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

Abstract

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to components having an optical element that imparts structural color to the component or article. The present disclosure is also directed to articles of manufacture including the component having an optical element, and methods for making components and articles having an optical element that imparts structural color.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole combined with an upper for an article of footwear, wherein the upper includes a textile having a first surface, the first surface of the textile is defined by a first polymeric material, and the first surface of the textile forms an externally-facing side of the upper; and   an optical element having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, wherein the first side of the optical element is operably disposed on the first surface of the textile, and the optical element imparts a structural color having at least one hue selected from purple, purple-red, red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, and yellow, a portion of the externally-facing side of the upper defined by the textile;   wherein the optical element comprises at least two adjacent layers having different refractive indices and wherein the optical element includes 2 to 6 layers, wherein at least one of the layers of the optical element has a thickness that is about one-fourth of the wavelength of the visible light to be reflected by the optical element to produce the structural color.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the optical element does not include pigments or dyes. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein a first layer of the optical element comprises titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein a second layer of the optical element comprises silicon dioxide. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are adjacent one another. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the textile is a synthetic leather textile. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein each layer consists of a material selected from: a transition metal, a metalloid, or an oxide thereof. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole combined with an upper for an article of footwear, wherein the upper includes a textile having a first surface, the first surface of the textile is defined by a first polymeric material, and the first surface of the textile forms an externally-facing side of the upper; and   an optical element having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, wherein the first side of the optical element is operably disposed on the first surface of the textile, and the optical element imparts a structural color having at least one hue selected from red, orange-red, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, green-yellow, and green, a portion of the externally-facing side of the upper defined by the textile;   wherein the optical element comprises at least two adjacent layers having different refractive indices and wherein the optical element includes 2 to 6 layers, wherein at least one of the layers of the optical element has a thickness that is about one-fourth of the wavelength of the visible light to be reflected by the optical element to produce the structural color.   
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the optical element does not include pigments or dyes. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein a first layer of the optical element comprises titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein a second layer of the optical element comprises silicon dioxide. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are adjacent one another. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the textile is a synthetic leather textile. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole combined with an upper for an article of footwear, wherein the upper includes a textile having a first surface, the first surface of the textile is defined by a first polymeric material, and the first surface of the textile forms an externally-facing side of the upper; and   an optical element having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, wherein the first side of the optical element is operably disposed on the first surface of the textile, and the optical element imparts a structural color having at least one hue selected from yellow, green-yellow, green, blue-green, blue, purple-blue and purple, a portion of the externally-facing side of the upper defined by the textile;   wherein the optical element comprises at least two adjacent layers having different refractive indices and wherein the optical element includes 2 to 6 layers, wherein at least one of the layers of the optical element has a thickness that is about one-fourth of the wavelength of the visible light to be reflected by the optical element to produce the structural color.   
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the optical element does not include pigments or dyes. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein a first layer of the optical element comprises titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein a second layer of the optical element comprises silicon dioxide. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are adjacent one another. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the textile is a synthetic leather textile. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein each layer consists of a material selected from: a transition metal, a metalloid, or an oxide thereof.