Article of footwear having printed structures

• US 10,264,851 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Waatti, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bays, Marie D
• Application Number:
  US15/275,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 36 501, 36 45, 36 88
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/02 made of fibres or fabrics made therefrom
• 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 23/021 Leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0225 Composite materials, e.g. material with a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 11/00 Machines for preliminary treatment or assembling of upper-parts, counters, or insoles on their lasts preparatory to the pulling-over or lasting operations; Applying or removing protective coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 11/01 Machines for applying reinforcement or ornamental straps to the margins of uppers to soles or insoles A43D43/06
• 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: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/682 Preformed parts characterised by their structure, e.g. form
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/845 by moulding material on a relative small portion of the preformed parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/126 Uppers
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/146 Uppers
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

An article of footwear having printed structures disposed on the article by a three-dimensional printer is disclosed. The printed structures include extended portions and fastener receiving portions. The extended portions are at least partially embedded in the upper. The fastener receiving portions are at least partially spaced apart from an exterior surface of the upper.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper comprising a textile material;

a fastener receiving member attached to the upper, wherein the fastener receiving member comprises an extended portion and a fastener receiving portion, the fastener receiving portion being connected to the extended portion;

wherein the extended portion and the fastener receiving portion are three-dimensionally printed structures comprising printable material;

wherein the extended portion of the fastener receiving member is at least partially embedded within and bonded to the textile material; and

wherein the fastener receiving portion includes a loop structure, the loop structure having an aperture for receiving insertion of a lace therethrough, the loop structure having an outer surface facing away from an exterior surface of the upper and an inner surface facing the exterior surface of the upper, the inner surface being spaced apart from the exterior surface of the upper and free to articulate relative to the exterior surface of the upper.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the fastener receiving portion extends away from the textile material.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein:

the extended portion is a first extended portion and wherein the fastener receiving member also includes a second extended portion;

wherein a first end of the first extended portion is attached to the loop structure and a second end of the first extended portion extends away from the loop structure;

wherein a first end of the second extended portion is attached to the loop structure and a second end of the second extended portion extends away from the loop structure; and

wherein the second end of the first extended portion is spaced further from the second end of the second extended portion than the first end of the first extended portion is spaced from the first end of the second extended portion.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the first extended portion intersects at least a third extended portion, and wherein the second extended portion intersects at least a fourth extended portion.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein a width of the first extended portion is approximately the same as a width of the second extended portion, and wherein the width of the first extended portion is approximately the same as a width of the loop structure.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the first extended portion forms an angle with the second extended portion at the loop structure, the angle being substantially greater than 0 degrees.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein:

the fastener receiving portion is disposed proximate a lacing region of the upper; and

wherein a first end of the extended portion is attached to the fastener receiving portion and wherein a second end of the extended portion is disposed proximate the sole structure.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the extended portion of the fastener receiving member is at least partially embedded within the layer of textile material.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the upper includes a first aperture aligned with the aperture of the loop structure of the fastener receiving portion.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein a diameter of the aperture of the loop structure is at least as large as a diameter of the first aperture of the upper.

11. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper comprising a textile material;

a fastener receiving member attached to the upper, wherein the fastener receiving member comprises an extended portion and a fastener receiving portion, the fastener receiving portion being connected to the extended portion;

wherein the extended portion and the fastener receiving portion are both three-dimensionally printed structures comprising printable material;

wherein the extended portion of the fastener receiving member is at least partially embedded within and bonded to the textile material;

wherein the fastener receiving portion includes a loop structure, the loop structure having an aperture for receiving insertion of a lace therethrough; and

wherein a portion of the fastener receiving portion is unattached to the textile material of the upper, the loop structure having an outer surface facing away from an exterior surface of the upper and an inner surface facing the exterior surface of the upper, the inner surface being spaced apart from the exterior surface of the upper and free to articulate relative to the exterior surface of the upper.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the fastener receiving portion extends away from the textile material.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein:

the extended portion is a first extended portion and wherein the fastener receiving member also includes a second extended portion;

wherein a first end of the first extended portion is attached to the loop structure and a second end of the first extended portion extends away from the loop structure;

wherein a first end of the second extended portion is attached to the loop structure and a second end of the second extended portion extends away from the loop structure; and

wherein the second end of the first extended portion is spaced further from the second end of the second extended portion than the first end of the first extended portion is spaced from the first end of the second extended portion.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first extended portion intersects at least a third extended portion, and wherein the second extended portion intersects at least a fourth extended portion.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein a width of the first extended portion is approximately the same as a width of the second extended portion, and wherein the width of the first extended portion is approximately the same as a width of the loop structure.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first extended portion forms an angle with the second extended portion at the loop structure, the angle being substantially greater than 0 degrees.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein:

the fastener receiving portion is disposed proximate a lacing region of the upper; and

wherein a first end of the extended portion is attached to the fastener receiving portion and wherein a second end of the extended portion is disposed proximate the sole structure.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the extended portion of the fastener receiving member is at least partially embedded within the layer of textile material.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the upper includes a first aperture aligned with the aperture of the loop structure of the fastener receiving portion.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein a diameter of the aperture of the loop structure is at least as large as a diameter of the first aperture of the upper.