Customized shoe textures and shoe portions

• US 9,122,819 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Inventors: McDowell, Sean M., Cioffi, Bryan Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/656,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20140114457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 700/119, 700/120, 700/182, 700/187, 700/98, 700/212, 137/596, 156/60, 156/308.2, 264/40.7, 264/96
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0036 characterised by a special shape or design
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

A shoe with a three-dimensional (3-D) surface texture created using rapid manufacturing techniques is provided. A plurality of 3-D surface texture options is presented on a user interface; each of the options is associated with one of a plurality of 3-D surface textures to be applied to a portion of a shoe. A selection of a 3-D surface texture is received and is used in part to generate a design file. The design file is used to instruct a rapid manufacturing device to manufacture the portion of the shoe comprised of the 3-D surface texture using a rapid manufacturing technique.

Claims

1. A computerized method carried out by a computer running on a processor for creating a first three-dimensional (3-D) surface texture on at least a first shoe configuration using rapid manufacturing techniques, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of 3-D surface texture options on a user interface, each of the plurality of 3-D surface texture options associated with one of a plurality of 3-D surface textures configured to be applied to the first shoe configuration;

receiving a selection of a first 3-D surface texture option of the plurality of 3-D surface texture options, the first 3-D surface texture option associated with a first 3-D surface texture;

presenting a plurality of shoe configuration options on the user interface, the plurality of shoe configuration options associated with a plurality of shoe configurations;

receiving a selection of a first shoe configuration option of the plurality of shoe configuration options, the first shoe configuration option associated with the first shoe configuration;

presenting the first shoe configuration with the first 3-D surface texture applied to at least a portion of the first shoe configuration on the user interface;

generating an augmented design file based at least on a 3-D shoe design data file, the received selection of the first 3-D surface texture, and the received selection of the first shoe configuration; and

using the augmented data file to instruct a rapid manufacturing device to manufacture the first shoe configuration comprised of the first 3-D surface texture using a rapid manufacturing technique.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a scan of a foot of a user; and

creating the 3-D shoe design data file based, at least in part, on the scan performed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first shoe configuration comprises at least one of a portion of an upper of the shoe, a portion of a midsole of the shoe, a portion of an outsole of the shoe, or a combination of at least two of the upper, midsole, or outsole.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of 3-D surface texture options is associated with a 3-D surface texture customized by a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the rapid manufacturing device includes at least one of a laser sintering device, a solid deposition modeling device, or a stereolithography device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second 3-D surface texture option of the plurality of 3-D surface texture options to be applied to at least a second portion of the shoe, the second 3-D surface texture option associated with a second 3-D surface texture; and

wherein the generating of the augmented design file is further based, at least in part, on the received selection of the second 3-D surface texture.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second 3-D surface texture is different from the first 3-D surface texture.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least the second portion of the shoe is different from the first shoe configuration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a first thickness of the first 3-D surface texture is a different color than a second thickness of the first 3-D surface texture.

10. A computerized method carried out by a computer running on a processor for creating a three-dimensional (3-D) portion of a shoe having a first type of functional property using rapid manufacturing techniques, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of 3-D functional portion options on a user interface, each of the plurality of 3-D functional portion options associated with one of a plurality of 3-D functional portions to be applied to at least an area of a shoe configuration;

receiving a selection of at least one 3-D functional portion option of the plurality of 3-D functional portion options, the at least one 3-D functional portion option associated with a first 3-D functional portion, wherein the first 3-D functional portion comprises a midfoot support portion configured to provide support to a midfoot area of the shoe configuration;

creating a data file based at least on the shoe configuration and the midfoot support portion; and

using the data file to instruct a rapid manufacturing device to manufacture the midfoot support portion of the shoe configuration, wherein manufacturing the midfoot support portion comprises generating a first thickness of a shoe sole portion in the midfoot area of the shoe configuration that is greater than a second thickness associated with the shoe configuration in the midfoot area without the first 3-D functional portion.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second 3-D functional portion option, the second 3-D functional portion option associated with a second 3-D functional portion, wherein the second 3-D functional portion comprises a forefoot flexibility portion configured to provide flexibility in a forefoot area of the shoe configuration;

updating the data file based at least on the forefoot flexibility portion; and

using the updated data file to instruct the rapid manufacturing device to manufacture the forefoot flexibility portion, wherein manufacturing the forefoot flexibility portion comprises;

generating a shoe wall in a shoe upper portion in the forefoot area of the shoe configuration having a first thickness that is less than a second thickness associated with the shoe configuration in the forefoot area without the second 3-D functional portion; and

manufacturing a grid-like texture in the forefoot area comprising a framework of crisscrossing members and open areas, the open area having predetermined dimensions.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second 3-D functional portion option, the second 3-D functional portion option associated with a second 3-D functional portion, wherein the second 3-D functional portion comprises a heel lockdown portion configured to provide support and rigidity in a heel area of the shoe configuration;

updating the data file based at least on the heel lockdown portion; and

using the updated data file to instruct the rapid manufacturing device to manufacture the heel lockdown portion, wherein manufacturing the heel lockdown portion comprises manufacturing a grid-like texture in a shoe upper portion in the heel area of the shoe configuration, the grid-like texture having a predetermined thickness that is greater than a second thickness associated with the shoe configuration in the heel area without the second 3-D functional portion.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second 3-D functional portion option, the second 3-D functional portion option associated with a second 3-D functional portion, wherein the second 3-D functional portion comprises a breathability portion configured to increase air exchange between an interior and an exterior of the shoe;

updating the data file based at least on the breathability portion; and

using the updated data file to instruct the rapid manufacturing device to manufacture the breathability portion, wherein manufacturing the breathability portion comprises manufacturing a grid-like texture in a shoe upper portion of the shoe configuration, the grid-like texture comprising a framework of solid crisscrossing members and open areas.

14. A computerized method carried out by a computer running on a processor for manufacturing a shoe upper with a customized three-dimensional (3-D) exterior surface texture, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of 3-D surface texture options on a user interface, each of the plurality of 3-D surface texture options associated with one of a plurality of 3-D surface textures to be applied to at least a portion of a first shoe upper configuration;

receiving a selection of at least one 3-D surface texture option of the plurality of 3-D surface texture options, the at least one 3-D surface texture option associated with a first 3-D surface texture;

presenting a plurality of shoe upper configuration options on the user interface, the plurality of shoe upper configuration options associated with a plurality of shoe upper configurations;

receiving a selection of a shoe upper configuration option of the plurality of shoe upper configuration options, the shoe upper configuration option associated with the first shoe upper configuration; and

presenting the first shoe upper configuration with the first 3-D surface texture applied to the at least the portion of the first shoe upper configuration on the user interface;

creating a data file based at least on the first shoe upper configuration and the first 3-D surface texture; and

using the data file to instruct a laser sintering device to manufacture the at least the portion of the first shoe upper configuration comprised of the first 3-D surface texture.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of 3-D surface texture options is dependent upon the selection of the shoe upper configuration option.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

using the data file to instruct the laser sintering device to manufacture the first shoe upper configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein manufacturing the first shoe upper configuration further comprises manufacturing a plurality of discrete portions of the first shoe upper configuration.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of portions of the first shoe upper configurations are joined together to create the first shoe upper configuration.