intention is obvious.

[0125] This disclosure provides an article (e.g., a structurally colored article) that uses optical elements to present different structural colors in different regions of the article, wherein the optical elements have different structures (e.g., cross-sectional structures) in at least three of those regions. The optical elements (e.g., a single-layer reflector, a single-layer filter, a multi-layer reflector, or a multi-layer filter) are disposed on the article and have a first region A, a first region B, a second region B, and a second region A. An intermediate region is disposed between the first region B and the second region B, but does not include any layer of the optical elements. The first region A is adjacent to the first region B, and the second region A is adjacent to the second region B. The first region A and the second region A have the same structural color (e.g., a first structural color), and the first region B has a structural color different from the second region B (e.g., a third structural color) (e.g., a second structural color), both of which are different from the structural colors of the first region A and the second region A. The intermediate region has a color associated with the surface of the article (e.g., a structural color not derived from the optical elements), or may be transparent or translucent. Each corresponding structural color is a visible color produced at least in part by optical effects such as scattering, refraction, reflection, interference, and / or diffraction of light through visible wavelengths (e.g., at a distance of about 1 meter for an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision under normal lighting conditions (e.g., sunlight of about 30 lux)). The structural color from each region can be monochromatic, polychromatic, or iridescent. In this way, an article including optical elements can provide attractive visual colors that can be patterned or random. Optical elements can be incorporated into one or more parts of the article, for example, on the upper or sole of a footwear article.

[0126] Each region of the optical element comprises at least one layer (e.g., a constituent layer, a reflective layer), wherein the number of layers in each region is the same. For example, a first region A of the optical element has seven layers, and a second region A of the optical element comprises seven layers. Furthermore, a first region B of the optical element has seven layers, and a second region B of the optical element comprises seven layers. The average thickness of corresponding layers in the first region A and the second region A is the same or substantially the same (e.g., about 90 percent, about 95 percent, or about 99 percent or greater). The average thickness of corresponding layers in the first region B and the second region B may differ. The cross-sections of the first region B and the second region B are different from each other and different from the cross-sections of the first region A and the second region A. Different dimensions of each region can result in differences in the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color.

[0127] Regarding the phrase "corresponding layer," this phrase refers to layers formed simultaneously for each region (e.g., the first layer of the first region A and the first layer of the second region B are corresponding layers; the third layer of the first region B and the third layer of the second region B are corresponding layers; and so on). The phrase "non-corresponding layer" refers to one or more layers formed at different times and / or using a technique (e.g., masking) that allows a layer to be formed in one region of an optical element but not in another region of the optical element, or allows a layer of greater thickness to be formed in one region of the optical element and the same layer of smaller thickness to be formed in another region of the optical element. Although four regions are mentioned, more than one region is anticipated, and it can include 10 to 100 to 1000 or more, depending on the article and the desired effect, wherein different regions may exist in different cross-sectional areas.

[0128] Each corresponding layer in the first region A, first region B, second region A, and second region B of the optical element is substantially composed of the same material. Vertically adjacent layers may be made of different materials. The materials may be inorganic (e.g., metal oxides), organic (e.g., polymers), or a mixture of inorganic and organic materials. Furthermore, vertically adjacent layers may be made of inorganic materials, organic materials, or a mixture of inorganic and organic materials (e.g., the first layer is made of metal oxide, the second layer is made of polymer, and the third layer is made of metal oxide, or similar).

[0129] As stated herein, a first region A and a second region A of the optical element impart a first structural color to the article. A first region B and a second region B of the optical element impart a second structural color and a third structural color to the article, respectively. An intermediate region has a fourth color. When observed from the same viewing angle (e.g., at a distance of approximately 1 meter under normal lighting conditions (e.g., sunlight of approximately 30 lux) for an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision), at least one color parameter of the first, second, and third structural colors differs from each other (e.g., differs in at least one color parameter such as hue, lightness, chromaticity, chromaticity coordinates, iridescent type, or any combination thereof, or differs in at least one of hue, lightness, and chromaticity, or differs in hue). Similarly, when observed from the same viewing angle (e.g., at a distance of about 1 meter for an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision under normal lighting conditions (e.g., about 30 lux of sunlight), at least one color parameter of the fourth color differs from the first structural color, the second structural color, the third structural color, or all three structural colors.

[0130] Typically, each individual layer of the first region A and the second region A, independent of any existing layers (if any), has approximately the same or substantially the same thickness across the entire region. The first region B and the second region B are structurally different, but may generally share some similarities. Each individual layer of the first region B and / or the second region B, independent of any existing layers (if any), may have a thickness that varies at different locations along the length of the layer, respectively, from the edge of the layer adjacent to the first region A or the second region A toward the edge of the intermediate region. In some aspects, the thickness is the same along certain lengths of the first region B and the second region B, but will change at portions along that length (e.g., in a stepped pattern). Generally, the thickness closer to the edge of the first region A or the second region A is greater than the thickness along the length of the layer moving toward the edge of the intermediate region, but in some constructions, the thickness may be thicker at one location along the length, although it tends to be thinner along the entire length. In this aspect, the first region B and the second region B may independently have a design (e.g., cross-section) that slopes, tapers, or steps from the edge of the first region A or the second region B, such that the layer tends downward toward the surface of the article at the edge of the intermediate region, and the thickness generally decreases. At the location where the layer tends downward from the first region A or the second region A, the layer is thicker than at the location where the layer terminates on the surface of the edge of the intermediate region (or terminates on another layer, if another layer exists in some aspects).

[0131] The first region B and the second region B are structurally different because one region may have a sloping structure while the other has a stepped design. Furthermore, the first region B and the second region B can be structurally different because the first distance from the first edge to the first part is different from the second distance from the second edge to the second part. However, even when the first distance from the first edge to the first part is the same as the second distance from the second edge to the second part, the first region B and the second region B can still be structurally different. In another aspect, each layer in the first region B terminates at the same part on the surface of the article, while at least one layer in the second region B does not terminate at the same part as other layers. In another embodiment, the length of the first region B is different from the length of the second region B, but the first region B and the second region B can still be different when the lengths of the first region B and the second region B are the same. While different constructions have been specifically described, other constructions are included in the description provided.

[0132] In a cross-sectional view, for example, as the layers slope upward toward the higher parts of the optical element, the intermediate region can be represented as a channel within the optical element between the first region B and the second region B, but still as a single optical element. Figure 3 and Figure 4An example of this design is described.

[0133] Typically, optical elements may include one or more layers (e.g., constituent layers, reflective layers). Also as described herein, optical elements may optionally include textured surfaces, such as textured layers and / or textured structures. Optionally, optical elements may include one or more layers (e.g., protective layers and similar layers) to provide the optical element with one or more properties (e.g., improved abrasion characteristics, improved adhesion characteristics, and similar characteristics).

[0134] Optical elements can be arranged on a surface in a variety of ways. For example, an optical element can be arranged on a surface such that each layer of the optical element is parallel to or substantially parallel to the surface (e.g., arranged in a "straight line"). In other words, the length and width of the layers of the optical element define the plane, while the thickness of the layers is the smallest dimension. In another example, each layer of the optical element is perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the surface. In either configuration, the optical element can produce an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0135] In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the surface of the article includes optical elements and is optionally a textured surface, wherein the optical elements and the optionally textured surface impart a structural color (e.g., monochrome, multicolor, iridescent). Depending on the design, the optionally textured surface may be disposed between the optical elements and the surface, or may be part of the optical elements. Further details are provided herein.

[0136] In one embodiment, structural colors (e.g., a first structural color, a second structural color, a third structural color) are not used in combination with pigments and / or dyes. In another aspect, structural colors may be used in combination with pigments and / or dyes, but the structural colors are not the same hue, lightness, chroma, or any combination of hue, lightness, and chroma as the pigments and / or dyes. This means that individual structural colors and structural colors combined with pigments and / or dyes differ from each other in at least one color property or characteristic (e.g., hue, lightness, chroma, color space coordinates, iridescent type, etc.). In this respect, structural colors are the product of textured surfaces, optical elements, and / or pigments and / or dyes. In one embodiment, structural colors may be used in combination with pigments and / or dyes to enhance the color of the pigments and / or dyes relative to their color, or to enhance the hue, lightness, chroma, or other color properties associated with the pigments and / or dyes. In one aspect, structural colors are imparted solely by layers of optical elements and not by pigments and / or dyes. In another aspect, structural colors are imparted solely by layers of optical elements and not by textured surfaces. In this aspect, the structural color is imparted solely by layers of optical elements rather than by pigments and / or dyes or textured surfaces.

[0137] Articles can be manufactured articles or parts thereof. Manufactured articles may include footwear, clothing (e.g., shirts, sweatshirts, trousers, shorts, gloves, glasses, socks, caps, caps, jackets, underwear), containers (e.g., backpacks, bags), and furnishings for furniture (e.g., chairs, sofas, vehicle seats), bedding (e.g., sheets, blankets), tablecloths, towels, flags, tents, sails, and parachutes, or parts thereof. Additionally, optical elements can be used with or incorporated into textiles or other articles, such as striking devices (e.g., bats, rackets, clubs, golf clubs, paddles, etc.), sports equipment (e.g., golf bags, baseball and football gloves, football restraints), protective equipment (e.g., pads, helmets, protective parts, visors, face shields, goggles, etc.), motor vehicle equipment (e.g., bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, cars, trucks, boats, surfboards, sleds, skis, etc.), balls or hockey pucks for various sports, fishing or hunting equipment, furniture, electronic equipment, building materials, eye protection, clocks, jewelry, and the like.

[0138] The surface of an article may be a flat or generally flat surface (e.g., it may include shape features smaller than about 1 mm). The surface of an article may be non-flat or generally non-flat (e.g., it may include shape features larger than about 1 mm that do not contribute to imparting optical color (e.g., random or patterned)).

[0139] The item can be footwear. Footwear can be designed for a variety of uses, such as sports, athletics, military, work-related, recreational, or leisure. Primarily, footwear is intended for outdoor use on unpaved surfaces (partial or complete), such as on one or more of the following surfaces: grass, turf, gravel, sand, dust, clay, mud, pavement, and the like, whether as a sports performance surface or as a general outdoor surface. However, footwear can also be desirable for indoor applications, such as indoor sports involving dusty playing surfaces (e.g., an indoor baseball field with a dusty infield).

[0140] Specifically, footwear can be designed for indoor or outdoor sports activities such as football / soccer, golf, American football, rugby, baseball, running, athletics, cycling (e.g., road cycling and mountain biking), and similar sports. Footwear may optionally include traction elements (e.g., lugs, anti-slip elements, cleats and spikes, and tread patterns) to provide traction friction on soft and smooth surfaces, wherein components of this disclosure may be used or applied between or within traction elements, and optionally on the sides of the traction elements but on the surface of the traction elements that contacts the ground or surface. Anti-slip elements, cleats and spikes are commonly included in footwear designed for sports such as football / soccer, golf, American football, rugby, baseball, and similar sports, which are often played on unpaved surfaces. Lugs and / or reinforced tread patterns are commonly included in footwear, including boots designed for use in harsh outdoor conditions such as trail running, hiking, and military applications.

[0141] Specifically, the item can be a garment item (i.e., clothing). Garment items can be clothing items designed for sporting or leisure activities. Garment items can be clothing items designed to provide protection from factors (e.g., wind and / or rain) or from impacts.

[0142] Specifically, the items can be sports equipment. Sports equipment can be designed for indoor or outdoor sports activities, such as international football / soccer, golf, American football, rugby, baseball, running, track and field, cycling (e.g., road cycling and mountain biking) and similar sports.

[0143] Figures 1A-1M The figures illustrate footwear, apparel, sports equipment, housings, electronic equipment, and visual protection devices that include structures (e.g., optical elements, optionally textured surfaces) incorporating the contents of this disclosure. The structure may include optical elements configured in a “straight line” and / or “on its side”. Structures including optical elements are represented by hashed areas 12A' / 12M'-12A” / 12M'. The location of the structure is provided merely to indicate one possible area where the structure can be positioned. Furthermore, two locations are illustrated in some figures and one location in others, but this is for illustrative purposes only, as articles may include one or more structures, the size and location of which may be determined based on the article. Structures located on each article may represent numbers, letters, symbols, designs, logos, graphic marks, icons, trademarks, or the like.

[0144] Figures 1N(a) and 1N(b) illustrate a perspective and a side view of a footwear article 100 including a sole structure 104 and an upper 102. Structures including optical elements are represented by 112a and 112b. The sole structure 104 is attached to the upper 102 and extends between the foot and the ground when the footwear article 100 is worn. The main components of the sole structure 104 are the midsole 114 and the outsole 112. The midsole 114 is attached to the lower region of the upper 102 and may be formed of polymer foam or another suitable material. In other configurations, the midsole 114 may incorporate fluid-filled chambers, plates, adjusters, and / or other elements to further reduce force, enhance stability, or influence foot movement. The outsole 112 is attached to the lower surface of the midsole 114 and may be formed of, for example, abrasion-resistant rubber material textured to impart adhesive friction. The upper 102 can be formed from a variety of elements (e.g., laces, tongue, collar) that combine to provide a structure for securely and comfortably receiving the foot. While the construction of the upper 102 can vary significantly, these elements typically define a cavity within the upper 102 for receiving and securing the foot relative to the sole structure 104. The surface of the cavity within the upper 102 is shaped to accommodate the foot and can extend over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, under the foot, and around the heel area. The upper 102 can be made from one or more materials stitched or combined together, such as textiles, polymer foams, leather, synthetic leather, and the like. While this construction of the sole structure 104 and the upper 102 provides an example of a sole structure that can be used in conjunction with an upper, a variety of other conventional or unconventional constructions of the sole structure 104 and / or the upper 102 can also be utilized. Therefore, the construction and features of the sole structure 104 and / or the upper 102 can vary significantly.

[0145] Figures 10(a) and 10(b) illustrate perspective and side views of a footwear article 130 including a sole structure 134 and an upper 132. Structures including optical elements are indicated by 136a and 136b / 136b'. The sole structure 134 is attached to the upper 132 and extends between the foot and the ground when the footwear article 130 is worn. The upper 132 can be formed from various elements (e.g., laces, tongue, collar) that combine to provide a structure for securely and comfortably receiving the foot. While the construction of the upper 132 can vary significantly, various elements generally define cavities within the upper 132 for receiving and securing the foot relative to the sole structure 134. The surfaces of the cavities within the upper 132 are shaped to accommodate the foot and can extend over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, under the foot, and around the heel area of ​​the foot. The upper 132 may be made of one or more materials that are stitched or combined together, such as textiles including natural and synthetic leather, molded polymer parts, polymer foams and similar materials.

[0146] The main components of the sole structure 134 are the forefoot component 142, the heel component 144, and the outsole 146. Each of the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144 is directly or indirectly attached to the lower region of the upper 132 and is formed of a polymeric material encapsulating a fluid, which may be a gas, liquid, or gel. For example, during walking and running, the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144 are compressed between the foot and the ground, thereby reducing ground reaction forces. That is, the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144 are inflated and can be pressurized with fluid to cushion the foot. The outsole 146 is attached to the lower region of the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144 and may be formed of an abrasion-resistant rubber material textured to impart adhesion friction. The forefoot component 142 may be made of one or more polymers (e.g., layers of one or more polymer films) that form more than one chamber containing a fluid such as a gas. Multiple chambers can be independent or fluidly interconnected. Similarly, the heel component 144 can be made of one or more polymers (e.g., layers of one or more polymer films) that form a fluid containing a gas and can also be independent or fluidly interconnected with more than one chamber. In some configurations, the sole structure 134 may include a foam layer, for example, extending between one or both of the upper 132 and the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144, or foam elements may be located within indentations in the lower regions of the forefoot component 142 and the heel component 144. In other configurations, the sole structure 134 may incorporate, for example, plates, adjusters, lasting elements, or motion control components that further dampen forces, enhance stability, or influence foot movement. While the depicted constructions of sole structure 134 and upper 132 provide examples of sole structures that can be used in conjunction with an upper, a variety of other conventional or unconventional constructions of sole structure 134 and / or upper 132 can also be utilized. Therefore, the construction and features of sole structure 134 and / or upper 132 can vary significantly.

[0147] Figure 10(c) is a cross-sectional view of the upper 132 and the heel component 144. The optical element 136b can be disposed on the outer wall of the heel component 144, or alternatively or optionally, the optical element 136b' can be disposed on the inner wall of the heel component 144.

[0148] Figures 1P(a) and 1P(b) illustrate a perspective and a side view of a footwear article 160 including an adhesive friction element 168. Structures including optical elements are represented by 172a and 172b. The footwear article 160 includes an upper 162 and a sole structure 164, wherein the upper 162 is attached to the sole structure 164. The sole structure 164 may include one or more of a toe plate 166a, a midsole plate 166b, and a heel plate 166c. The plates may include one or more adhesive friction elements 168, or the adhesive friction elements may be applied directly to the ground-facing surface of the footwear article. As shown in Figures 1P(a) and 1P(b), the adhesive friction element 168 is an anti-slip element, but the adhesive friction element may include lugs, anti-slip elements, cleats and spikes, and tread patterns to provide adhesive friction on soft and smooth surfaces. Typically, anti-slip elements, cleats, and spikes are included in footwear designed for sports such as international football / football, golf, American football, rugby, baseball, and similar sports, while lugs and / or reinforced tread patterns are typically included in footwear (not shown) (including boots designed for use in harsh outdoor conditions such as cross-country running, hiking, and military use). A sole structure 164 is attached to the upper 162 and extends between the foot and the ground when the footwear article 160 is worn. The upper 162 can be formed from a variety of elements (e.g., laces, tongue, collar) that combine to provide a structure for securely and comfortably receiving the foot. While the construction of the upper 162 can vary significantly, the various elements typically define cavities within the upper 162 for receiving and securing the foot relative to the sole structure 164. The surface of the cavity within the upper 162 is shaped to accommodate the foot and extends over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, under the foot, and around the heel area of ​​the foot. The upper 162 may be made of one or more materials stitched or bonded together, such as textiles including natural and synthetic leather, molded polymer components, polymer foams, and the like. In other aspects not depicted, the sole structure 164 may incorporate foams, one or more fluid-filled chambers, plates, regulators, or other elements to further dampen forces, enhance stability, or influence foot movement. While the depicted constructions of the sole structure 164 and upper 162 provide examples of sole structures that can be used in conjunction with an upper, a variety of other conventional or unconventional constructions of the sole structure 164 and / or upper 162 are also possible. Therefore, the construction and characteristics of the sole structure 164 and / or upper 162 can vary significantly.

[0149] Figures 1Q(a)-1Q(e)Further views of exemplary athletic footwear articles including an upper 176 are illustrated. Figure 1Q(a) is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary athletic footwear article, showing an insole 174, an upper 176, an optional midsole or optional last 177, and an outsole 178, which may take the form of a plate. Structures including optical elements are represented by 175a-175d. Figure 1Q(b) is a top view of the exemplary athletic footwear article, indicating an opening 183 configured to receive the wearer's foot and an ankle collar 181 that may include an optical element 182. The ankle collar is configured to position around the wearer's ankle during wear and may optionally include a cushioning element. The outer side 180 and the inner side 179 of the exemplary athletic footwear article are also illustrated. Figure 1Q(c) is a rear view of the footwear article depicted in Figure 1Q(b), showing an optional heel clip 184 that may include an optical element 185. Figure 1Q(d) shows a side view of an exemplary athletic footwear article, which may optionally also include a tongue 186, laces 188, a toe cap 189, a heel stabilizer 190, decorative elements such as a logo 191, and / or eyelets of the laces 192, as well as a toe area 193a, a heel area 193b, and an upper panel 193c. In some aspects, the heel stabilizer 190 may be covered by a layer of knitted fabric, woven fabric, or non-woven fabric, natural or synthetic leather, membrane, or other shoe upper material. In some aspects, the eyelets 192 are formed as a continuous piece; however, they may also include several separate pieces or cables individually surrounding a single eyelet or more than one eyelet. Structures including optical elements are indicated by 187a-187e. Although not depicted, optical elements may be present on the eyelets 192 and / or the laces 188. In some constructions, the sole structure may include a sole structure, such as a sole interlayer having cushioning elements in part or substantially all of the sole interlayer, and optical elements may be disposed on the outward-facing side of the sole structure, including the outward-facing side of the sole interlayer. Figure 1Q(e) is a side view of another exemplary athletic footwear article. In some aspects, the upper may include one or more receiving elements 194, such as threads, cables, or molded polymer components extending from lacing structures on portions of the medial and lateral sides of the exemplary athletic footwear article to the top of the sole structure to provide locking of the foot to the sole structure, wherein the receiving element may have optical elements (not shown) disposed on its outward-facing side. In some constructions, an extension strip (not shown) may be present across part or all of the interlocking line 195.

[0150] Schemes of this disclosure have now been generally described, with further details provided. As already described herein, structural color can include one of many colors. The “color” of an object as perceived by an observer can differ from the actual color of the object because the color perceived by the observer is determined by: the actual color of the object due to the presence of optical elements (e.g., the color of light leaving the surface of the object), which can absorb, refract, interfere with, or otherwise alter the light reflected by the object; the observer’s visual acuity; the observer’s ability to detect the wavelength of the light reflected by the object; the characteristics of the perceiving eye and brain; the intensity and type of light used to illuminate the object (e.g., sunlight, incandescent light, fluorescence, and similar light); and other factors such as the color of the environment surrounding the object. As a result, the color of an object as perceived by an observer may differ from the actual color of the object.

[0151] Conventionally, unstructured colors are given to man-made objects by applying colored materials such as pigments or dyes. Materials with unstructured coloring are composed of molecules (e.g., chromophores) that absorb all wavelengths of light except for a specific wavelength and reflect the unabsorbed wavelengths back, or absorb and emit light of a specific wavelength. In unstructured colors, it is the unabsorbed and / or emitted wavelengths of light that give an object its color. Because the properties that impart color are due to the chemical structure of the molecules, the only way to remove or eliminate color is to remove the molecules or alter their chemical structure.

[0152] While "structural color" has been found in nature, methods for attributing "structural color" to man-made objects have recently been developed. Structural color is color produced at least in part by microscopically structured surfaces that interfere with visible light passing through them. It is color caused by the physical structure that produces optical phenomena, including scattering, refraction, reflection, interference, and / or diffraction of light. In some respects, structural color can be caused by absorption or emission of one or more of these optical phenomena. For example, optical phenomena that impart structural color can include multilayer interference, thin-film interference, refraction, dispersion, light scattering (including Mie scattering), and diffraction (including diffraction gratings). Because structural color is produced by physical structure, destroying or altering the physical structure can eliminate or change the assigned color. The ability to eliminate color by destroying the physical structure, such as by grinding or melting an object, can facilitate the recycling and reuse of colored materials. In several aspects described herein, when the structurally colored area is illuminated by sunlight, incandescent light, or fluorescence at approximately 30 lux, the structural color imparted to the outer surface of an object is visible to an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision at a distance of approximately 1 meter from the object. In some of these aspects, the size of the structurally colored area is at least 1 square centimeter.

[0153] As described herein, unlike colors produced solely by pigments and / or dyes, structural colors are at least partially produced by optical elements. The color of a structurally colored article may be caused solely by the structural color (i.e., the article, the colored portion of the article, or the colored outer layer of the article may be substantially free of pigments and / or dyes). In another aspect, optical elements may impart a “combined color,” which can be described as having both structural and non-structural color components. For example, structural colors may be used in combination with pigments and / or dyes to alter all or part of the structural color, forming a combined color. In the combined color, when observed without the non-structural color component, the structural color component imparts a structural color with a first color, and when observed without the structural color component, the non-structural color component imparts a second color, wherein the first color and the second color differ in at least one of the color properties or characteristics such as hue, lightness, chromaticity, color space coordinates, iridescent type, etc., or differ in hue or chromaticity. Furthermore, in this respect, when observed together, the first color and the second color combine to form a third combination of colors that differs in at least one color property or characteristic, or differs from the first color or the second color in hue and chromaticity, for example, by transforming the reflection spectrum of the optical element.

[0154] In another aspect, optical elements can be endowed with "modified colors," which can be described as having a structural color component and a modifying component. In the modified color, when observed without the modifying component, the structural color component imparts a structural color with a specific hue and / or chromaticity, and when observed without the structural color component, the modifying component imparts no color, hue, or chromaticity. Furthermore, in this aspect, when observed together, the modifying component can expand, shrink, or transform the range of wavelengths of light reflected by the structural color component.

[0155] In another aspect, the optical element can be given a “modified combination of colors”, which can be described as having a structural color component having a first color, an unstructured color component having a second color, and a modified component that does not give color but is used to expand, reduce, or transform the range of wavelengths of light reflected by the combination of colors formed by the structural color component and the unstructured color component.

[0156] In one aspect, the structural color components, combined color components, or modified color components disclosed herein are opaque; that is, they prevent light from passing through any object to which they are applied. Furthermore, in this aspect, most wavelengths of light are absorbed by one or more layers of the structural color components, combined color components, or modified color components, with only narrow bands of light reflected near the wavelength of maximum reflection.

[0157] "Hue" is a term typically used to describe the properties of a color that can be distinguished based on the dominant wavelength of visible light, and is usually described using terms such as magenta, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, indigo, violet, etc., or can be described as being related to one of these colors (e.g., similar or dissimilar). The hue of a color is generally considered independent of its intensity or lightness. For example, in the Munsell color system, the properties of a color include hue, lightness (brightness), and chromaticity (color purity). Specific hues are typically associated with specific wavelength ranges in the visible spectrum: approximately 750 nm to 635 nm is associated with red, approximately 635 nm to 590 nm with orange, approximately 590 nm to 560 nm with yellow, approximately 560 nm to 520 nm with green, approximately 520 nm to 490 nm with cyan, approximately 490 nm to 450 nm with blue, and approximately 450 nm to 400 nm with violet.

[0158] In several aspects described herein, when a structurally colored area is illuminated by sunlight, incandescent light, or fluorescence at approximately 30 lux, one or more hues of the structural color imparted to the outer surface of an object are visible at a distance of approximately 1 meter relative to an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision. Similarly, an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision, when observing two structurally colored areas under these conditions (either on the same object or on separate objects), can determine whether the hues imparted to the two areas are the same or different. Furthermore, an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision, when observing a structurally colored area under these conditions but from two different perspectives, can determine whether the hues imparted to that area are the same or different.

[0159] When used in the context of structural color, the hue of a structurally colored article (i.e., an article that has been structurally colored by incorporating optical elements) can be characterized based on the wavelengths of light that are absorbed and reflected (e.g., linearly and non-linearly) by the structural coloring of the article. While optical elements can impart a primary structural color, the presence of optional textured surfaces and / or primer layers can alter the structural color. Other factors, such as coatings or transparent elements, can further modify the perceived structural color. The hue of a structurally colored article can include any of the hues described herein, as well as any other hues or combinations thereof.

[0160] Structural colors can be referred to as "monochromatic" or "polychromatic" or "polychromatic with full iridescence" or "polychromatic with limited iridescence".

[0161] As used herein, the structural color of a monochromatic hue refers to a structural color in which the hue does not change (e.g., appears not to change between hues) or changes in a non-significant manner (e.g., changes by about 10 percent or less, or about 5 percent or less, or about 1 percent or less) when the viewing angle or illumination angle varies between or within two or more different angles at least 15 degrees apart (e.g., from 30 to 45 degrees, from 45 to 60 degrees, from 60 to 75 degrees, etc.). In this way, the hue of the structural color of a monochromatic hue can be described as non-angle-dependent, and the color of a monochromatic hue is understood to be neither an iridescent color as described herein nor possessing finite or complete iridescent color. Many different color names, color systems, and color wheels can be used to describe hue. The lightness (brightness) or chromaticity (purity of hue) of the structural color of a monochromatic hue, or both lightness and chromaticity, can be angle-dependent or non-angle-dependent. For example, the structural color can be an angle-independent structural color of a monochromatic phase, wherein the brightness and chromaticity of the monochromatic phase do not change or change insignificantly with changes in the viewing angle or illumination angle. Alternatively, the structural color can be an angle-independent structural color of a monochromatic phase, wherein the brightness, chromaticity, or both brightness and chromaticity change or change significantly with changes in the viewing angle or illumination angle.

[0162] As used herein, a polychromatic structural color refers to a structural color in which the hue of the structural color changes (e.g., appears to shift between hues) or changes significantly (e.g., changes by about 90%, about 95%, or about 99%) as the viewing angle or illumination angle changes between or within two or more different angles at least 15 degrees apart (e.g., from 30 to 45 degrees, from 45 to 60 degrees, from 60 to 75 degrees, etc.). In this way, a polychromatic structural color can be described as angle-dependent, and a polychromatic structural color is understood to be iridescent or having finite or full iridescence, as described herein. For example, a polychromatic structural color can display different hues (e.g., the assigned hue changes between / among two, three, four, five, six, or more different hues as the viewing angle or illumination angle changes). Each individual hue presented by a multi-hue structural color can be a primary color, such as magenta, yellow, or cyan, or red, yellow, or blue; or a secondary hue, such as orange, green, or purple; or a tertiary hue, such as red-orange or orange-red. The lightness, chroma, or both lightness and chroma of an individual hue presented by a multi-hue structural color can be angle-dependent, meaning that the lightness, chroma, or both lightness and chroma of an individual hue changes with the viewing angle or lighting angle. The lightness, chroma, or both lightness and chroma of an individual hue presented by a multi-hue structural color can be non-angle-dependent, meaning that the lightness, chroma, or both lightness and chroma of an individual hue does not change or changes insignificantly with the viewing angle or lighting angle.

[0163] Multi-hue structural colors can be classified based on the type of iridescent colors they display. A multi-hue structural color can be one with full iridescence, meaning that as the viewing angle or illumination angle changes, it appears to display all or almost all hues of visible light in sequence (from shortest wavelength to longest wavelength, or from longest wavelength to shortest wavelength), providing a "rainbow" effect. As used herein, a multi-hue structural color with limited iridescence is understood to refer to a multi-hue structural color that varies between a limited number of individual hues (between 2, 3, or 4 different hues) as the viewing angle or illumination angle changes between or within two or more different angles at least 15 degrees apart. Therefore, a multi-hue structural color with limited iridescence does not exhibit a "rainbow" effect but rather displays only a few hues and is distinguishable from multi-hue structural colors with full iridescence and monochromatic structural colors.

[0164] Individual hues in a multi-hue structured color with a finite number of iridescent colors can be adjacent to each other on the color wheel (e.g., the multiple hues may include blue and blue-violet, and may vary between blue and blue-violet, or between blue-green, blue, and blue-violet). Alternatively, individual hues in a multi-hue structured color with a finite number of iridescent colors may include hues that are not directly adjacent to each other on the color wheel, such that some hues directly adjacent to the assigned hues on the color wheel are omitted or "skipped" (e.g., the multiple assigned hues may include orange-red and yellow-green, and may vary between orange-red and yellow-green, or the multiple assigned hues may include orange-red, orange, and yellow-green). In a multi-hue structured color with a finite number of iridescent colors, each individual hue in a finite number of multiple hues can be observed only at a few viewing angles or illumination angles (e.g., about 10 to 90 degrees, about 10 to 120 degrees, or about 10 to 60 degrees). For example, a primary hue (e.g., blue) may be presented at most (e.g., about 1 to 300 degrees or about 1 to 200 degrees) viewing or illumination angles within a 360-degree radius, while a secondary hue (e.g., violet) or a secondary and / or tertiary hue (e.g., turquoise) may be presented at a few (e.g., about 10 to 90 degrees or about 10 to 120 degrees or about 10 to 60 degrees) viewing or illumination angles within a 360-degree radius. In another instance where the degree radius is less than 360 degrees, the first hue (e.g., blue) may be presented at most of the degree radius (e.g., about 50 percent to 90 percent of the degree (e.g., about 90 to 162 degrees when the degree radius is 180), or about 50 percent to 80 percent, or about 50 percent to 70 percent, or about 60 percent to 90 percent, or about 70 percent to 90 percent) of the degree radius at viewing or illumination angles, while the second hue (e.g., violet) or the second and / or third hue (e.g., turquoise) may be presented at a few of the degree radius (e.g., about 1 percent to 49 percent of the degree, or about 10 percent to 35 percent, or about 10 percent to 25 percent) of the degree radius at viewing or illumination angles.

[0165] When a structural color with a finite iridescent hue is assigned multiple hues, including one or more hues that are not directly adjacent to each other on the color wheel, the structural color can abruptly change from the first hue to (e.g., rapidly change with small changes in the viewing angle (e.g., less than 15 degrees, less than 10 degrees, less than 5 degrees)) the second hue as the viewing angle or illumination angle changes. For example, for a structural color with a finite iridescent hue exhibiting orange-red and yellow-green hues, when the viewing angle or illumination angle changes within a 360-degree radius (or other specific radius, such as 180 degrees), more than one intermediate hue between orange-red and yellow-green, such as orange, yellow-orange, and yellow, and hues on either side of orange-red and yellow-green, such as red, red-orange, etc. (hues representing colors of light with wavelengths shorter than orange-red) and green, yellowish-green, green, blue, etc. (hues representing colors of light with wavelengths longer than yellow-green), are not assigned.

[0166] In one aspect, when the multiple hues assigned by a structural color with a finite iridescent hue include one or more hues directly adjacent to each other on the color wheel (e.g., similar hues) or one or more hues not directly adjacent to each other on the color wheel (e.g., complementary hues or split complementary hues, hues exhibiting ternary or quaternary harmony, etc.), the structural color can abruptly change from the first hue (e.g., rapidly change with small changes in the viewing angle (e.g., less than 15 degrees, less than 10 degrees, less than 5 degrees)) to the second hue as the viewing angle or illumination angle changes. In another aspect, when the multiple hues assigned by a structural color with a finite iridescent hue include one or more hues directly adjacent to each other on the color wheel or one or more hues not directly adjacent to each other on the color wheel, the structural color can gradually change from the first hue (e.g., change with long changes in the viewing angle (e.g., greater than 15 degrees, greater than 20 degrees, greater than 30 degrees)) to the second hue as the viewing angle or illumination angle changes.

[0167] Similarly, other properties of structural colors, such as brightness, saturation, and purity, can be largely the same and independent of the viewing angle or lighting angle, or can vary depending on the viewing angle or lighting angle. Structural colors can have a matte appearance, a glossy appearance, a metallic appearance, or a combination thereof.

[0168] As discussed above, the color (including hue) of a structurally colored article (e.g., an article including structural color) can vary depending on the angle at which the article is observed or illuminated. One or more hues of an article can be determined by observing or illuminating the article from multiple angles using constant lighting conditions. As used herein, the illumination “angle” or observation “angle” is an angle measured from an axis or plane orthogonal to the surface. The observation angle or illumination angle can be set between approximately 0 degrees and 180 degrees. The observation angle or illumination angle can be set to 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and -15 degrees, and the color can be measured using a colorimeter or spectrophotometer (e.g., manufactured by Konica, Minolta, etc.) focused on a specific area of ​​the article to measure the color. The viewing angle or illumination angle can be set to 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, 90 degrees, 105 degrees, 120 degrees, 135 degrees, 150 degrees, 165 degrees, 180 degrees, 195 degrees, 210 degrees, 225 degrees, 240 degrees, 255 degrees, 270 degrees, 285 degrees, 300 degrees, 315 degrees, 330 degrees, and 345 degrees, and the color can be measured using a colorimeter or spectrophotometer. In a specific instance of an article that is colored only with structural color and can exhibit a polychromatic structure with a limited iridescence, when measured at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and -15 degrees, the hue measured for the article consists of: "blue" at three of these measurement angles, "blue-green" at two of these measurement angles, and "purple" at one of these measurement angles.

[0169] There are various methodologies for defining color coordinate systems and assigning color space coordinates to colors. One example is the L*a*b* color space, where, for a given lighting condition, L* is a luminance value, and a* and b* are values ​​based on the color-opposite dimensions of CIE coordinates (CIE 1976 color space or CIELAB). In an implementation, an article with structurally colored structure can be considered to have a “single” color when the color variation measured for an article at three or more of the measured viewing angles or lighting angles selected from 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and -15 degrees is within approximately 10% or approximately 5% of the total numerical range of the a* or b* coordinates in the L*a*b* numerical range (CIE 1976 color space).

[0170] The difference between two color measurements can be mathematically described in CIELAB space based on the difference between the color coordinates of the two colors. For example, the first measurement has coordinates L1*, a1*, and b1*, and the second measurement has coordinates L2*, a2*, and b2*. The total difference between these two measurements over the CIELAB numerical range can be expressed as ΔE*. ab ,ΔE* ab The following is calculated: ΔE* ab =[(L1*-L2*) 2 +(a1*–a2*) 2 +(b1*-b2*) 2 ] 1 / 2 Generally, if two colors have a ΔE* less than or equal to 1, ab If the color difference is imperceptible to the human eye, and if the two colors have a ΔE* greater than 100, then the difference is negligible. ab If the color is 2-3 or 3 or greater, then the color is considered to be the opposite color, and the ΔE* is approximately 2-3 or 3 or greater. ab It is considered to be the threshold of color difference that most humans can perceive.

[0171] In this context, if the first structural color (e.g., assigned to the first segment (e.g., area) or item) and the second structural color (e.g., assigned to the second segment or item) have a ΔE* greater than 2.2, greater than 3, greater than 4, greater than 5, or greater than 10. ab Then they can be considered as different structural colors. In another aspect, if the first structural color (e.g., assigned to the first segment) and the second structural color (e.g., assigned to the second segment) have a ΔE* less than about 3 or less than 2.2, then... ab If they are the same structural color, then they can be considered to be the same structural color.

[0172] In another aspect, ΔE* refers to the difference between three or more pairs of measured observation angles or illumination angles selected from 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and -15 degrees. ab When the value is less than 3 or less than 2.2, the first segment (e.g., region) can be considered to have a “single” color. In yet another aspect, when the ΔE* between at least one pair of measurements... abWhen the value is greater than 2.2, 3, 4, 5, or 10, the first segment can be considered polychromatic, wherein the measurement is obtained at each of three or more viewing or illumination angles selected from 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and -15 degrees. In this aspect, the first segment can be polychromatic by assigning two different structural colors, three different structural colors, or four different structural colors, each at a different viewing or illumination angle (e.g., spaced approximately 15 degrees or greater apart).

[0173] In CIELAB space, based on ΔE* ab The calculated threshold for perceptible color difference is approximately 2-3, and an observer's perception of color depends on their physiology, observation conditions, and similar factors. An individual observer observing the first and second structural colors may not be able to detect that these two structural colors are different, based on ΔE*. ab The two structural colors can be considered different based on calculations, or on their a* coordinates, their b* coordinates, or the difference between their a* and b* coordinates.

[0174] Similarly, by measuring according to the CIE 1976 color space under given illumination conditions, the structural colors at two different angles can be considered to correspond substantially to each other. Illumination conditions can be a single viewing angle of approximately -15 degrees to 180 degrees or approximately -15 degrees and 60 degrees on a horizontal plane perpendicular to the optical element (e.g., a plane parallel to the layer of the optical element). A first color measurement value can be obtained at a first viewing angle having coordinates L1* and a1* and b1* within the wavelength range of 380 nm to 625 nm. Additionally, a second color measurement value can be obtained within the first wavelength value at a first viewing angle having coordinates L2* and a2* and b2*. Structural colors can be compared in different ways. In one method described above, ΔE* ab =[(L1*-L2*) 2 +(a1*–a2*) 2 +(b1*-b2*) 2 ] 1 / 2 It can be used to compare a first color measurement value and a second color measurement value. When the ΔE* between the first color measurement value and the second color measurement value... ab It can be less than or equal to about 3, or optionally, the ΔE* between the first color measurement and the second color measurement. ab When ΔE* is less than or equal to approximately 2.2, the first and second structural colors can be considered the same or substantially indistinguishable. ab If the value is greater than 3, then the colors of the first and second structures will be different.

[0175] In another aspect, the wavelength range, the minimum reflectance percentage of at least one peak or a set of peaks, is independent of the angle of incident light on the optical element. The structural color is independent of the viewing angle. Alternatively, the wavelength range, the minimum reflectance percentage of at least one peak or a set of peaks, depends on the angle of incident light on the optical element. The structural color depends on the viewing angle.

[0176] The independence or dependence of the observation angle of a structural color can be determined. At a first observation angle, the structural color is the first structural color, and at a second observation angle, the structural color is the second structural color. The first and second structural colors can be the same or different. The similarity or difference between the first and second structural colors at their respective observation angles can be determined according to the CIE 1976 color space under given lighting conditions at two observation angles between approximately -15 degrees and 180 degrees, or approximately -15 degrees and +60 degrees, spaced at least 15 degrees apart. A first color measurement can be obtained at a first observation angle having coordinates L1* and a1* and b1*. A second color measurement can be obtained at a second observation angle having coordinates L2* and a2* and b2*. ΔE* ab As described above and here, ΔE* ab =[(L1*-L2*) 2 +(a1*–a2*) 2 +(b1*-b2*) 2 ] 1 / 2 This can be used to correlate the first and second structural colors at their viewing angle. When the ΔE* between the first and second color measurements... ab Less than or equal to about 2.2, or optionally ΔE* between the first color measurement and the second color measurement. ab When the value is less than or equal to approximately 3, then the first and second structural colors are identical or indistinguishable to the average observer. When the ΔE* between the first and second color measurements... ab Greater than 3, or optionally, wherein ΔE* between the first color measurement and the second color measurement is greater than 3. ab When the first and second structural colors are greater than or equal to about 4, 5 or 10, they are considered to be distinguishable or different.

[0177] Another example of a range of color values ​​is the CIELCH color space, where, for a given lighting condition, L* is the luminance value, C* is the chromaticity value, and h° represents hue as an angular measurement. In this aspect, when the hue measured for a first segment and the hue measured for a second segment differ by less than 10 degrees or less than 5 degrees in the h° angular coordinates of the CIELCH color space from three or more measured viewing or lighting angles selected from 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and -15°, respectively, the first structural color (e.g., assigned to the first segment (e.g., area) or article using optical elements) and the second structural color (e.g., assigned to the second segment or article using optical elements) can be considered to have the same color or hue. In another aspect, when the hue measured for a first segment and the hue measured for a second segment differ by at least 25 degrees or at least 45 degrees in the h° angular coordinates of the CIELCH color space from three or more measured viewing or illumination angles selected from 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and -15 degrees, respectively, the first structural color (e.g., assigned to the first segment or article) and the second structural color (e.g., assigned to the second segment or article) can be considered to have different colors or hues. In yet another aspect, an optical element can be said to be monochromatic when all regions of the optical element have the same color in the CIELCH color space as defined herein, or polychromatic or multicolor when at least two regions of the optical element have different colors in the CIELCH color space.

[0178] Another system used to characterize color includes the PANTONE Matching System (Pantone LLC, Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA), which provides a visual color standard system to offer an accurate method for selecting, assigning, disseminating, and matching colors across any medium. In an example, when the color measured for each optics at three or more measured viewing or illumination angles selected from 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75° is within a certain number of neighboring standard values, such as within 20 neighboring PANTONE standard values, it can be said that the first and second optics have the same color. Alternatively, when the color measured for each optics at three or more measured viewing or illumination angles selected from 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75° is outside a certain number of neighboring standard values, such as at least 20 neighboring PANTONE standard values ​​or further, it can be said that the first and second optics have different colors. In another respect, an optical element can be said to be monochromatic when all regions of the optical element have the same PANTONE color as defined herein, or it can be polychromatic or multicolor when at least two regions of the optical element have different PANTONE colors.

[0179] Another example of color numerical range is Natural Color. Or, NCS (Color Similarity Classification), it is based on the principles of human physiological vision and describes color using color similarity relationships. NCS is based on the premise that the human visual system consists of six basic color perceptions, or colors that may be difficult to define perceptually using other colors. These colors consist of three pairs: (i) achromatic colors, black (S) and white (W); (ii) relative primary color pairs, red (R) and green (G); and (iii) relative primary color pairs, yellow (Y) and blue (B). In NCS, any color perceptible to the human eye can be similar to two achromatic colors and at most two non-opposite primary colors. Thus, for example, a perceived color can be similar to red and blue, but not to red and green. The NCS description of color is useful for the colors of surfaces belonging to materials, provided the surface is not fluorescent, translucent, luminescent, or similar; NCS does not include other visual properties of the surface, such as, for example, gloss and texture.

[0180] The NCS color space is a three-dimensional model composed of flat circles, where the four primary colors are located at 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees respectively. For example, if yellow is 0 degrees, then red is 90 degrees, blue is 180 degrees, and green is 270 degrees. White is represented above the circle, and black is represented below, creating a hue triangle between the black / white (grayscale) axis and any point on the circle.

[0181] In NCS, the percentage "blackness" (s) is defined as the similarity of a color to the primary color black. The percentage "chroma" (c) represents the similarity to the most saturated color in the hue triangle. Meanwhile, "hue" (φ) in NCS represents the similarity of a color to one or at most two non-opposite primary colors. The sum of blackness and chroma is less than or equal to 100 percent; any remaining value is called the color's "whiteness" (w). In some cases, NCS can be used to further describe "saturation" (m), a value from 0 to 1 determined based on chroma and whiteness (e.g., m = c / (w + c)). NCS can also be used to describe "lightness" (v), a description of whether a color contains more of the achromatic primary colors black or white. A pure black item will have a lightness of 0, and a pure white item will have a lightness of 1. Pure neutral gray (c = 0) has a lightness defined by v = (100 - s) / 100, where chroma is first compared to a reference range of gray values, and then the lightness of gray is calculated.

[0182] The NCS notation uses the general form sc-AφB, where sc defines "nuance," ss is the percentage of blackness, and cc refers to chroma; A and B are the two primary colors related to the color; and φ is the measure of the color falling between A and B. Therefore, a color with equal amounts of yellow and red (e.g., orange) can be represented such that AφB = Y50R (e.g., yellow with 50% red), while a color with relatively more red than yellow is represented such that AφB = Y60R, Y70R, Y80R, Y90R, or similar. Thus, a color with relatively low (10%) levels of darkness and medium (50%) levels of chroma, with equal amounts of yellow and red, would be represented as 1050-Y50R. In this system, neutral colors without primary color components are represented by sc-N, where sc is defined in the same way as non-neutral colors, and N indicates neutral. Pure colors will have a symbol such as 3050-B (for a blue with 30 percent darkness and 50 percent chroma). The capital letter "S" preceding the symbol indicates that the value exists in the NCS 1950 standard, which is a simplified set of samples. As of 2004, the NCS system contained 1950 standard colors.

[0183] The NCS is described more comprehensively in ASTM E2970–15, “Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Natural Color System (NCS).” Although the NCS is based on human perception, and other color value ranges such as CIELAB or CIELCH spaces can be based on the physical properties of objects, the NCS and CIE tri-color stimulus values ​​are interconvertible.

[0184] In one example, when the color measured for each optical element at three or more measured viewing or illumination angles selected from 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and -15° is within a certain number of neighboring standard values, such as within 20 neighboring NCS values, the first color assigned by region A and the intermediate region can be considered the same color. In another example, when the measured values ​​of two colors at three or more measured viewing or illumination angles selected from 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and -15° are outside a certain number of neighboring standard values, such as being further than at least 20 neighboring NCS values, the two colors can be considered different colors. In another aspect, two colors can be considered the same when they have the same NCS color as defined herein, or different when they have different NCS colors. In yet another aspect, a color can be said to be perfectly iridescent if it exhibits at least five different NCS colors as defined herein at different measured viewing or illumination angles.

[0185] Methods of manufacturing structurally colored articles may include setting (e.g., attaching, bonding, fastening, joining, attaching, joining, joining, connecting, adhesive) optical elements onto an article (e.g., footwear, clothing, sports equipment, etc.) in a “straight line” or “sideways” configuration. The article includes components, and the components have surfaces on which optical elements may be set. The surface of the article may be made of materials such as thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, as described herein. For example, the article has a surface comprising a thermoplastic material (i.e., a first thermoplastic material), such as an outward-facing surface of a component or an inward-facing surface of a component (e.g., an outward-facing or inward-facing surface of a bladder). For example, optical elements may be set onto a thermoplastic material. The surface on which the optical elements are set is not opaque and is translucent or transparent for light in the range of 380 nm to 740 nm, for example, for light in the visible spectrum, the surface may have a minimum percentage transmittance of about 30 percent or more, about 40 percent or more, or about 50 percent or more.

[0186] In this aspect, the temperature of at least a portion of the first surface of an article comprising a thermoplastic material is raised to at or above the creep relaxation temperature (T0) of the thermoplastic material. cr Vicat softening temperature (T) vs ), heat distortion temperature (T) hd ) and / or melting temperature (T m The temperature is raised to, for example, to soften or melt the thermoplastic material. The temperature can be raised to a temperature at or above the creep relaxation temperature. The temperature can be raised to a temperature at or above the Vicat softening temperature. The temperature can be raised to a temperature at or above the heat distortion temperature. The temperature can be raised to a temperature at or above the melting temperature. When the temperature of at least a portion of the first side of the article is at or above the raised temperature (e.g., at or above the creep relaxation temperature, heat distortion temperature, Vicat softening temperature, or melting temperature of the thermoplastic material), the optical element is attached to the thermoplastic material within at least a portion of the first side of the article. After attachment, the temperature of the thermoplastic material is lowered to a temperature below its creep relaxation temperature to at least partially re-solidify the thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material can be actively cooled (e.g., removing the source of the elevated temperature and actively cooling (e.g., allowing cooler gas to flow near the article, lowering the temperature of the thermoplastic material)) or passively cooled (e.g., removing the source of the elevated temperature and allowing the thermoplastic layer to cool itself).

[0187] The colors and other aspects have now been largely described, and additional details about the optical components are provided. As described in this article, the item includes optical components. Figure 3 The figures show a cross-sectional view (top) and a top view (bottom) of an article 400 having an optical element 410 disposed thereon. The top view (bottom figure) shows the areas of the article 400 with different structural colors, such as those indicated by “R”, “AE”, and “G” (e.g., first structural color (R) 490R, second structural colors (AE) 492A-E, and third structural color (G) 494G), and the color 496W, indicated by “W”, attributable to the surface of the article. Although the color of the surface of the article 400 is indicated by “W”, in this respect, the article 400 may be transparent or translucent. The segments indicated by “R”, “AE”, “G”, and “W” correspond to the areas of the article 400 with different structural colors, such as those indicated by “R”, “AE”, “G”, and “W”. Figure 3 The upper portion of the cross-section shows the segments. The segments “R”, “AE” and “G” correspond to the structural colors assigned by the first region A 422 and the second region A 462, the first region B 424 and the second region B 464 of the optical element 410, respectively, wherein the top view of the structural colors coincides with the different regions of the item 400 in the cross-sectional view directly above.

[0188] The second structural color (AE) 492A-E can be a blend of different structural colors, a transition zone of color, or an independently distinguishable structural color. Therefore, when referring to a "second structural color," it may be more complex than a single structural color. The first region B 424 can be designed to impart the desired structural color.

[0189] Figure 3 Each region comprises four layers. Each layer may independently have a thickness independent of the other layers. Each layer may independently be made of a material independent of the other layers. The combination of layer thickness and material at least partially imparts a first structural color 490R (e.g., first region A 422 and second region A 462), a second structural color 492A-E (e.g., first region B), and a third structural color 494G (e.g., second region B 464).

[0190] First region A 422 and second region A 462 have corresponding layers because the number of layers is the same, the materials of the corresponding layers are substantially the same (e.g., they are the same material with less than about 1%, less than about 2%, less than about 3%, or less than about 5% of contaminants) or the same material (e.g., about 98% or more, or about 99% or more), and the average thickness of the corresponding layers is the same or substantially the same (e.g., about 85% to 99%, or about 90% to 99%, or about 95% to 99%). First region A 422 and second region A 462 have a stacked structure, wherein each corresponding layer has the same or similar average thickness. Vertically adjacent layers may have the same or different thicknesses. Depending on the desired design, the lengths of first region A 422 and second region A 462 may range from micrometers to millimeters to centimeters or larger. The overall size of optical element 410 may range from micrometers to centimeters (e.g., about 1 micrometer to 500 centimeters, or about 1 micrometer to about 100 centimeters).

[0191] Regarding the structure of the first region B 424, the first region B 424 has a cross-section 442, which is a stepped cross-section. Typically, at least one layer in the first region B 424 tapers gradually in a stepped manner from the first edge 426 of the first region A 422 to the first portion 428 of the first region B 424. At least one layer in the first region B 424 does not taper gradually from the third portion 432 to the fifth portion 434, such that the average thickness from the third portion 432 to the fifth portion 434 of the first region B 424 is substantially the same. From the fifth portion 434 to the seventh portion (not shown) of the first region B 424, the thickness of the layer gradually decreases. In this way, the first region B 424 has a stepped cross-section. Figure 3 As illustrated, each layer of the first region B 424 does not taper gradually from the third portion 432 to the fifth portion 434, such that the average thickness of each individual layer from the third portion 432 to the fifth portion 434 of the first region B 424 is independently and substantially (e.g., about 90 percent or more) the same. From the fifth portion 434 to the seventh portion of each layer of the first region B 424, the thickness of each layer gradually decreases. Depending on the desired design, the length 444 of the first region B 424 (the length of the first region B) can range from nanometers to micrometers to millimeters or greater. Typically, the length 444 of the first region B 424 (the length of the first region B) can be about 100 nanometers to 500 millimeters, about 1 micrometer to 100 millimeters, or about 1 micrometer to about 100 millimeters. Furthermore, the length from the first edge 426 to the first portion 428 can be about 100 nanometers to 500 millimeters, about 1 micrometer to 100 millimeters, or about 1 micrometer to about 100 millimeters.

[0192] Regarding the structure of the second region B 464, each layer of the second region B 464 gradually tapers from the second edge 466 of the second region A 462 to the second portion 468 of the second region B 464, such that the thickness of each layer at the second edge 466 of the second region A 462 is greater than the thickness at the second portion 468 of the second region B 464. The second portion 468 is the thinnest thickness of each layer in the second region B 464. The angle from the second edge 466 to the second portion 468 can vary in different embodiments and can be steep or gentle. The second portion 468 terminates at the surface of the article 400. Depending on the desired design, the length 484 of the second region B 464 (the length of the second region B) can range from nanometers to micrometers to millimeters or greater. Typically, the length 484 of the second region B 464 (the length of the second region B) can be approximately 100 nanometers to 500 millimeters, approximately 1 micrometer to 100 millimeters, or approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 100 millimeters. Furthermore, the length from the second edge 466 to the second portion 468 can be approximately 100 nanometers to 500 millimeters, approximately 1 micrometer to 100 millimeters, or approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 100 millimeters.

[0193] The intermediate region 450 extends from the first portion 428 to the second portion 468. Typically, depending on the desired design, the length 452 of the intermediate region can range from nanometers to micrometers to millimeters or greater. Typically, the length 452 of the intermediate region can be approximately 100 nanometers to 5000 millimeters, approximately 1 micrometer to 1000 millimeters, or approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 1000 millimeters.

[0194] At least one layer of the first region A 422 has an average thickness of layer A, and at least one layer of the first region B 424 has an average thickness of layer B. The average thickness of layer B is about 5% to 90% of the average thickness of layer A. Similarly, at least one layer of the second region A 462 has an average thickness of layer A, and at least one layer of the second region B 464 has an average thickness of layer B. The average thickness of layer B is about 5% to 90% of the average thickness of layer A.

[0195] Figure 4The figures show a cross-sectional view (top) and a top view (bottom) of an article having optical elements disposed thereon. The top view (bottom figure) shows the areas of the article with different structural colors, such as those indicated by "R", "AC", and "G" (e.g., first structural color (R) 590R, second structural colors (AC) 592A-C, and third structural color (G) 594G), and the color 596W, indicated by "W", attributable to the surface of the article 500. Although the color of the surface of the article 500 is indicated by "W", in this respect, the article 500 may be transparent or translucent. The sections indicated by "R", "AC", "G", and "W" correspond to the... Figure 4 The upper portion of the cross-section shows the segments. The segments “R”, “AC” and “G” correspond to the structural colors assigned by the first region A522 and the second region A562, the first region B524 and the second region B564 of the optical element 510, respectively, wherein the top view of the structural colors coincides with the different regions of the item 500 in the cross-sectional view directly above.

[0196] The second structural color (AC) 492A-C can be a blend of different structural colors, a transition zone of colors, or an independently distinguishable structural color. Therefore, when referring to a "second structural color," it may be more complex than a single structural color. The first region B 524 can be designed to impart the desired structural color.

[0197] Figure 4 Each region comprises four layers. Each layer may independently have a thickness independent of the other layers. Each layer may independently be made of a material independent of the other layers. The combination of layer thickness and material at least partially imparts a first structural color 490R (e.g., first region A 522 and second region A 562), a second structural color 592A-C (e.g., first region B 524), and a third structural color 594G (e.g., second region B 564).

[0198] First region A 522 and second region A 562 have corresponding layers. Because the number of layers is the same, the materials of the corresponding layers are substantially the same (e.g., they are the same material with less than about 1%, less than about 2%, less than about 3%, or less than about 5% of contaminants) or the same material (e.g., about 98% or more, or about 99% or more), and the average thickness of the corresponding layers is the same or substantially the same (e.g., about 85% to 99%, or about 90% to 99%, or about 95% to 99%). First region A 522 and second region A 562 have a stacked structure, wherein each corresponding layer has the same or similar average thickness. Vertically adjacent layers may have the same or different thicknesses. Depending on the desired design, the lengths of first region A 522 and second region A 562 may range from micrometers to millimeters to centimeters or larger. The overall size of the optical element may range from micrometers to centimeters (e.g., about 1 micrometer to 500 centimeters, or about 1 micrometer to about 100 centimeters).

[0199] Figure 4 The cross-section 544 of the first region B shown in the middle figure is... Figure 3 The cross-section 482 of the second region B is similar, the main difference being that the termination of at least one layer occurs at a location not on the surface of the article. In other words, the termination of one layer (e.g., the first end 532) is on another layer. (See reference...) Figure 4 At least one layer in the first region B 524 tapers gradually from a first edge 526 of the first region A 522 to a first end 532 of the layer, such that the first end 532 has the thinnest thickness of each layer in the first region B 524. The first end 532 is located where the layer terminates on another layer in the first region B 524. In another aspect, at least one layer in the first region B 524 tapers gradually from a first edge 526 of the first region A 522 to a third portion (not shown) of the first region B 524, such that the thickness of the layer at the first edge 526 of the first region A 522 is greater than the thickness at the third portion in the second region B 524. The first portion 528 and the third portion are located at different positions. The angle from the first edge 526 to the first portion 528 (or the first end 532) can vary in different embodiments and can be steep or gentle. The first portion 528 terminates on the surface of the article 500. Depending on the desired design, the length 542 of the first region B can range from nanometers to micrometers to millimeters or larger. Typically, the length 542 of the first region B can be about 100 nanometers to 500 millimeters, about 1 micrometer to 100 millimeters, or about 1 micrometer to about 100 millimeters.

[0200] Regarding the structure of the second region B 564, the cross-section 584 of the second region B shows that each layer of the second region B 564 gradually tapers from the second edge 566 of the second region A 562 to the second portion 568 of the second region B 564, such that the thickness of each layer at the second edge 566 of the second region A 562 is greater than the thickness at the second portion 568 in the second region B 564. The second portion 568 is the thinnest thickness of each layer in the second region B 568. The angle from the second edge 566 to the second portion 568 can vary in different embodiments and can be steep or gentle. The second portion 568 terminates at the surface of the article 500. Depending on the desired design, the length 582 of the second region B 562 (the length of the second region B) can range from nanometers to micrometers to millimeters or greater. Typically, the length 582 of the second region B 562 (the length of the second region B) can be about 100 nanometers to 500 millimeters, about 1 micrometer to 100 millimeters, or about 1 micrometer to about 100 millimeters. Furthermore, the length from the second edge 566 to the second portion 568 can be approximately 100 nanometers to 500 millimeters, approximately 1 micrometer to 100 millimeters, or approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 100 millimeters.

[0201] The intermediate region 550 extends from the first portion 528 to the second portion 568. Typically, depending on the desired design, the length 552 of the intermediate region can range from nanometers to micrometers to millimeters or greater. Typically, the length 552 of the intermediate region can be approximately 100 nanometers to 5000 millimeters, approximately 1 micrometer to 1000 millimeters, or approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 1000 millimeters.

[0202] At least one layer of the first region A 522 has an average thickness of layer A1, and at least one layer of the first region B 524 has an average thickness of layer B1. The average thickness of layer B1 is about 5% to 90% of the average thickness of layer A1. Similarly, at least one layer of the second region A 562 has an average thickness of layer A2, and at least one layer of the second region B 564 has an average thickness of layer B2. The average thickness of layer B2 is about 5% to 90% of the average thickness of layer A2.

[0203] As previously described, the first region A and the second region A of the optical element (for Figures 3-4Each of the three regions (A, B, and C) assigns a first structural color to the first region of the article, and the first region B of the optical element assigns a second structural color to the second region of the article, and the second region B assigns a third structural color to the third region of the article. When viewed from the same angle, the first, second, and third structural colors are distinct from each other. This difference can be attributed at least in part to the different average thicknesses of the different regions. The cross-sections of the first region A and the second region B, and the first region B and the second region B, are different from each other, which can at least in part contribute to the difference in the assigned structural colors. It should be noted that although clear boundaries are indicated, transition zones may exist between the first and second structural colors. For clarity and illustration, a set of boundary lines are shown.

[0204] for Figures 3-4 Each of the segments has a different refractive index between adjacent layers. The difference in refractive index between adjacent layers can be from about 0.0001 percent to 50 percent, about 0.1 percent to 40 percent, about 0.1 percent to 30 percent, about 0.1 percent to 20 percent, about 0.1 percent to 10 percent (and other ranges in between, for example, the range can be in increments of 0.0001 percent to 5 percent)). The refractive index depends at least in part on the material of the layer and can be in the range of 1.3 to 2.6.

[0205] The structural colors assigned by a first region A and a second region A, or a first region A and a first region B (or a second region A and a second region B), can be compared. Color measurements can be taken at the same relative angle for each of the first and second regions A (or other regions can be compared as needed), where the comparison of color measurements can determine what differences exist (if any). For example, at a first viewing angle, a first color measurement can be taken for the first region A, and at the same first viewing angle, a second color measurement can be taken for the second region A. According to the CIE 1976 color space under given illumination conditions, the first color measurement can be obtained with coordinates L1* and a1* and b1*, while the second color measurement can be obtained with coordinates L2* and a2* and b2*.

[0206] When the ΔE* between the first color measurement value and the second color measurement value ab When the structural color associated with the first color measurement is less than or equal to approximately 2.2, or less than or equal to approximately 3, the structural color associated with the first color measurement and the structural color associated with the second color measurement are the same or imperceptibly different to the average observer. When the ΔE* between the first color measurement and the second color measurement... abWhen ΔE* is greater than 3, or optionally greater than about 4 or 5, the structural color associated with the first color measurement and the second structural color associated with the second color measurement are different or perceptibly different to the average observer. For example, if ΔE* ab If ΔE* is less than or equal to approximately 2.2 or less than or equal to approximately 3, then the first color measurement associated with the first region A and the second color measurement associated with the second region A are the same. In another instance, if ΔE* ab When ΔE* is greater than 3, or optionally greater than about 4 or 5, the first color measurement associated with the first region B and the second color measurement associated with the second region B are different. In another example, when ΔE* ab When ΔE* is greater than 3, or optionally greater than about 4 or 5, the first color measurement associated with the first region A and the second color measurement associated with the first region B are different. In yet another example, when ΔE* ab When the value is greater than 3 or optionally greater than about 4 or 5, the first color measurement associated with the second region A and the second color measurement associated with the second region B are different.

[0207] In another approach, when the percentage difference between one or more of the values ​​L1* and L2*, a1* and a2*, and b1* and b2* is less than 20%, the structural color associated with the first color measurement and the structural color associated with the second color measurement are the same or not perceptibly different to the average observer. When the percentage difference between one or more of the values ​​L1* and L2*, a1* and a2*, and b1* and b2* is greater than 20%, the structural color associated with the first color measurement and the structural color associated with the second color measurement are different or perceptibly different to the average observer.

[0208] Optical elements can be inorganic, organic, or a hybrid of inorganic and organic. Organic optical elements have at least one layer, and this layer is made of an organic material. Organic materials can include polymers, such as those described herein. Organic materials are made of non-metallic materials or non-metallic oxide materials. Organic materials do not include metals or metal oxides. Organic materials are made of polymeric materials that do not contain metals or metal oxides.

[0209] Inorganic optical elements have at least one layer, and this layer is made of an organic material. As described in detail herein, the organic material can be a metal or a metal oxide. Organic materials are excluded.

[0210] Optical elements can be hybrid inorganic / organic optical elements, meaning that one or more layers can be made of inorganic materials, one or more layers can be made of organic materials, and / or one or more layers can be made of layers of mixtures of inorganic and organic materials (e.g., polymers comprising metal or metal oxide particles (e.g., micron or nanoparticles)).

[0211] The optical element includes at least one layer, which may be at least one constituent layer and / or at least one reflective layer (e.g., an intermediate reflective layer and / or a non-intermediate reflective layer). The optical element may be or may include a single-layer reflector, a single-layer filter, or a multi-layer reflector or multi-layer filter. The optical element can be used to modify incident light onto it, thereby imparting structural color to the article. The optical element may also optionally include one or more additional layers (e.g., a protective layer, a textured layer, a polymer layer, and similar layers). The optical element may have a thickness of about 100 nanometers to 1,500 nanometers, about 100 nanometers to 1,200 nanometers, about 100 nanometers to about 700 nanometers, or about 200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers.

[0212] Optical elements or layers or portions thereof (e.g., reflective layers, constituent layers) can be formed using known techniques such as physical vapor deposition, electron beam deposition, atomic layer deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, cathodic arc deposition, pulsed laser deposition, sputtering deposition (e.g., radio frequency, DC, reactive, non-reactive), chemical vapor deposition, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, low-pressure chemical vapor deposition, and wet chemical techniques such as layer-by-layer deposition, sol-gel deposition, Langmuir blobgett, and similar techniques. These techniques can optionally employ techniques (e.g., masking) to control the thickness of layers in one or more regions of the surface of the article. The temperature of the first side can be regulated using the techniques for forming optical elements and / or a separate system for temperature regulation.

[0213] As stated herein, optical elements may include single-layer or multi-layer reflectors (e.g., reflective layers and constituent layers). Multi-layer reflectors can be configured to have a certain reflectivity for light at a given wavelength (or wavelength range), the reflectivity depending at least in part on the choice of materials, thickness, and number of layers in the multi-layer reflector. In other words, one can wisely choose the materials, thickness, and number of layers in the multi-layer reflector, and optionally select the interaction between the multi-layer reflector and one or more other layers, such that the multi-layer reflector can reflect light of a certain wavelength (or wavelength range) to produce a desired structural color.

[0214] Optical elements may include 2 to 20 layers, 2 to 15 layers, 2 to 10 layers, 2 to 6 layers, or 2 to 4 layers, wherein at least two segments have different numbers of layers. The number of layers in the at least two segments may differ by at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, and so on. Each layer may have a thickness of approximately one-quarter of the wavelength of the light to be reflected in order to produce a desired structural color. Each layer may have a thickness of at least 10 nanometers, optionally at least 30 nanometers, at least 40 nanometers, at least 50 nanometers, at least 60 nanometers, at least 100 nanometers, or at least 150 nanometers, optionally from about 10 nanometers to about 500 nanometers, about 10 nanometers to about 250 nanometers, about 10 nanometers to about 200 nanometers, about 10 nanometers to about 150 nanometers, about 10 nanometers to about 100 nanometers, or from about 30 nanometers to about 80 nanometers, or from about 40 nanometers to about 60 nanometers. For example, the thickness of the layer can be from about 30 nanometers to 200 nanometers or from about 30 nanometers to 150 nanometers.

[0215] Optical elements may include single-layer or multi-layer filters. Single-layer or multi-layer filters destructively interfere light incident on an article, wherein the destructive interference of light, and optionally its interaction with one or more other layers or structures of the optical element (e.g., multilayer reflectors, textured structures), impart structural color. In this respect, the layers of a single-layer or multi-layer filter can be designed (e.g., the choice of material, thickness, number, and the like) such that a single wavelength of light or a specific wavelength range constitutes the structural color. For example, the wavelength range of light can be limited to within ±30 percent of a single wavelength, or within ±20 percent of a single wavelength, or within ±10 percent of a single wavelength, or within ±5 percent of a single wavelength. A wider wavelength range can be used to produce a more iridescent structural color.

[0216] Each layer may independently comprise a metal layer or an oxide layer. The oxide layer may be a metal oxide, a doped metal oxide, or a combination thereof. The metal layer, metal oxide, or doped metal oxide may include transition metals, metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides, as well as nitrides, nitrides, sulfides, sulfates, selenides, tellurides, and combinations thereof. The metal layer may be titanium, aluminum, silver, zirconium, chromium, magnesium, silicon, gold, platinum, and combinations thereof. The metal oxide may include titanium oxide, silver oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, tin dioxide, chromium oxide, iron oxide, nickel oxide, silver oxide, cobalt oxide, zinc oxide, platinum oxide, palladium oxide, vanadium oxide, molybdenum oxide, lead oxide, and combinations thereof, as well as their respective doping forms. In some aspects, the layer may consist essentially of a metal oxide. In some aspects, the layer may consist essentially of titanium dioxide. The metal oxide may be doped with water, an inert gas (e.g., argon), a reactive gas (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen), a metal, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the reflective layer may consist essentially of a doped metal oxide or a doped metal nitride, or both. In other aspects, the reflective layer may be made of Ti or TiTiO. x (x = 1-2) is used to fabricate a Ti layer or TiO₂. x The density of the layer can be approximately 3 g / cm³ to 6 g / cm³, approximately 3 g / cm³ to 5 g / cm³, approximately 4 g / cm³ to 5 g / cm³, or 4.5 g / cm³.

[0217] Furthermore, each layer can be made of liquid crystal. Each layer can be made of materials such as silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, magnesium fluoride, tantalum pentoxide, aluminum oxide, or combinations thereof. To improve adhesion between layers, metal layers are adjacent to metal oxide layers formed of the same metal. For example, Ti and TiO2. x They can be positioned adjacent to each other to improve adhesion.

[0218] The material of the layer can be selected based on the desired structural color to be produced. The selected material reflects some wavelengths more than others. In this way, the material of the layer can be selected based on the desired structural color. The optical element can be made of a combination of constituent layers and / or reflective layers, thereby imparting the desired structural color. Optical elements including reflective layers may have a minimum percentage reflectance for one or more of the following wavelength ranges: violet 380 nm to 450 nm, blue 450 nm to 485 nm, cyan 485 nm to 500 nm, green 500 nm to 565 nm, yellow 564 nm to 590 nm, orange 590 nm to 625 nm, or red 625 nm to 740 nm. The reflective layer may have a minimum percentage reflectance for one or more wavelength widths (e.g., about 10 nm, about 20 nm, about 30 nm, about 40 nm, about 50 nm, about 60 nm, about 75 nm, or about 100 nm) in the range from 380 nm to 740 nm. For a region not selected in a particular configuration, the minimum reflectivity is lower than the minimum reflectivity of the selected region; for example, the minimum reflectivity is about 10% or more, about 20% or more, about 30% or more, about 40% or more, or about 50% or more lower than the minimum reflectivity of the selected region. In this aspect, the reflective layer may be Al or AlO. x The structural color is iridescent. In another example, the reflective layer can be Ti or TiO2. x The structural color can be one or more shades of blue or one or more shades of green, or a combination thereof.

[0219] Optical elements can be coatings on the surface of an article. These coatings can be chemically bonded (e.g., covalently, ionicly, hydrogen-bonded, and similarly) to the surface of the article. Coatings have been found to bond well to surfaces made of polymeric materials. In examples, the surface of the article can be made of polymeric materials such as polyurethane, including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), as described herein.

[0220] Optical elements can be colorless (e.g., no pigments or dyes are added to the structure or its layers), colored (e.g., pigments and / or dyes are added to the structure or its layers (e.g., dark or black)). The surface of the component on which the optical element is disposed can be colorless (e.g., no pigments or dyes are added to the material), colored (e.g., pigments and / or dyes are added to the material (e.g., dark or black)), reflective, and / or transparent (e.g., 75% or greater percentage of light transmittance).

[0221] Layers can be formed in a layer-by-layer manner, with each layer having a different refractive index. Each layer can be formed using known techniques such as those described above and in this paper.

[0222] As mentioned above, an optical element may include one or more layers in addition to a reflective layer and / or a constituent layer. The optical element has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side or the second side is adjacent to a surface of the component. One or more other layers of the optical element may be on the first side and / or the second side of the optical element. For example, the optical element may include a protective layer and / or a polymer layer, such as a thermoplastic polymer layer, wherein the protective layer and / or polymer layer may be on one or both of the first side and the second side of the optical element. Optionally, one or more of the other layers may include a textured surface. Alternatively or additionally, one or more reflective layers and / or one or more constituent layers of the optical element may include textured surfaces.

[0223] A protective layer can be applied to the outermost layer on the first and / or second sides of an optical element to protect it. The protective layer is more durable or more abrasion-resistant than other layers. It is optically transparent to visible light. The protective layer can be applied to the first and / or second sides of the optical element to protect other layers on the corresponding sides. All or part of the protective layer may include dyes or pigments to alter the appearance of the structural color. The protective layer may include combinations of silica, glass, metal oxides, or polymers. The protective layer can have a thickness from approximately 3 nanometers to 1 millimeter.

[0224] The protective layer can be formed using physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition, evaporation deposition, sputtering deposition (e.g., RF, DC, reactive, non-reactive), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, electron beam deposition, cathodic arc deposition, low-pressure chemical vapor deposition, and wet chemical techniques such as layer-by-layer deposition, sol-gel deposition, Langmuir blobgett, and similar techniques. Alternatively or additionally, the protective layer can be applied by spraying, dip coating, brushing, spin coating, doctor blade coating, and similar methods.

[0225] The polymer layer can be disposed on a first side and / or a second side of the optical element. The polymer layer can be used to attach the optical element to an article, such as, for example, when the article does not include a thermoplastic material for adhering the optical element. The polymer layer can include a polymer adhesive material, such as a hot melt adhesive. The polymer layer can be a thermoplastic material and can comprise one or more layers. The thermoplastic material can be any of the thermoplastic materials described herein. The polymer layer can be applied using various methods such as spin coating, dip coating, doctor blade coating, etc. The polymer layer can have a thickness from about 3 nanometers to 1 millimeter.

[0226] As described above, one or more embodiments of this disclosure provide articles incorporating optical elements (e.g., a single structure or multiple structures) on the side of a component of the article to impart color to the structure. The optical elements may be disposed on a thermoplastic material on the side of the article, and the side of the article may include textiles, including textiles comprising thermoplastic materials.

[0227] Having described aspects, further details regarding the optional textured surface will now be described. As described herein, an article includes an optical element, and the optical element optionally includes a textured surface. The textured surface can be the surface of a textured structure or a textured layer. The textured surface can be provided as part of the optical element. For example, the optical element may include a textured layer or a textured structure comprising a textured surface. The textured surface can be provided as part of the article, to which the optical element is disposed. For example, the optical element may be disposed on the surface of the article, wherein the surface of the article is a textured surface, or the surface of the article includes a textured structure or a textured layer attached to the surface.

[0228] Textured surfaces (or textured structures or textured layers including textured surfaces) can be provided as features on another medium such as a transfer medium or as part of another medium such as a transfer medium, and can be applied to the sides or layers of an optical element or to the surface of a component. For example, a mirror or relief form of a textured surface can be provided on the sides of a transfer medium, and the transfer medium contacts the sides of the optical element or the surface of the component in a manner that applies a textured surface to the optical element or article. While various embodiments herein can be described with respect to textured surfaces of optical elements, it will be understood that the features of textured surfaces or textured structures or textured layers can be applied in any of these ways.

[0229] Textured surfaces can contribute to the structural color produced by optical elements. As described herein, structural coloration is at least partly due to optical effects caused by physical phenomena such as scattering, diffraction, reflection, interference, or non-uniform refraction of light from optical elements. A textured surface (or its mirror image or protrusion) may include more than one contour feature and a flat or planar region. The more than one contour feature contained in the textured surface (including the size, shape, orientation, spatial arrangement, etc. of the contour feature) can affect the light scattering, diffraction, reflection, interference, and / or refraction produced by the optical elements. The flat or planar region contained in the textured surface (including the size, shape, orientation, spatial arrangement, etc. of the flat or planar region) can affect the light scattering, diffraction, reflection, interference, and / or refraction produced by the optical elements. The desired structural color can be designed at least in part by adjusting one or more of the properties of the contour features and / or the flat or planar regions of the textured surface.

[0230] Contour features can extend from the sides of a flat area to provide the appearance of protrusions and / or depressions therein. A flat area can be a flat planar region. Contour features can include various combinations of protrusions and depressions. For example, contour features can include protrusions with one or more depressions, depressions with one or more protrusions, protrusions with one or more additional protrusions, depressions with one or more additional depressions, and similar features. Flat areas do not need to be perfectly flat and can include texture, roughness, and the like. The texture of a flat area may not contribute much, if it does, to the assigned structural color. The texture of a flat area generally contributes to the assigned structural color. For clarity, contour features and flat areas are described with reference to contour features extending above a flat area; however, when the contour feature is a depression in a textured surface, opposite measures (e.g., size, shape, and similar measures) can be applied.

[0231] Textured surfaces can include thermoplastic materials. Contour features and flat areas can be formed using thermoplastic materials. For example, textured surfaces can be formed in thermoplastic materials by heating them above their softening temperature, such as through molding, stamping, printing, compressing, cutting, etching, vacuum forming, etc., to create contour features and flat areas within the thermoplastic material. Textured surfaces can be applied to the sides of the thermoplastic material. Textured surfaces can be formed within layers of the thermoplastic material. Contour features and flat areas can be made from the same thermoplastic material or different thermoplastic materials.

[0232] Textured surfaces typically have a length dimension extending along the x-axis, a width dimension extending along the z-axis, and a thickness dimension extending along the y-axis. The textured surface has a generally planar portion extending in a first plane extending along both the x-axis and z-axis. Profile features may extend outward from the first plane, either above or below the x-plane. Profile features may extend generally orthogonally to the first plane, or at an angle greater than or less than 90 degrees to the first plane.

[0233] The dimensional measurements of the contour features described herein (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, and similar contour features) refer to the average dimensional measurements of contour features in an optical element per square centimeter.

[0234] The dimensions of each contour feature (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on the shape of the contour feature) can range from nanometers to micrometers. A textured surface can have contour features and / or flat areas with dimensions from about 10 nanometers to about 500 micrometers. Contour features can have dimensions in the nanometer range, for example, from about 10 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers. All dimensions of a contour feature (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on the geometry) can be in the nanometer range, for example, from about 10 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers. A textured surface can have more than one contour feature, which has a dimension of 1 micrometer or less. In this context, the phrase "more than one contour feature" means about 50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more, or about 99 percent or more of the contour features have dimensions within this range. The contour features can have width:height ratios and / or length:height ratios of approximately 1:2 and 1:100, or 1:5 and 1:50, or 1:5 and 1:10.

[0235] Textured surfaces can have contour features and / or flat areas with dimensions in the micrometer range. Textured surfaces can have contour features and / or flat areas with dimensions from about 1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers. All dimensions of the contour features (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on the geometry) can be in the micrometer range, for example, from about 1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers. Textured surfaces can have more than one contour feature having dimensions from about 1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers. In this context, the phrase "more than one contour feature" means about 50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more, or about 99 percent or more of the contour features having dimensions within this range. The height (or depth, if recessed) of the contour feature can be from about 0.1 micrometers to 50 micrometers, from about 1 micrometer to 5 micrometers, or from 2 micrometers to 3 micrometers. The contour features can have width:height ratios and / or length:height ratios of approximately 1:2 and 1:100, or 1:5 and 1:50, or 1:5 and 1:10.

[0236] Textured surfaces can have more than one contour feature, which has a mixture of sizes ranging from nanometer to micrometer (e.g., some contour features are at the nanometer scale and some contour features are at the micrometer scale). Textured surfaces can have more than one contour feature with a mixture of size ratios. Textured surfaces can have contour features that have one or more nanometer-scale protrusions or depressions on micrometer-scale protrusions or depressions.

[0237] A contour feature may have a height and width dimension within three times each other (0.33w ≤ h ≤ 3w, where w is the width of the contour feature and h is the height of the contour feature), and / or a height and length dimension within three times each other (0.33I ≤ h ≤ 3I, where I is the length of the contour feature and h is the height of the contour feature). A contour feature may have a length:width ratio from about 1:3 to about 3:1, or about 1:2 to about 2:1, or about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1, or about 1:1.2 to about 1.2:1, or about 1:1. The width and length of a contour feature may be substantially the same or different.

[0238] In another aspect, the textured surface may have contour features and / or flat areas with at least one size in the mid-micrometer range and higher (e.g., greater than 500 micrometers). The contour features may have at least one size greater than 500 micrometers, greater than 600 micrometers, greater than 700 micrometers, greater than 800 micrometers, greater than 900 micrometers, greater than 1000 micrometers, greater than 2 millimeters, greater than 10 millimeters, or greater (e.g., the largest size, such as length, width, height, diameter, and similar dimensions, depending on the geometry or shape of the contour feature). For example, the largest size of the contour feature may be in the range of about 600 micrometers to about 2000 micrometers, or about 650 micrometers to about 1500 micrometers, or about 700 micrometers to about 1000 micrometers. At least one or more of the dimensions of the contour features (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on the geometry) may be in the micrometer range, while one or more other dimensions may be in the nanometer to micrometer range (e.g., less than 500 micrometers, less than 100 micrometers, less than 10 micrometers, or less than 1 micrometer). Textured surfaces can have more than one profile feature, each having at least one dimension in the medium micrometer or larger range (e.g., 500 micrometers or larger). In this context, the phrase "more than one profile feature" means that about 50% or more, about 60% or more, about 70% or more, about 80% or more, about 90% or more, or about 99% or more of the profile features have at least one dimension greater than 500 micrometers. Specifically, at least one of the length and width of the profile feature is greater than 500 micrometers, or both the length and width of the profile feature are greater than 500 micrometers. In another instance, the diameter of the profile feature is greater than 500 micrometers. In yet another instance, when the profile feature is irregularly shaped, the longest dimension is greater than 500 micrometers.

[0239] In this context, the height of a contour feature can be greater than 50 micrometers. The phrase "more than one contour feature" means that approximately 50% or more, approximately 60% or more, approximately 70% or more, approximately 80% or more, approximately 90% or more, or approximately 99% or more of the contour features have a height greater than 50 micrometers. The height of the contour feature can be 50 micrometers, approximately 60 micrometers, approximately 70 micrometers, approximately 80 micrometers, approximately 90 micrometers, or approximately 100 micrometers to approximately 60 micrometers, approximately 70 micrometers, approximately 80 micrometers, approximately 90 micrometers, approximately 100 micrometers, approximately 150 micrometers, approximately 250 micrometers, approximately 500 micrometers, or greater. For example, this range can include 50 micrometers to 500 micrometers, approximately 60 micrometers to 250 micrometers, approximately 60 micrometers to approximately 150 micrometers, and similar ranges. One or more other dimensions (e.g., length, width, diameter, or similar dimensions) can be in the range of nanometers to micrometers (e.g., less than 500 micrometers, less than 100 micrometers, less than 10 micrometers, or less than 1 micrometer). Specifically, at least one of the length and width of the profile feature is less than 500 micrometers, or both the length and width of the profile feature are less than 500 micrometers, while the height is greater than 50 micrometers. One or more other dimensions (e.g., length, width, diameter, or similar dimensions) may be in the range of micrometers to millimeters (e.g., greater than 500 micrometers to 10 millimeters).

[0240] The dimensions of each contour feature (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on the shape of the contour feature) can range from nanometers to micrometers. A textured surface can have contour features and / or flat areas with dimensions from about 10 nanometers to about 500 micrometers or larger (e.g., about 1 millimeter, about 2 millimeters, about 5 millimeters, or about 10 millimeters). At least one dimension of the contour feature (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on the geometry) can be in the nanometer range (e.g., from about 10 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers), while at least one other dimension (e.g., length, width, height, diameter, depending on the geometry) can be in the micrometer range (e.g., 5 micrometers to 500 micrometers or larger (e.g., about 1 millimeter to 10 millimeters)). A textured surface can have more than one contour feature having at least one dimension in the nanometer range (e.g., about 10 nanometers to 1000 nanometers) and another dimension in the micrometer range (e.g., 5 micrometers to 500 micrometers or larger). In this context, the phrase "more than one profile feature" means that about 50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more, or about 99 percent or more of the profile features have at least one dimension in the nanometer range and at least one dimension in the micrometer range. In particular, at least one of the length and width of the profile feature is in the nanometer range, while the other of the length and width of the profile feature is in the micrometer range.

[0241] In this context, the height of a profile feature can be greater than 250 nanometers. The phrase "more than one profile feature" means that approximately 50% or more, approximately 60% or more, approximately 70% or more, approximately 80% or more, approximately 90% or more, or approximately 99% or more of the profile features have a height greater than 250 nanometers. The height of the profile feature can be 250 nanometers, approximately 300 nanometers, approximately 400 nanometers, or approximately 500 nanometers, down to approximately 300 nanometers, approximately 400 nanometers, approximately 500 nanometers, or approximately 1000 nanometers or greater. For example, the range can be 250 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers, approximately 300 nanometers to 500 nanometers, approximately 400 nanometers to approximately 1000 nanometers, and similar ranges. One or more other dimensions (e.g., length, width, diameter, or similar dimensions) can be in the range of micrometers to millimeters (e.g., greater than 500 micrometers to 10 millimeters). Specifically, at least one of the length and width of the profile feature is in the nanometer range (e.g., about 10 nanometers to 1000 nanometers), and the other is in the micrometer range (e.g., 5 micrometers to 500 micrometers or greater), while the height is greater than 250 nanometers.

[0242] Contour features can have a defined spatial arrangement. The spatial arrangement of contour features can be uniform, such as being evenly spaced or forming a pattern. The spatial arrangement can also be random. Adjacent contour features can be spaced approximately 10 nanometers to 500 nanometers, approximately 100 nanometers to 1000 nanometers, approximately 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers, or approximately 5 micrometers to 100 micrometers apart. Adjacent contour features can overlap or be adjacent to each other, thus few or no flat areas are located between them. The desired spacing can depend at least in part on the size and / or shape of the contour structure and the desired structural color effect.

[0243] Contour features can have a defined cross-sectional shape (relative to a plane parallel to the first plane). A textured surface can have more than one contour feature with the same or similar cross-sectional shape. A textured surface can also have a mixture of more than one contour feature with different cross-sectional shapes. The cross-sectional shape of a contour feature can include polygons (e.g., square, triangular, or rectangular cross-sections), circles, semicircles, tubular shapes, ellipses, irregular shapes, high aspect ratios and low aspect ratios, overlapping contour features, and similar shapes.

[0244] Profile features (e.g., about 10 nanometers to 500 micrometers) may include a flat upper surface. Profile features (e.g., about 10 nanometers to 500 micrometers) may include a concave curved upper surface. The concave curved surface may extend symmetrically on either side of the highest point. The concave curved surface may extend symmetrically across only 50 percent of the highest point. Profile features (e.g., about 10 nanometers to 500 micrometers) may include a convex curved upper surface. The curved surface may extend symmetrically on either side of the highest point. The curved surface may extend symmetrically across only 50 percent of the highest point.

[0245] Contour features may include protrusions from a textured surface. Contour features may include notches (hollow areas) formed in the textured surface. Contour features may have smoothly curved shapes (e.g., a polygonal cross-section with curved corners).

[0246] The contour features (whether protrusions or recesses) can be approximately conical or truncated conical (i.e., a protrusion or notch can have a horizontally or diagonally flattened top) or have a surface that is approximately partially spherical (e.g., a convex or concave surface with a generally uniform radius of curvature, respectively).

[0247] The contour feature may have one or more sides or edges extending in a direction forming an angle with a first plane of the textured surface. The angle between the first plane and the sides or edges of the contour feature is about 45 degrees or less, about 30 degrees or less, about 25 degrees or less, or about 20 degrees or less. The one or more sides or edges may extend in a linear or planar orientation, or may be curved such that the angle varies with distance from the first plane. The contour feature may have one or more sides including steps and / or flat sides. The contour feature may have one or more sides (or portions thereof) that may be orthogonal to or perpendicular to the first plane of the textured surface, or extend at an angle of about 10 degrees to 89 degrees with respect to the first plane (90 degrees being perpendicular to or orthogonal to the first plane). The contour feature may have sides with a stepped structure, wherein portions of the sides may be parallel to the first plane of the textured surface or have an angle of about 1 degree to 179 degrees (0 degrees being parallel to the first plane).

[0248] Textured surfaces can have contour features with varying shapes (e.g., contour features can vary in shape, height, width, and length) or contour features with generally uniform shapes and / or sizes. The structural colors produced by textured surfaces can be determined at least in part by the shape, size, spacing, and similar parameters of the contour features.

[0249] The contour feature can be shaped such that a portion of the generated surface (e.g., about 25 percent to 50 percent or more) is approximately perpendicular to the incident light when light is incident perpendicular to a first plane of the textured surface. The contour feature can be shaped such that a portion of the generated surface (e.g., about 25 percent to 50 percent or more) is approximately perpendicular to the incident light when light is incident at an angle of up to 45 degrees to the first plane of the textured surface.

[0250] The spatial orientation of contour features on a textured surface can be used to generate structural color or influence the degree to which structural color changes at different viewing angles. The spatial orientation of contour features on a textured surface can be a random pattern, a semi-random pattern, or a pre-defined pattern. A pre-defined pattern of contour features is a known setting or configuration of contour features within a defined area (e.g., depending on the size of the contour feature, from about 50 square nanometers to about 10 square millimeters (e.g., including any increment between about 50 nanometers and about 10 millimeters)). A semi-random pattern of contour features is a known setting of contour features within a defined area (e.g., from about 50 square nanometers to 10 square millimeters) with some deviation (e.g., a deviation of 1% to 15% from a pre-defined pattern), where random contour features are present, but the pattern of the contour features is discernible. A random spatial orientation of contour features within a defined area (e.g., from about 50 square nanometers to 10 square millimeters) does not produce a discernible pattern.

[0251] The spatial orientation of a profile feature can be periodic (e.g., fully or partially) or aperiodic. A periodic spatial orientation of a profile feature is a repeating pattern at regular intervals. The periodicity of the spatial orientation of a profile feature can depend on the size of the profile feature, but is typically from about 50 nanometers to 100 micrometers. For example, when the size of the profile feature is submicrometer, the periodicity of the spatial orientation of the profile feature can be in the range of 50 nanometers to 500 nanometers or in the range of 100 nanometers to 1000 nanometers. In another example, when the size of the profile feature is in the micrometer range, the periodicity of the spatial orientation of the profile feature can be in the range of 10 micrometers to 500 micrometers or in the range of 10 micrometers to 1000 micrometers. A fully periodic pattern of a profile feature indicates that the entire pattern is periodic, while partial periodicity indicates that less than the entire pattern is periodic (e.g., about 70% to 99% of the periodicity is preserved). The non-periodic spatial orientation of the contour feature is not periodic, and does not exhibit periodicity based on the size of the contour feature. In particular, there is no periodicity in the range of 50 nanometers to 500 nanometers or 100 nanometers to 1000 nanometers when the size of the contour feature is in the submicrometer range, or in the range of 10 micrometers to 500 micrometers or 10 micrometers to 1000 micrometers when the size of the contour feature is in the micrometer range.

[0252] In this regard, the spatial orientation of contour features on a textured surface can be configured to reduce distortion effects, such as those caused by interference between one contour feature and another with respect to the structural color of the object. Since the shape, size, and relative orientation of contour features can vary considerably across the textured surface, the desired spacing and / or relative positioning of specific areas with contour features (e.g., within the micrometer range or approximately 1 to 10 square micrometers) can be appropriately determined. As discussed herein, the shape, size, and relative orientation of contour features affect the profile of the reflective and / or constituent layers; therefore, when designing the textured sides of the textured layer, the dimensions (e.g., thickness), refractive index, and number of layers in the optical elements (e.g., reflective and constituent layers) are taken into account.

[0253] Contour features spanning specific areas of a textured surface (e.g., within the micrometer range or the range of approximately 1 to 10 square micrometers to square centimeters or the range of approximately 0.5 to 5 square centimeters, and all such range increments) are located in nearly random positions relative to each other, where randomness does not compromise the purpose of producing structural color. In other words, randomness is consistent with the spacing, shape, size, and relative orientation of the contour features; the dimensions (e.g., thickness), refractive index, and number of layers (e.g., reflective layers, constituent layers), etc., where the aim is to achieve structural color.

[0254] Contour features are positioned relative to each other in a predetermined manner across specific areas of a textured surface to achieve the purpose of generating structural color. The relative positions of the contour features do not necessarily follow a pattern, but can follow a pattern consistent with the desired structural color. As mentioned above and in this paper, various parameters related to contour features, flat areas, and reflective and / or compositional layers can be used to position the contour features relative to each other in a predetermined manner.

[0255] Textured surfaces can include micron-scale and / or nanon-scale profile features that can form gratings (e.g., diffraction gratings), photonic crystal structures, selective mirror structures, crystal fiber structures, deformed matrix structures, spiral coiled structures, surface grating structures, and combinations thereof. Textured surfaces can include micron-scale and / or nanon-scale profile features that form gratings with periodic or aperiodic design structures to impart structural color. Micron-scale and / or nanon-scale profile features can have peak-valley patterns and / or flat regions to produce the desired structural color. The grating can be a small step-grace grating.

[0256] The contour features and flat areas of textured surfaces in optical elements can be represented as topographical undulations in each layer (e.g., reflective layers and / or constituent layers). For example, reference... Figure 2A The optical element 200 includes a textured structure 220 having more than one contour feature 222 and a flat region 224. As described herein, one or more contour features 222 may be protrusions from the surface of the textured structure 220, and / or one or more contour features may be depressions (not shown) in the surface of the textured structure 220. One or more constituent layers 240 are disposed on the textured structure 220, and then a reflective layer 230 and one or more constituent layers 245 are disposed on the preceding layers. Adjacent layers (constituent layers and reflective layers) are made of different types of materials. In some embodiments, the resulting morphological structures of the textured structure 220 and one or more constituent layers 240 and 245 and the reflective layer 230 are not identical; instead, one or more constituent layers 240 and 245 and the reflective layer 230 may have protruding or recessed regions 242 that protrude or recede relative to the height of the flat region 244 and substantially correspond to the position of the contour feature 222 of the textured structure 220. One or more constituent layers 240 and 245 and the reflective layer 230 have planar regions 244 that roughly correspond to the positions of the flat regions 224 of the textured structure 220. Due to the presence of the raised or recessed regions 242 and the planar regions 244, the resulting overall morphological structure of one or more constituent layers 240 and 245 and the reflective layer 230 can be a wavy or corrugated morphological structure. The size, shape, and spacing of the contour features, along with the number of constituent layers, the reflective layer, the thickness of each layer, the refractive index of each layer, and the type of material, can be used to produce optical elements that result in a specific structural color.

[0257] While in some embodiments, a textured surface may produce structural color or affect the degree to which structural color changes across different viewing angles, in other embodiments, a "textured surface" or a surface with texture may not produce structural color, or may not affect the degree to which structural color changes across different viewing angles. Structural color can be generated by designing optical elements with or without textured surfaces. As a result, optical elements may include textured surfaces with contour elements having dimensions in the nanometer to millimeter range, but the structural color or its variation is not attributable to the presence or absence of the textured surface. In other words, the optical element imparts the same structural color regardless of the presence or absence of the textured surface. The design of the textured surface can be configured not to affect the structural color imparted by the optical element, or not to affect the variation of the structural color imparted by the optical element. The shape of the contour features, the size of the shape, the spatial orientation of the contour features relative to each other, and similar parameters can be selected such that the textured surface does not affect the structural color attributable to the optical element.

[0258] In another embodiment, structural color can be imparted by optical elements with untextured surfaces. The surface of the optical element layer is a generally flat (or generally three-dimensionally flat) planar surface or a flat (or three-dimensionally flat) planar surface at the micrometer (e.g., about 1 micrometer to 500 micrometers) and / or nanometer (e.g., about 50 nanometers to 500 nanometers) scale. Regarding generally flat or generally planar, the surface may include some minute topographic features (e.g., nanometer and / or micrometer scale), such as those topographic features that may be unintentionally introduced due to unintentional defects, unintentional slight undulations, or other topographic features unintentionally introduced by the equipment and / or processes used (e.g., extensions above the plane of the layer or depressions below or within the plane of the layer). These topographic features do not resemble the contour features of a textured surface. In addition, a generally flat (or generally three-dimensionally flat) planar surface or a flat (or three-dimensionally flat) planar surface may include curvature that increases with the size of the optical element, for example, about 500 micrometers or more, about 10 millimeters or more, about 10 centimeters or more, depending on the size of the optical element, as long as the surface is flat or generally flat and the surface includes only a few minute topographic features.

[0259] Figure 2BThis is a cross-sectional view of an optical element 300 on a generally flat (or generally three-dimensionally flat) planar surface or a flat (or three-dimensionally flat) planar surface. The optical element 300 includes one or more constituent layers 340 disposed on a flat or three-dimensionally flat planar surface structure 320, and then a reflective layer 330 and one or more constituent layers 345 are disposed on the preceding layers. Adjacent layers (constituent layers and reflective layers) are made of different types of materials. The materials constituting the constituent and reflective layers, the number of constituent layers, the reflective layer, the thickness of each layer, the refractive index of each layer, and similar parameters can produce an optical element that results in a specific structural color.

[0260] Further details are provided regarding the polymeric materials mentioned herein, such as polymers described in relation to articles, parts of articles, structures, layers, films, capsules, foams, coatings, and the like. The polymer may be a thermosetting polymer or a thermoplastic polymer. The polymer may be an elastomeric polymer, including elastomeric thermosetting polymers or elastomeric thermoplastic polymers. The polymer may be selected from: polyurethanes (including elastomeric polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), and elastomeric TPUs), polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, vinyl polymers (e.g., copolymers of vinyl alcohol, vinyl esters, ethylene, acrylates, methacrylates, styrene, etc.), polyacrylonitrile, polyphenylene ether, polycarbonate, polyurea, polystyrene, copolymers thereof (including polyester-polyurethane, polyether-polyurethane, polycarbonate-polyurethane, polyether block polyamide (PEBA), and styrene block copolymers) and any combination thereof, as described herein. The polymer may include one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of: polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyolefin copolymers of each, and combinations thereof.

[0261] The term "polymer" refers to a compound formed from more than one repeating structural unit called a monomer. Polymers are typically formed through polymerization reactions, in which more than one structural unit becomes covalently linked together. When all the monomer units forming a polymer have the same chemical structure, the polymer is a homopolymer. When a polymer contains two or more monomer units with different chemical structures, the polymer is a copolymer. An example of copolymer types is a terpolymer, which comprises three different types of monomer units. Copolymers can include two or more different monomers randomly distributed in the polymer (e.g., random copolymers). Alternatively, one or more blocks containing more than one type of first monomer can be bonded to one or more blocks containing more than one type of second monomer to form a block copolymer. A single monomer unit can include one or more different chemical functional groups.

[0262] Polymers having repeating units comprising two or more types of chemical functional groups can be described as having two or more segments. For example, polymers having repeating units with the same chemical structure can be described as having repeating segments. Based on the chemical structure of the segments, segments are generally described as relatively hard or soft, and polymers typically include relatively hard segments and relatively soft segments bonded to each other in a single monomer unit or in different monomer units. When a polymer includes repeating segments, physical interactions or chemical bonds can exist within or between segments, or both. Examples of segments commonly referred to as hard segments include segments containing urethane bonds, which can be formed by reacting isocyanates with polyols to form polyurethanes. Examples of segments commonly referred to as soft segments include segments containing alkoxy functional groups, segments such as those containing ether or ester functional groups, and polyester segments. A segment may be referred to based on the name of the functional group present in the segment (e.g., polyether segment, polyester segment) and the name of the chemical structure from which the reaction occurs to form the segment (e.g., polyol-derived segment, isocyanate-derived segment). When referring to a segment with a specific functional group or a segment from which that segment is derived, it should be understood that the polymer may contain up to 10 molar percentage segments with other functional groups or segments derived from other chemical structures. For example, as used herein, a polyether segment should be understood to include up to 10 molar percentage of non-polyether segments.

[0263] As previously described, the polymer can be a thermoplastic polymer. Typically, thermoplastic polymers soften or melt when heated and return to a solid state upon cooling. When the temperature of a thermoplastic polymer is raised to a temperature at or above its softening temperature, the thermoplastic polymer transitions from a solid to a softened state, and when its temperature is raised to a temperature at or above its melting temperature, the thermoplastic polymer transitions to a liquid state. Upon sufficient cooling, the thermoplastic polymer transitions from a softened or liquid state to a solid state. Thus, thermoplastic polymers can be softened or melted, molded, cooled, re-softened or re-melted, re-molded, and cooled again through multiple cycles. For amorphous thermoplastic polymers, the solid state is understood to be a “rubber” state above the polymer’s glass transition temperature. When measured according to ASTM D3418-97 as described below, thermoplastic polymers can have melting temperatures ranging from about 90°C to about 190°C, and including all sub-ranges in increments of 1 degree. When measured according to ASTM D3418-97 as described below, thermoplastic polymers can have a melting temperature from about 93°C to about 99°C. When measured according to ASTM D3418-97 as described below, thermoplastic polymers can have a melting temperature from about 112°C to about 118°C.

[0264] The glass transition temperature is the temperature at which an amorphous polymer transitions from a relatively brittle "glassy" state to a relatively flexible "rubbery" state. When measured according to ASTM D3418-97 as described below, thermoplastic polymers can have glass transition temperatures ranging from about -20°C to about 30°C. When measured according to ASTM D3418-97 as described below, thermoplastic polymers can have glass transition temperatures ranging from about -13°C to about -7°C. When measured according to ASTM D3418-97 as described below, thermoplastic polymers can have glass transition temperatures ranging from about 17°C to about 23°C.

[0265] When tested at 160°C with a weight of 2.16 kg according to ASTM D1238-13 as described below, thermoplastic polymers can exhibit values ​​from approximately 10 cm³ / 10 min to approximately 30 cm³ / 10 min. 3 The melt flow index is approximately 22 cm⁻¹ (per 10 min). When tested at 160°C with a weight of 2.16 kg according to ASTM D1238-13 as described below, the thermoplastic polymer can exhibit a melt flow index ranging from approximately 22 cm⁻¹. 3 / 10min to approximately 28cm 3 Melt flow index per 10 minutes.

[0266] When tested on a thermoformed substrate of a thermoplastic polymer according to the cold shoe sole material flexural test as described below, the thermoplastic polymer can achieve cold shoe sole material flexural test results of approximately 120,000 to approximately 180,000 cycles without cracking or whitening. When tested on a thermoformed substrate of a thermoplastic polymer according to the cold shoe sole material flexural test as described below, the thermoplastic polymer can achieve cold shoe sole material flexural test results of approximately 140,000 to approximately 160,000 cycles without cracking or whitening.

[0267] When measured on a thermoformed substrate according to the ASTM D412-98 standard test method for vulcanized rubber and thermoplastic rubbers and thermoplastic elastomers-Tension, as described below, the thermoplastic polymer can have a modulus from about 5 MPa to about 100 MPa. When measured on a thermoformed substrate according to the ASTM D412-98 standard test method for vulcanized rubber and thermoplastic rubbers and thermoplastic elastomers-Tension, as described below, the thermoplastic polymer can have a modulus from about 20 MPa to about 80 MPa.

[0268] The polymer can be a thermosetting polymer. As used herein, "thermosetting polymer" is understood to mean a polymer that cannot be heated and melted because its melting temperature is at or above its decomposition temperature. "Thermosetting material" refers to a material containing at least one thermosetting polymer. Thermosetting polymers and / or thermosetting materials can be prepared from precursors (e.g., uncured polymers or materials or partially cured polymers or materials) using thermal energy and / or photochemical radiation (e.g., ultraviolet radiation, visible light radiation, high-energy radiation, infrared radiation) to form partially cured polymers or materials that no longer retain full thermoplasticity or fully cured polymers or materials. In some cases, cured polymers or materials or partially cured polymers or materials can retain thermoelastic properties because the polymer or material can be partially softened and molded at elevated temperatures and / or pressures, but it is not possible to melt the polymer or material. For example, curing can be promoted by using high pressure and / or a catalyst. In many instances, the curing process is irreversible because it leads to crosslinking and / or polymerization reactions of the precursors. Uncured polymers or materials, or partially cured polymers or materials, can be malleable or liquid before curing. In some cases, uncured polymers or materials, or partially cured polymers or materials, can be molded into their final shapes or used as adhesives. Once hardened, thermosetting polymers or materials cannot be remelted for reshaping. Textured surfaces can be formed by partially or fully curing the uncured precursor material to lock in the textured surface.

[0269] polyurethane

[0270] The polymer can be a polyurethane, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (also known as "TPU"). Alternatively, the polymer can be a thermosetting polyurethane. Additionally, the polyurethane can be an elastomeric polyurethane, including elastomeric TPU or elastomeric thermosetting polyurethane. The elastomeric polyurethane can include hard segments and soft segments. Hard segments can include urethane segments (e.g., isocyanate-derived segments) or consist of urethane segments. Soft segments can include alkoxy segments (e.g., polyol-derived segments comprising polyether segments, or polyester segments, or a combination of polyether and polyester segments) or consist of alkoxy segments. The polyurethane can include an elastomeric polyurethane having repeating hard segments and repeating soft segments, or essentially consist of such an elastomeric polyurethane.

[0271] One or more polyurethanes can be produced by polymerizing one or more isocyanates with one or more polyols to generate polymer chains having urethane bonds. The portion of the polyurethane polymer chain formed from isocyanate-derived segments can be referred to as a hard segment, while the portion derived from the polyol can be referred to as a soft segment. Optionally, the isocyanate can also be chain-extended with one or more chain extenders to bridge two or more isocyanates, increasing the length of the hard segments.

[0272] Examples of suitable aliphatic diisocyanates for generating polyurethane polymer chains include hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), butylene diisocyanate (BDI), diisocyanocyclohexylmethane (HMDI), 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate (TMDI), diisocyanomethylcyclohexane, diisocyanomethyltricyclodecane, norbornane diisocyanate (NDI), cyclohexane diisocyanate (CHDI), 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H12MDI), diisocyanododecane, lysine diisocyanate, and combinations thereof.

[0273] Isocyanate-derived segments may include segments derived from aliphatic diisocyanates. A majority of isocyanate-derived segments may include segments derived from aliphatic diisocyanates. At least 90% of isocyanate-derived segments are derived from aliphatic diisocyanates. Isocyanate-derived segments may consist substantially of segments derived from aliphatic diisocyanates. Aliphatic diisocyanate-derived segments may be substantially (e.g., about 50 percent or more, about 60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent or more, about 90 percent or more) derived from straight-chain aliphatic diisocyanates. At least 80% of aliphatic diisocyanate-derived segments may be derived from aliphatic diisocyanates without side chains. Segments derived from aliphatic diisocyanates may include straight-chain aliphatic diisocyanates having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms.

[0274] Examples of suitable aromatic diisocyanates for generating polyurethane polymer chains include toluene diisocyanate (TDI), TDI adducts with trimethylolpropane (TMP), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), xylene diisocyanate (XDI), tetramethylxylyl diisocyanate (TMXDI), hydrogenated xylylyl diisocyanate (HXDI), naphthalene 1,5-diisocyanate (NDI), 1,5-tetrahydronaphthalene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI), 3,3'-dimethyldiphenyl-4,4'-diisocyanate (DDDI), 4,4'-dibenzyl diisocyanate (DBDI), 4-chloro-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate, and combinations thereof. The polymer chains may be substantially free of aromatic groups.

[0275] Polyurethane polymer chains can be generated from diisocyanates including HMDI, TDI, MDI, H12 aliphatic compounds, and combinations thereof. For example, polyurethane may comprise one or more polyurethane polymer chains generated from diisocyanates including HMDI, TDI, MDI, H12 aliphatic compounds, and combinations thereof.

[0276] According to this disclosure, at least partially crosslinked or crosslinkable polyurethane chains can be used. Crosslinked or crosslinkable polyurethane chains can be generated by reacting a multifunctional isocyanate to form a polyurethane. Examples of suitable triisocyanates for generating polyurethane chains include adducts of TDI, HDI, and IPDI with trimethylolpropane (TMP), uretdione (i.e., dimer isocyanate), polymeric MDI, and combinations thereof.

[0277] polyamide

[0278] The polymer may include polyamides, such as thermoplastic polyamides or thermosetting polyamides. The polyamide may be an elastomeric polyamide, including elastomeric thermoplastic polyamides or elastomeric thermosetting polyamides. The polyamide may be a polyamide homopolymer of repeating polyamide segments having the same chemical structure. Alternatively, the polyamide may comprise a number of polyamide segments with different polyamide chemical structures (e.g., polyamide 6 segments, polyamide 11 segments, polyamide 12 segments, polyamide 66 segments, etc.). The polyamide segments with different chemical structures may be arranged randomly or as repeating blocks.

[0279] The polyamide can be a copolyamide (i.e., a copolymer comprising polyamide segments and non-polyamide segments). The polyamide segments of the copolyamide can include or consist of: polyamide 6 segments, polyamide 11 segments, polyamide 12 segments, polyamide 66 segments, or any combination thereof. The polyamide segments of the copolyamide can be randomly arranged or can be arranged as repeating segments. The polyamide segments can include or consist of: polyamide 6 segments, or polyamide 12 segments, or both polyamide 6 and polyamide 12 segments. In examples where the polyamide segments of the copolyamide include polyamide 6 and polyamide 12 segments, the segments can be randomly arranged. The non-polyamide segments of the copolyamide can include or consist of: polyether segments, polyester segments, or both polyether and polyester segments. The copolyamide can be a block copolyamide or a random copolyamide. The copolyamide can be formed by polycondensation of a polyamide oligomer or prepolymer with a second oligomer prepolymer to form a copolyamide (i.e., a copolymer containing polyamide segments). Optionally, the second prepolymer can be a hydrophilic prepolymer.

[0280] The polyamide can be a polyamide-containing block copolymer. For example, the block copolymer can have repeating hard segments and repeating soft segments. The hard segments can include polyamide segments, and the soft segments can include non-polyamide segments. The polyamide-containing block copolymer can be an elastomeric copolyamide, which includes or is composed of a polyamide-containing block copolymer having repeating hard segments and repeating soft segments. In block copolymers including block copolymers having repeating hard segments and soft segments, physical crosslinking can exist within or between segments, or both.

[0281] Polyamide segments, either naturally occurring or in polyamide-containing block copolymers, can be derived from the condensation of polyamide prepolymers such as lactams, amino acids, and / or diamino compounds with dicarboxylic acids or their activated forms. The resulting polyamide segments contain amide bonds (-(CO)NH-). The term "amino acid" refers to a molecule having at least one amino group and at least one carboxyl group. Each polyamide segment in a polyamide can be identical or different.

[0282] The polyamide segments of polyamides or polyamide-containing block copolymers can be derived from the polycondensation of lactams and / or amino acids.

[0283] The polyamide can be a thermoplastic polyamide, and the composition and proportions of the polyamide blocks can be selected to obtain a melting temperature of less than 150°C, such as a melting point from about 90°C to about 135°C. Various compositions and proportions of thermoplastic polyamide blocks can be selected to obtain a melting point of less than 150°C, such as a melting point from about 90°C to about 135°C.

[0284] Exemplary commercially available copolymers include, but are not limited to, copolymers available under the following trademarks: “VESTAMID” (Evonik Industries, Essen, Germany); “PLATAMID” (Arkema, Colombes, France), for example, product code H2694; “PEBAX” (Arkema), for example, product codes “PEBAX MH1657” and “PEBAX MV1074”; “PEBAXRNEW” (Arkema); “GRILAMID” (EMS-Chemie AG, Domat-Ems, Switzerland); or other similar materials produced by a variety of other suppliers.

[0285] Polyamides can be physically crosslinked, for example, by nonpolar or polar interactions between the polyamide groups of the polymer. In instances where the polyamide is a copolyamide, the copolyamide can be physically crosslinked by interactions between the polyamide groups and optionally by interactions between the copolymer groups. When the copolyamide is physically crosslinked by interactions between the polyamide groups, polyamide segments can form portions of the polymer known as hard segments, and copolymer segments can form portions of the polymer known as soft segments. For example, when the copolyamide is a poly(ether-block-amide), the polyamide segments form the hard segments of the polymer, and the polyether segments form the soft segments of the polymer. Thus, in some instances, the polymer can include a physically crosslinked polymer network having one or more polymer chains with amide bonds.

[0286] The polyamide segment of the copolyamide may include polyamide-11 or polyamide-12, and the polyether segment may be a segment selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene oxide segment, polypropylene oxide segment, and polytetramethylene oxide segment and combinations thereof.

[0287] Polyamides can be partially or completely covalently crosslinked, as previously described herein. In some cases, the degree of crosslinking present in the polyamide is such that, when it is thermally processed, for example in the form of yarn or fiber, to form articles of this disclosure, the partially covalently crosslinked thermoplastic polyamide retains sufficient thermoplastic characteristics such that the partially covalently crosslinked thermoplastic polyamide melts and re-cures during processing. In other cases, the crosslinked polyamide is a thermosetting polymer.

[0288] Polyester

[0289] The polymer may include polyester. Polyester may include thermoplastic polyester or thermosetting polyester. Furthermore, polyester may be an elastomeric polyester, including thermoplastic polyester or thermosetting elastomer polyester. Polyester can be formed by reacting one or more carboxylic acids or their ester-forming derivatives with one or more divalent or polyvalent aliphatic alcohols, alicyclic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, or arylphatic alcohols or bisphenols. Polyester may be a polyester homopolymer of repeating polyester segments having the same chemical structure. Alternatively, polyester may comprise a number of polyester segments with different polyester chemical structures (e.g., polyglycolic acid segments, polylactic acid segments, polycaprolactone segments, polyhydroxyalkanoate segments, polyhydroxybutyrate segments, etc.). Polyester segments with different chemical structures may be arranged randomly or as repeating blocks.

[0290] Exemplary carboxylic acids that can be used to prepare polyesters include, but are not limited to, adipic acid, pimelic acid, octanoic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, nonanedicarboxylic acid, decanedicarboxylic acid, undecanedicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, alkyl-substituted or halogenated terephthalic acid, alkyl-substituted or halogenated isophthalic acid, nitro-terephthalic acid, 4,4'-diphenyl ether dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-diphenyl sulfide dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-diphenyl sulfone dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-diphenylalkylene dicarboxylic acid, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, and cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. Exemplary diols or phenols suitable for preparing polyesters include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2,4-trimethylhexanediol, p-xylenediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, and bisphenol A.

[0291] The polyester may be polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene terephthalate, polyhexamethylene terephthalate, poly(1,4-dimethylcyclohexane) terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene isophthalate (PEI), polyarylate (PAR), polybutylene naphthalate (PBN), liquid crystal polyester, or blends or mixtures of two or more of the foregoing.

[0292] The polyester can be a copolyester (i.e., a copolymer comprising polyester segments and non-polyester segments). The copolyester can be an aliphatic copolyester (i.e., a copolyester in which both polyester and non-polyester segments are aliphatic). Optionally, the copolyester may contain aromatic segments. The polyester segments of the copolyester may include, or are substantially composed of, the following: polyglycolic acid segments, polylactic acid segments, polycaprolactone segments, polyhydroxyalkanoate segments, polyhydroxybutyrate segments, or any combination thereof. The polyester segments of the copolyester may be arranged randomly or may be arranged as repeating blocks.

[0293] For example, the polyester can be a block copolyester having repeating blocks (hard segments) of polymer units with relatively stiff, identical chemical structures and repeating blocks (soft segments) of relatively soft, identical chemical structures. In block copolyesters comprising repeating hard and soft segments, physical crosslinking can occur within or between blocks, or both. The polymer can comprise an elastomeric copolyester having repeating hard and soft segments, or is substantially composed of such an elastomeric copolyester.

[0294] The non-polyester segments of a copolyester may include, or are substantially composed of, polyether segments, polyamide segments, or both. The copolyester may be a block copolyester or a random copolyester. The copolyester may be formed by the polycondensation of a polyester oligomer or prepolymer with a second oligomer prepolymer to form a block copolyester. Optionally, the second prepolymer may be a hydrophilic prepolymer. For example, the copolyester may be formed by the polycondensation of terephthalic acid or naphthalene with ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, or 1,3-propanediol. Examples of copolyesters include polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and combinations thereof. Copolyamides may include or consist of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0295] Polyesters can be block copolymers comprising one or more of the following segments: polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene terephthalate, polyhexamethylene terephthalate, poly(1,4-dimethylcyclohexane) terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene isophthalate (PEI), polyarylates (PAR), polybutylene naphthalate (PBN), and liquid crystal polyesters. For example, suitable polyesters as block copolymers can be PET / PEI copolymers, polybutylene terephthalate / tetraethylene glycol copolymers, polyoxyethylene diacid / polybutylene terephthalate copolymers, or blends or mixtures of any of the aforementioned copolymers.

[0296] Polyolefins

[0297] The polymer may include or be substantially composed of polyolefins. The polyolefin may be a thermoplastic polyolefin or a thermosetting polyolefin. Furthermore, the polyolefin may be an elastomeric polyolefin, including thermoplastic elastomers or thermosetting elastomers. Exemplary polyolefins may include polyethylene, polypropylene, and olefin elastomers (e.g., metallocene-catalyzed block copolymers of ethylene with α-olefins having 4 to 8 carbon atoms). Polyolefins may include polymers comprising: polyethylene, ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), polybutene, polyisobutylene, poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, and olefin elastomers such as dynamically cross-linked polymers obtained from polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), as well as blends or mixtures thereof. Other exemplary polyolefins include polymers of cyclic olefins such as cyclopentene or norbornene.

[0298] It should be understood that optionally crosslinked polyethylene includes a variety of polyethylenes, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), (VLDPE) and (ULDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), high-density and high-molecular-weight polyethylene (HDPE-HMW), high-density and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (HDPE-UHMW), and blends or mixtures of any of the aforementioned polyethylenes. Polyethylene can also be a polyethylene copolymer of monomers derived from monoolefins and dienes, copolymerized with vinyl, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethyl acrylate, vinyl alcohol, and / or vinyl acetate. Polyolefin copolymers containing vinyl acetate-derived units can be copolymers with a high vinyl acetate content, for example, a composition greater than about 50% by weight of vinyl acetate-derived components.

[0299] Polyolefins can be mixtures of polyolefins, such as mixtures of two or more polyolefins disclosed herein. For example, suitable polyolefin mixtures can be mixtures of polypropylene and polyisobutylene, mixtures of polypropylene and polyethylene (e.g., PP / HDPE, PP / LDPE), or mixtures of different types of polyethylene (e.g., LDPE / HDPE).

[0300] Polyolefins can be copolymers of suitable monoolefin monomers or copolymers of suitable monoolefin monomers with vinyl monomers. Exemplary polyolefin copolymers include ethylene / propylene copolymers, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and mixtures thereof with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), propylene / butene copolymers, propylene / isobutene copolymers, ethylene / butene copolymers, ethylene / hexene copolymers, ethylene / methylpentene copolymers, ethylene / heptene copolymers, ethylene / octene copolymers, propylene / butadiene copolymers, isobutene / isoprene copolymers, ethylene / alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene / alkyl methacrylate copolymers, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, and mixtures thereof with carbon monoxide or ethyl acetate. Copolymers of ethylene / acrylic acid copolymers, and their salts (ionomers), and terpolymers of ethylene with propylene and dienes such as hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene or ethylene-norbornene; and mixtures of such copolymers with each other and with polymers mentioned in 1) above, such as polypropylene / ethylene-propylene copolymers, LDPE / ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), LDPE / ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers (EAA), LLDPE / EVA, LLDPE / EAA and alternating or random polyalkylene / carbon monoxide copolymers and mixtures with other polymers such as polyamides.

[0301] Polyolefins can be polypropylene homopolymers, polypropylene copolymers, polypropylene random copolymers, polypropylene block copolymers, polyethylene homopolymers, polyethylene random copolymers, polyethylene block copolymers, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or blends or mixtures of one or more of the aforementioned polymers.

[0302] Polyolefins can be polypropylene. As used herein, the term "polypropylene" is intended to cover any polymer composition containing propylene monomers, either alone or in mixtures or copolymers with other randomly selected and oriented polyolefins, dienes, or other monomers (such as ethylene, butene, and the like). Such a term also covers any different configurations and arrangements of the component monomers (such as atactic, syndiotactic, isotactic, etc.). Thus, when applied to fibers, the term is intended to cover actual long threads, tapes, stitches, and the like of drawn polymers. Polypropylene can have any standard melt flow (by testing); however, standard fiber-grade polypropylene resins have a melt flow index ranging from about 1 to 1000.

[0303] Polyolefins can be polyethylene. As used herein, the term "polyethylene" is intended to cover any polymer composition containing an ethylene monomer, either alone or as a mixture or copolymer with other randomly selected and oriented polyolefins, dienes, or other monomers such as propylene, butene, and the like. Such a term also covers any different configurations and arrangements of the component monomers (such as atactic, syndiotactic, isotactic, etc.). Thus, when applied to fibers, the term is intended to cover actual long threads, tapes, stitches, and the like of drawn polymers. Polyethylene can have any standard melt flow (by testing); however, standard fiber-grade polyethylene resin has a melt flow index ranging from about 1 to 1000.

[0304] Thermoplastic and / or thermosetting materials may also include one or more processing aids. Processing aids may be non-polymer materials. These processing aids may be independently selected from, but are not limited to, the group consisting of: curing agents, initiators, plasticizers, release agents, lubricants, antioxidants, flame retardants, dyes, pigments, reinforcing fillers and unreinforcing fillers, fiber reinforcements, and light stabilizers.

[0305] In articles including textiles, optical elements may be disposed on the textile (e.g., the optical element may be in a "sideways" configuration unless the textile is thin or a first side of the optical element can be illuminated). The textile or at least its outer layer may include a thermoplastic material on which the optical element may be disposed. The textile may be a nonwoven textile, synthetic leather, knitted textile, or woven textile. The textile may include a first fiber or a first yarn, wherein the first fiber or yarn may include at least an outer layer formed of a first thermoplastic material. The region of the first or second side of the structure on which the optical element is disposed may include the first fiber or first yarn in a non-filamentous configuration. The optical element may be disposed on the textile, or the textile may be processed such that the optical element can be disposed on the textile. The textured surface may be made from or formed from the textile surface. The textile surface may be used to form the textured surface, and the optical element may be applied to the textile before or after this process.

[0306] "Textiles" can be defined as any material made of fibers, filaments, or yarns characterized by flexibility, fineness, and a high ratio of length to thickness. Textiles generally fall into two categories. The first category includes textiles produced directly from a web of filaments or fibers through random interlocking to construct nonwoven fabrics and felts. The second category includes textiles formed through the mechanical manipulation of yarns, thereby producing woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, braided fabrics, crocheted fabrics, and the like.

[0307] As used herein, the terms “filament,” “fiber,” or “fibers” refer to materials in the form of discrete elongated pieces that are significantly longer than their width. Fibers can include natural fibers, man-made fibers, or synthetic fibers. Fibers can be produced using conventional techniques such as extrusion, electrospinning, interfacial polymerization, stretching, and similar techniques. Fibers can include carbon fibers, boron fibers, silicon carbide fibers, titanium dioxide fibers, alumina fibers, quartz fibers, glass fibers, such as E, A, C, ECR, R, S, D, and NE glass and quartz or the like. The fiber can be formed from a synthetic polymer capable of forming fibers, such as poly(etherketone), polyimide, polybenzoxazole, poly(phenylene sulfide), polyester, polyolefin (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene), aromatic polyamide (e.g., aromatic polyamide polymers, such as para-aromatic polyamide fibers and meta-aromatic polyamide fibers), aromatic polyimide, polybenzimidazole, polyetherimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylics, modified acrylic fibers, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyamide, polyurethane, and copolymers such as polyether-polyurea copolymers, polyester-polyurethane, polyether block amide copolymers, or the like. The fiber can be a natural fiber (e.g., silk, wool, cashmere, vicuna, cotton, flax, hemp, jute, sisal). The fiber can also be a man-made fiber derived from recycled natural polymers, such as rayon, lyocell, acetate, triacetate, rubber, and poly(lactic acid).

[0308] Fibers can have indefinite lengths. For example, man-made and synthetic fibers are typically extruded in generally continuous lines. Alternatively, fibers can be short fibers, such as, for example, cotton fibers or extruded synthetic polymer fibers, which can be cut to form short fibers of relatively uniform length. Short fibers can have lengths from about 1 mm to 100 cm or longer, and any increments therein (e.g., 1 mm increments).

[0309] Fibers can have any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes. Natural fibers can have a natural cross-section or can have a modified cross-sectional shape (e.g., through processes such as mercerizing). Man-made or synthetic fibers can be extruded to provide threads with a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape of a fiber can affect its properties, such as its softness, luster, and wicking capacity. Fibers can have a circular or substantially circular cross-section. Alternatively, fibers can have a non-circular cross-section, such as flat, elliptical, octagonal, rectangular, wedge-shaped, triangular, dogbone-shaped, multi-lobed, multi-channeled, hollow, core-shell, or other shapes.

[0310] Fibers can be processed. For example, the properties of fibers may be affected, at least in part, by processes such as drawing (stretching), annealing (hardening), and / or crimping or texturing the fibers.

[0311] In some cases, fibers can be multicomponent fibers, such as fibers comprising two or more co-extruded polymeric materials. The two or more co-extruded polymeric materials can be extruded in core-sheath, island-in-the-sea, segmented-pie, strip, or side-by-side configurations. Multicomponent fibers can be processed to form more than one smaller fiber (e.g., microfibers) from a single fiber, for example, by removing sacrificial material.

[0312] The fiber can be carbon fiber such as TARIFYL (e.g., 12,000, 24,000 and 48,000 fiber bundles, especially fiber types TC-35 and TC-35R) produced by Taiwan Plastics Industrial Co., Ltd. in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; carbon fiber (e.g., 50,000 fiber bundles) produced by SGL Group of Wiesbaden, Germany; carbon fiber produced by Hyosung of Seoul, South Korea; carbon fiber produced by Toho Tenax of Tokyo, Japan; glass fiber (e.g., E6,318, silane compound, filament diameters of 14 micrometers, 15 micrometers, 17 micrometers, 21 micrometers and 24 micrometers) produced by Jushi Group Co., Ltd. of Zhejiang, China; and polyester fiber (e.g., SERAFILE) produced by Amann Group of Bonningheim, Germany. 200 / 2 non-lubricated polyester yarn and SERAFILE COMPHIL 200 / 2 lubricated polyester yarn.

[0313] More than one fiber includes two to hundreds or thousands or more fibers. More than one fiber can be in the form of a bundle of fibers called a tow, or it can be in the form of short, relatively aligned fibers called slivers and rovings. A single type of fiber can be used alone, or it can be used in combination with one or more different types of fibers by blending two or more types of fibers. Examples of blended fibers include polyester fibers with cotton fibers, glass fibers with carbon fibers, carbon fibers with aramid (aramid) fibers, and aramid fibers with glass fibers.

[0314] As used herein, the term "yarn" refers to an assembly formed of one or more fibers, wherein the thread has a considerably long length and a relatively small cross-section, and is applicable to textiles produced by hand or by machine, including textiles made using weaving, knitting, crocheting, braiding, sewing, embroidery, or rope-making techniques. Sewing thread is a type of yarn commonly used for sewing.

[0315] Yarn can be made from fibers formed from natural, man-made, and synthetic materials. Synthetic fibers are most commonly used in spinning from staple fibers and silk yarn. Spinning is done by arranging and twisting staple fibers together to create a cohesive strand. The process of forming yarn from staple fibers typically involves carding and drawing the fibers to form slivers, drawing and twisting the slivers to form rovings, and spinning the rovings to form yarn. Multiple yarns can be twisted together to create thicker yarns. The direction of twisting of staple fibers and plies can affect the final properties of the yarn. Silk yarn can be formed from a single long, generally continuous filament (commonly referred to as a "monofilament") or from more than one individual filament grouped together. Silk yarn can also be formed from two or more long, generally continuous filaments grouped together by twisting or entanglement, or twisting and entanglement. Just like short yarns, multiple yarns can be twisted together to form a thicker yarn.

[0316] Once formed, the yarn can undergo further processing, such as texturing, heat treatment, or mechanical treatment, or be coated with a material such as a synthetic polymer. The fibers, yarns, or textiles, or any combination thereof, used in the disclosed articles can be sizing. The sizing fibers, yarns, and / or textiles are coated with a sizing composition on at least a portion of their surface, the sizing composition being selected to modify absorption or abrasion properties, or for compatibility with other materials. The sizing composition facilitates the impregnation and wetting of coatings or resins on the surface and contributes to achieving desired physical properties in the final article. Exemplary sizing compositions may include, for example, epoxy polymers, urethane-modified epoxy polymers, polyester polymers, phenolic polymers, polyamide polymers, polyurethane polymers, polycarbonate polymers, polyetherimide polymers, polyamideimide polymers, polystyrene-pyridine polymers, polyimide bismaleimide polymers, polysulfone polymers, polyethersulfone polymers, epoxy-modified urethane polymers, polyvinyl alcohol polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, and mixtures thereof.

[0317] For example, two or more types of yarn can be combined to form composite yarns, such as single-covered or double-covered yarns and core-spun yarns. Therefore, yarns can have a variety of configurations that generally conform to the descriptions provided herein.

[0318] The yarn may include at least one thermoplastic material (e.g., one or more fibers may be made of thermoplastic materials). The yarn may be made of thermoplastic materials. The yarn may be covered with a layer of material, such as a thermoplastic material.

[0319] The linear mass density or weight per unit length of yarn can be expressed using various units, including denier (D) and tex. Denier is the weight in grams of 9,000 meters of yarn. The linear mass density of a single filament of a fiber can also be expressed using denier per filament (DPF). Tetras is the weight in grams of 1,000 meters of yarn. Decitex is another measure of linear mass and is the weight in grams of 10,000 meters of yarn.

[0320] As used herein, toughness is understood to refer to the amount of force required to break a yarn (expressed in units of weight, such as pounds, grams, centinewtons, or other units) (i.e., the breaking force or point of break) divided by the yarn's linear mass density, which is expressed, for example, in denier (unstrained), deciter, or some other weight measure per unit length. The breaking force of a yarn is determined by subjecting a sample of yarn to a known amount of force, for example, using a strain gauge load cell, such as the INSTRON brand testing system (Norwood, MA, USA). Yarn toughness and yarn breaking force are distinct from burst strength or bursting strength of textiles, which is a measure of how much pressure can be applied to a textile surface before it breaks.

[0321] Typically, the minimum toughness required for yarn to withstand the forces applied in industrial knitting machines is about 1.5 g / denier. Most yarns made from commercial polymeric materials typically have a toughness in the range of about 1.5 g / denier to about 4 g / denier. For example, polyester yarns commonly used in the manufacture of knitted uppers for footwear have a toughness in the range of about 2.5 g / denier to about 4 g / denier. Yarns made from commercial polymeric materials considered to have high toughness typically have a toughness in the range of about 5 g / denier to about 10 g / denier. For example, commercially available packaged dyed polyethylene terephthalate yarn from National Spinning (Washington, NC, USA) has a toughness of about 6 g / denier, and commercially available solution dyed polyethylene terephthalate yarn from Far Eastern New Century (Taipei, Taiwan, China) has a toughness of about 7 g / denier. Yarns made from high-performance polymer materials typically have a toughness of about 11 g / denier or greater. For example, yarns made from aramid fibers typically have a toughness of about 20 g / denier, and yarns made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with a toughness greater than 30 g / denier are available from Dyneema (Stanley, NC, USA) and Spectra (Honeywell-Spectra, Colonial Heights, VA, USA).

[0322] Various techniques exist for mechanically manipulating yarns to form textiles. These techniques include, for example, interweaving, intertwining, twisting, and interlooping. Interweaving is the crossing of two yarns that intersect and interlock at a perpendicular angle. The yarns used for interweaving are conventionally referred to as “warp” and “weft”. Woven textiles consist of warp and weft yarns. The warp yarn extends in a first direction, and the weft strand extends in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. Intertwining and twisting encompass various processes, such as braiding and knotting, in which yarns become entangled with each other to form textiles. Interlooping involves the formation of more than one column of interlocking loops, with knitting being the most common method of interlooping. Textiles can be formed primarily of one or more yarns that are mechanically manipulated, for example, through interweaving, intertwining, twisting, and / or interlooping processes, as mentioned above.

[0323] Textiles can be nonwoven textiles. Typically, nonwoven textiles or fabrics are sheet or web structures made of fibers and / or yarns bonded together. This bonding can be chemical and / or mechanical, and can be formed using heat, solvents, adhesives, or combinations thereof. Exemplary nonwoven fabrics are flat or clustered porous sheets made directly from separated fibers, molten plastic, and / or plastic films. They are not made by weaving or knitting, and do not necessarily require the fibers to be converted into yarns, although yarns can be used as a source of fibers. Nonwoven textiles are typically manufactured by placing small fibers together in sheet or web form (similar to paper on a paper machine) and then mechanically bonding them with adhesives or heat (by applying the adhesive (in the form of powder, paste, or polymer melt) and melting it onto the web by raising the temperature) (as in the case of felt, by interlocking them using serrated needles or barbed needles, or by hydro-entanglement, where friction between the fibers creates a stronger fabric). Nonwoven textiles can be made from short fibers (e.g., from wet-laid, air-laid, carding / crosslapping processes) or extruded fibers (e.g., from meltblown or spunbond processes or combinations thereof) or combinations thereof. The bonding of fibers in nonwoven textiles can be achieved using thermal bonding (with or without calendering), hydroentanglement, ultrasonic bonding, needle punching (needling), chemical bonding (e.g., using adhesives such as latex emulsions or solution polymers or adhesive fibers or powders), and meltblown bonding (e.g., fibers are bonded during simultaneous fiber formation and web formation as air attenuates fiber entanglement).

[0324] Several aspects of this disclosure have now been described, and further discussion is provided regarding when optical elements are used in conjunction with a capsule. When an optical element is attached to a capsule, the capsule can be unfilled, partially filled, or fully filled. A capsule is a capsule capable of containing a volume of fluid. An unfilled capsule is a capsule that can be filled with fluid, and a filled capsule has been at least partially filled with fluid at a pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure. When attached to or incorporated into footwear, apparel, or sports equipment articles, the capsule is typically a fluid-filled capsule at that time. The fluid is a gas or liquid. The gas may include air, nitrogen (N2), or other suitable gases.

[0325] The capsule can have a nitrogen gas permeability, for example, wherein a capsule wall of a given thickness has a nitrogen gas permeability that is at least about ten times lower than the nitrogen gas permeability of a butyl rubber layer having a thickness substantially the same as that of the capsule described herein. The capsule can have a first capsule wall having a first capsule wall thickness (e.g., about 0.1 mil to 40 mils). The capsule can have a first capsule wall that, with an average wall thickness of 20 mils, can have a nitrogen gas permeability of less than about 15 cm. 3 / m 2 ·atm·day, less than approximately 10cm 3 / m 2 ·atm·day, less than approximately 5cm 3 / m 2 ·atm·day, less than approximately 1cm 3 / m 2 • atm • day (e.g., from approximately 0.001 cm) 3 / m 2 ·atm·day to approximately 1cm 3 / m 2 ·atm·day, approximately 0.01cm 3 / m 2 ·atm·day to approximately 1cm 3 / m 2 • atm • day or approximately 0.1cm 3 / m 2 ·atm·day to approximately 1cm 3 / m 2 The gas permeability (GTR) is measured in atm per day. The capsule may have a first capsule wall having a first capsule wall thickness, wherein the first capsule wall has a thickness of 15 cm for nitrogen gas with an average wall thickness of 20 mils. 3 / m 2 • atm • day or less of gas permeability.

[0326] In this aspect, the capsule has a capsule wall having an inward-facing side and an outward-facing side, wherein the inward-facing side defines at least a portion of the capsule's internal region. An optical element having a first side and an opposing second side can be disposed on the outward-facing side of the capsule, the inward-facing side of the capsule, or both. The optical element can be arranged in a straight line or disposed on its side. When the optical element is disposed on its side, the optical element is disposed on either the inward-facing side or the outward-facing side in a side configuration, which is the opposite of a straight-line configuration.

[0327] The outer side of the capsule, the inner side of the capsule, or both may optionally include more than one shape structure (or contour feature) extending from the outer side of the capsule wall, the inner side of the capsule, or both, wherein a first side or a second side of the optical element is disposed on the outer side of the capsule wall and covers the more than one shape structure, disposed on the inner side of the capsule wall and covers the more than one shape structure, or both, and wherein the optical element imparts color to the capsule wall structure.

[0328] In a particular aspect, the bladder may include a top wall operably fixed to the upper of a footwear, a bottom wall opposite the top wall, and one or more side walls extending between the top and bottom walls of the inflated bladder. The top wall, bottom wall, and one or more side walls collectively define an internal region of the inflated bladder, and each of the one or more side walls includes an outward-facing side. An optical element having a first side and an opposing second side may be disposed on the outward-facing side, the inward-facing side, or both of the bladder. Optionally, the outward-facing side, the inward-facing side, or both of the bladder may include more than one pattern structure extending from the outward-facing side, the inward-facing side, or both of the bladder wall, wherein the first or second side of the optical element is disposed on and covers the more than one pattern structure on the outward-facing side of the bladder wall, disposed on and covers the more than one pattern structure on the inward-facing side of the bladder wall, or both, and wherein the optical element imparts color to the bladder wall structure.

[0329] The accepted method for measuring the relative permeability, permeability, and diffusion of a filled bladder is ASTM D-1434-82-V. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 6,127,026, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety. According to ASTM D-1434-82-V, permeability, permeability, and diffusion are measured by the following formula:

[0330] Transmittance

[0331] (Amount of gas) / [(Area) x (Time) x (Pressure difference)] = GTR (Gross Transmittance) / (Pressure Difference) = cm 3 / m 2 • ATM • Day (i.e., 24 hours)

[0332] Permeability

[0333] [(Gas quantity) x (Membrane thickness)][(Area) x (Time) x (Pressure difference)] = Permeability [(GTR) x (Membrane thickness)] / (Pressure difference) = [(cm) x (Membrane thickness) x (Pressure difference ... 3 (millet)] / m 2 • ATM • Day (i.e., 24 hours)

[0334] Diffusion at one atmosphere

[0335] (Amount of gas) / [(Area) x (Time)] = GTR = cm 3 / m 2 • Day (i.e., 24 hours).

[0336] The capsule may include a capsule wall comprising a membrane containing at least one polymer layer or at least two or more polymer layers. The thickness of each polymer layer may be from about 0.1 mil to 40 mil.

[0337] The polymer layer can be formed from polymeric materials such as the thermoplastic materials described above and herein, and can be a thermoplastic layer on which optical elements can be disposed and optionally textured layers can be disposed, or the thermoplastic layer can be used to form textured layers and the like. Thermoplastic materials can include elastomeric materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers. Thermoplastic materials can include thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), such as those described above and herein. Thermoplastic materials can include polyester-based TPUs, polyether-based TPUs, polycaprolactone-based TPUs, polycarbonate-based TPUs, polysiloxane-based TPUs, or combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of thermoplastic materials that may be used include: “PELLETHANE” 2355-85ATP and 2355-95AE (Dow Chemical Company of Midland, MI., USA), “ELASTOLLAN” (BASF Corporation, Wyandotte, MI., USA), and “ESTANE” (Lubrizol, Brecksville, OH., USA), all of which are ester-based or ether-based. Additional thermoplastic materials may include those described in the following U.S. Patent Numbers: 5,713,141; 5,952,065; 6,082,025; 6,127,026; 6,013,340; 6,203,868; and 6,321,465, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0338] The polymer layer can be formed from one or more of the following: ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), poly(vinyl chloride), polyvinylidene polymer and copolymers (e.g., polyvinylidene chloride), polyamide (e.g., amorphous polyamide), acrylonitrile polymer (e.g., acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymer), polyurethane engineering plastics, polymethylpentene resin, ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymer, liquid crystal polymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyetherimide, polyacrylamide, and other polymeric materials known to have relatively low gas permeability. Blends and alloys of these materials, as well as blends and alloys with the TPU described herein, and blends and alloys optionally including combinations of polyimide and crystalline polymers, are also suitable. For example, blends of polyimide and liquid crystal polymer, blends of polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate, and blends of polyamide and styrene-based polymers are suitable.

[0339] Specific examples of polymeric materials for the polymer layer may include acrylonitrile copolymers, such as “BAREX” resin available from Ineos (Rolle, Switzerland); polyurethane engineering plastics, such as “ISPLAST” ETPU available from Lubrizol (Brecksville, OH, USA); and those marketed by Kuraray (Houston, TX, USA) under the trade name “EVAL”, by Nippon Gohsei (Hull, England) under the trade name “SOARNOL”, and by DuPont (Wilmington, DE, USA) under the trade name “SELAR”. Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers sold under the trade name "OH"; polyvinylidene chloride available from SC Johnson (Racine, WI, USA) under the trade name "SARAN" and from Solvay (Brussels, Belgium) under the trade name "IXAN"; liquid crystal polymers such as "VECTRA" from Celanese (Irving, TX, USA) and "XYDAR" from Solvay; "MDX6" nylon, and amorphous nylons such as "NOVAMID" X21 from Koninklijke DSM NV (Heerlen, Netherlands) and "SELAR PA" from DuPont; polyetherimides sold by SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) under the trade name "ULTEM"; poly(vinyl alcohol) compounds; and polymethylpentene resin available from Mitsui Chemicals (Tokyo, Japan) under the trade name "TPX".

[0340] Each polymer layer of the membrane may be formed of a thermoplastic material, which may include a combination of thermoplastic polymers. In addition to one or more thermoplastic polymers, the thermoplastic material may optionally contain colorants, fillers, processing aids, free radical scavengers, ultraviolet absorbers, and the like. Each polymer layer of the membrane may be made of a different thermoplastic material, which may include different types of thermoplastic polymers.

[0341] The capsule can be made by applying heat, pressure, and / or vacuum to the membrane. In this regard, optical elements and optionally textured layers and the like can be set, formed, or similarly formed before, during, and / or after these steps. The capsule (e.g., one or more polymer layers) can be formed using one or more polymer materials and one or more processing techniques, including, for example, extrusion, blow molding, injection molding, vacuum molding, rotational molding, transfer molding, pressure molding, heat sealing, casting, low-pressure casting, spincasting, reaction injection molding, radio frequency (RF) welding, and similar techniques. The capsule can be made by co-extrusion followed by heat sealing or welding to produce a fillable capsule, which may optionally include one or more valves (e.g., one-way valves) allowing the capsule to be filled with fluid (e.g., gas).

[0342] Optical elements have now been described; optional textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing articles are now described. In one aspect, the method includes forming layers using one or more techniques described herein. In another aspect, the method includes forming optical elements on the surface of an article, such as a textile, film, fiber, or monofilament yarn, in a layer-by-layer manner, wherein the surface may optionally be a textured surface. Another embodiment of this disclosure includes disposing the optical element on a substrate.

[0343] This method provides layers of optical elements formed on a textured surface. Optionally, the textured surface may be formed in / on a layer of a surface adjacent to an object, and then the remaining layers are disposed thereon. As described herein, the optical element may be formed in a layer-by-layer manner, wherein each layer has a different refractive index. As each layer is formed, undulating and flat areas are altered. The combination of optional textured surfaces (e.g., the size, shape, and / or spacing of the contour elements) and layers of the optical element (e.g., the number of layers, the thickness of the layers, the material of the layers) and the resulting undulating and flat areas impart structural color when exposed to visible light. The method includes optionally forming a protective layer on the optical element to protect the optical element. Each layer of the optical element may be formed sequentially, wherein each layer may be formed, and then, after an appropriate amount of time, additional processing, cooling, or similar operation, the next layer of the optical element may be formed.

[0344] In this aspect, a method for manufacturing an optical element may include applying a masking element (e.g., a film, fiber, filament, or yarn) to a surface of an article, the article forming a portion of the surface including adjacent masked and unmasked regions. Masking may include setting, positioning, or applying the masking element to or offset from the surface of the article, for example, at a distance from the surface of the article (e.g., nanometers, micrometers, millimeters, or centimeters, depending on the desired design and objectives). Layers of the optical element may be formed on the surface of the article, wherein the masking element may alter the formation of the layers on the surface of the article (e.g., prevent, change the thickness of the layers, etc.). The masking element may then be removed to reveal a portion of the surface of the article including the optical element as described herein. For example, the masking element may be used to form an optical element having an intermediate region (without any material layer) and a second region B having a gradually tapering layer (e.g., tapering to the intermediate region), although with different cross-sections. The surface portion includes a structurally colored surface (e.g., an optical element), wherein the structurally colored surface includes at least a first structural color, a second structural color, and a third structural color, wherein the hue, brightness, chromaticity, or any combination thereof of the first and second structural colors are different when viewed from the same viewing angle at a distance of approximately 1 meter under normal lighting conditions by an observer with 20 / 20 visual acuity and normal color vision.

[0345] In one aspect, masking includes bringing the surface into direct contact with the masking element during the setting step. Setting the optical element to the masked area includes setting at least one layer to the masked area, and removing the masking element includes exposing an intermediate region of the optical element that does not contain at least one layer. In another aspect, the masking element is attached to the surface of the article using an adhesive. However, in yet another aspect, the masking element is set offset from the surface of the article, for example, set directly above the surface of the article (e.g., 0.1 mm to 10 mm or more, as long as the intermediate region described herein is formed and no structural color is imparted), such that the optical element described herein can be formed.

[0346] Visible light transmittance and visible light reflectance were measured using a Shimadzu UV-2600 spectrometer (Shimadzu Corporation, Japan). The spectrometer was calibrated using standard samples prior to the measurements. The angle of incidence was zero for all measurements.

[0347] Visible light transmittance is a measurement of the amount of visible light (or light energy) transmitted through a material when visible light in the spectral range of 300 nm to 800 nm passes through it. The transmittance results for all samples in the 300 nm to 800 nm range are collected and recorded. For each sample, the minimum visible light transmittance within this range is determined.

[0348] Visible reflectance is a measurement of the amount of visible light (or light energy) reflected by a material when visible light in the spectral range of 300 nm to 800 nm passes through it. The results of reflectance across the entire 300 nm to 800 nm range are collected and recorded. For each sample, the minimum visible reflectance within this range is determined.

[0349] It should be emphasized that the aspects described above in this disclosure are merely possible examples of implementation methods and are only presented for the purpose of clearly understanding the principles of this disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the aspects described above without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of this disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0350] It should be noted that ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed in range format herein. It should be understood that such range format is used for convenience and brevity, and therefore should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values ​​explicitly stated as the limits of the range, but also all individual numerical values ​​or subranges covered within that range, as each numerical value and subrange is explicitly stated. For example, the concentration range “about 0.1 percent to about 5 percent” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly stated concentrations of about 0.1 wt percent to about 5 wt percent, but also the individual concentrations (e.g., 1 percent, 2 percent, 3 percent, and 4 percent) and subranges (e.g., 0.5 percent, 1.1 percent, 2.2 percent, 3.3 percent, and 4.4 percent) within the range. The term “about” may include conventional rounding based on the significant figures of the numerical value. Additionally, the phrase “about 'x' to 'y'” includes “about 'x' to about 'y'”.

[0351] When used in the claims, the term "provided," such as "provided articles" and similar terms, is not intended to require any particular delivery or receipt of the provided articles. Rather, for clarity and readability purposes, the term "provided" is used only to describe items that will be referred to in subsequent elements of the claims.

[0352] Many variations and modifications can be made to the aspects described above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure and are protected by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article, the article being an article of footwear, an article of clothing, or an article of sports equipment, or a component, the component being a component of footwear, a component of clothing, or a component of sports equipment, the article or component comprising: an optical element disposed on a surface of the article or component, wherein the optical element comprises at least a first area A and a first area B disposed on a first zone of the article or component, and a second area A and a second area B disposed on a second zone of the article or component, wherein the first area A and the second area A of the optical element impart a first structural color to the article or component, wherein the first area B of the optical element imparts at least a second structural color, wherein the second area B of the optical element imparts at least a third structural color, wherein the zone between the first area B and the second area B is an intermediate area having a fourth color, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color are different from each other when viewed from the same angle of observation, and the fourth color is different from the first structural color, the second structural color, the third structural color, or all three structural colors when viewed from the same angle of observation; wherein the optical element comprises 2 to 20 layers, wherein the total number of the layers in the first area A and the second area A of the optical element correspond, wherein the total number of the layers in the first area B and the second area B of the optical element correspond, wherein each corresponding layer in the first area A, the first area B, the second area A, and the second area B of the optical element is composed of the same material, wherein at least one of the layers of the first area B tapers from a first edge of the first area A to a first location in the first area B, such that the thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first area A is greater than the thickness at the first location in the first area B, wherein at least one of the layers of the second area B tapers from a second edge of the second area A to a second location in the second area B, such that the thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second area A is greater than the thickness at the second location in the second area B, wherein the cross-section of the first area B and the cross-section of the second area B are structurally different, as one has a sloped structure and the other has a stepped design.

2. The article or component of claim 1, wherein a first distance from the first edge to the first location is the same as a second distance from the second edge to the second location.

3. The article or component of claim 1, wherein each layer in the first area B terminates at the same location on the surface of the article or component, wherein at least one layer in the second area B does not terminate at the same location as the other layers.

4. The article or component of claim 1, wherein a length of the first area B is different from a length of the second area B.

5. The article or component of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by each layer of the first region B tapering from a first edge of the first region A to a first location of the first region B such that a thickness of each layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than a thickness at the first location in the first region B.

6. The article or component of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by at least one of the layers of the first region B tapering from a first edge of the first region A to a third location of the first region B such that a thickness of the layer at the first edge of the first region A is greater than a thickness at the third location in the first region B, wherein the first location and the third location are at different locations.

7. The article or component of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by at least one of the layers of the first region B tapering from the first edge of the first region A to a first end of the layer such that the first end has a thinnest thickness of each of the layers in the first region B at the first end, wherein the first end is at a location where the layer terminates at the surface of the article or component; and wherein the cross-section of the second region B is represented by at least one of the layers of the second region B tapering from a second edge of the second region A to a fourth location of the second region B such that a thickness of the layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than a thickness at the fourth location in the second region B, wherein the second location and the fourth location are at different locations.

8. The article or component of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by at least one of the layers of the first region B tapering in a stepwise manner from the first edge of the first region A to the first location of the first region B.

9. The article or component of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the first region B is represented by the first region B having a first region B cross-section, the first region B cross-section being a stepped cross-section; and wherein the cross-section of the second region B is represented by each layer of the second region B tapering from a second edge of the second region A to a second location of the second region B such that a thickness of each layer at the second edge of the second region A is greater than a thickness at the second location in the second region B.

10. The article or component of claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the layers of the first region B does not taper from a third location to a fifth location such that a thickness is the same from the third location to the fifth location of the first region B, wherein a thickness of the layer tapers from the fifth location of the first region B to a seventh location of the first region B. ​ ​ 11. The article or component of claim 10, wherein each of the layers of the first region B does not taper from the third location to the fifth location such that the thickness of each individual layer from the third location to the fifth location of the first region B is the same, wherein each individual layer independently has a thickness that is the same or different from the thickness of the other layers.

12. The article or component of any one of claims 1-9 and 11, wherein the first surface of the intermediate region is the surface of the article or component and imparts a non- structural color.

13. The article or component of claim 10, wherein the first surface of the intermediate region is the surface of the article or component and imparts a non-structural color.

14. The article or component of claim 1, wherein at least one layer of the first region A has a layer first region A average thickness and at least one layer of the first region B has a layer first region B average thickness, wherein the layer first region B average thickness is 5% to 90% of the thickness of the layer first region A average thickness; wherein at least one layer of the second region A has a layer second region A average thickness and at least one layer of the second region B has a layer second region B average thickness, wherein the layer second region B average thickness is 5% to 90% of the thickness of the layer second region A average thickness; wherein the layer second region B average thickness and the layer first region B average thickness are different.

15. The article or component of any one of claims 1-9, 11, and 13-14, wherein the surface of the article or component is non-planar.

16. The article or component of claim 10, wherein the surface of the article or component is non-planar.

17. The article or component of claim 12, wherein the surface of the article or component is non-planar.

18. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, apparel, or sporting equipment, or a component of footwear, apparel, or sporting equipment, comprising: An optical element as defined in any one of claims 1 to 17 is disposed onto a surface of the article or component.

19. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, apparel, or sporting equipment or a component of footwear, a component of apparel, or a component of sporting equipment according to any one of claims 1-17, comprising: applying a masking element to or offset from a surface of an article or component, resulting in a portion of the surface comprising adjacent masked and unmasked regions, disposing an optical element to the portion of the surface, removing the masking element from the portion, exposing a surface of the optical element comprising at least a first structural color, a second structural color, and a third structural color, wherein the first structural color, the second structural color, and the third structural color are different from each other when viewed from the same angle of observation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the masking element comprises a film, a fiber, a filament, or a yarn.

21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the step of masking comprises directly contacting the surface with the masking element during the setting, and setting the optical element to the masked region comprises setting at least one layer to the masked region, and removing the masking element comprises exposing the intermediate region of the optical element free of the at least one layer.

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