Article of footwear having an upper with connectors for attaching to a sole structure

• US 10,092,063 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Waatti, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US15/598,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20170251760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/28 characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/244 characterised by the attachment between upper and sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 8/22 by embossing or printing printing per se, stamping per se B41
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 95/14 incorporating marking, printing, or embossing apparatus ornamentation of shoe part blanks A43D8/16; printing per se , stamping per se B41
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

A method of making an article of footwear comprises associating an upper of the article of footwear with a printer. The upper has a lower peripheral portion. The method comprises printing a first end portion of a mechanical connector so that the first end portion of the mechanical connector is coupled with the lower peripheral portion, and printing a second end portion of the mechanical connector. The second end portion extends away from the lower peripheral portion. The second end portion is configured to engage a sole structure and fasten the upper to the sole structure.

Claims

1. A method of making an article of footwear, the method comprising:

associating an upper of the article of footwear with a printer, the upper having a lower peripheral portion;

printing a first end portion of a mechanical connector so that the first end portion of the mechanical connector is coupled with the lower peripheral portion;

printing a second end portion of the mechanical connector, wherein the second end portion extends away from the lower peripheral portion;

wherein the second end portion is configured to engage a sole structure and fasten the upper to the sole structure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes assembling the upper with the sole structure of the article of footwear, wherein assembling the upper with the sole structure includes inserting the mechanical connector into a recess of the sole structure.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein printing the second end portion of the mechanical connector includes forming an aperture in the second end portion, wherein the aperture is configured to engage a protrusion in the recess of the sole structure.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein printing the first end portion of the mechanical connector includes printing directly onto the lower peripheral portion of the upper.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the method further includes:

printing an extended portion onto a surface of the upper, the extended portion extending from the mechanical connector to a fastener receiving portion, the fastener receiving portion being configured to receive a lace.