Function screen printing on upper

• US 9,491,987 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Ludwig, Nina, Hill, Jan, Antonelli, Bruno Jean, Robinson, Timothy Kelvin, Price, Daniel Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US13/683,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 36/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• 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 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0084 Arrangement of flocked decoration on shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

Described are shoes, in particular a sports shoe, wherein at least a portion of an upper of the shoe includes a first layer and a functional second layer, wherein the functional second layer is directly printed onto the first layer.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising an upper, wherein at least a portion of the upper comprises:

a. a first elastic layer having an unprinted tensile strength; and

b. a functional second layer directly printed onto the first elastic layer; and

wherein the portion comprising the first elastic layer with the functional second layer directly printed thereon comprises a composite tensile strength;

wherein the composite tensile strength of the portion is at least doubled relative to the unprinted tensile strength of the first elastic layer; and

wherein the portion comprising the first elastic layer with the functional second layer directly printed thereon is elastically deformable by at least 30% in at least one direction.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the portion comprises substantially the entire upper of the shoe.

3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the functional second layer is directly printed onto the first elastic layer via a screen printing process or an ink-jet printing process.

4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the functional second layer is configured to modify at least one mechanical property of the portion.

5. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein the at least one mechanical property of the portion is at least one of elasticity, cushioning, stiction, and abrasion resistance.

6. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the portion is elastically deformable by at least 50% in at least one direction.

7. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the functional second layer comprises polyurethane.

8. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the functional second layer comprises a poly(tetrahydrofurane)-based polyurethane dispersion.

9. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the functional second layer anisotropically modifies elasticity of the portion.

10. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the functional second layer comprises a plurality of isolated layer areas.

11. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of isolated layer areas comprises dimensions that are smaller than 2 mm in at least one direction.

12. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the functional second layer is only arranged on selected zones of the first elastic layer.

13. The shoe according to claim 12, wherein the selected zones are arranged along at least one of a collar, a transition area between a sole and the upper, a toe area, a heel area, and an area of a lateral and/or medial midfoot joints.

14. The shoe according to claim 12, wherein the functional second layer is not arranged in an instep area and/or in an area between toe joints and midfoot joints.

15. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic layer is breathable.

16. The shoe according to claim 15, wherein the first elastic layer comprises a mesh that is elastic in at least one of a warp and a weft direction.

17. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic layer is anisotropically elastic.

18. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the portion comprises a functional third layer, wherein the functional third layer is directly printed onto the functional second layer and/or the first layer.

19. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the portion comprises at least one further directly printed functional layer.

20. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first layer is manufactured from a weft knitted or warp knitted material.