3D-PRINTED ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR WITH PROPERTY GRADIENTS
The present disclosure is related to three-dimensionally printed articles for use in footwear and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a three-dimensionally printed article may comprise a closed-cell foam. The closed-cell foam may have a gradient in and/or may be a single integrated material. In some embodiments, a three-dimensionally printed article may comprise a sensor. The use of such arrangements can, according to certain embodiments, allow for the production of improved articles of footwear and/or customized articles of footwear.
1 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear, comprising:
a 3D-printed article having a gradient in a property between a first portion and a second portion, wherein the 3D-printed article is a single integrated material, and wherein the property is selected from the group consisting of average stiffness, average Shore A hardness, average Shore D hardness, average Asker C hardness, average pore size, average density, color, average surface roughness, average reflectivity, average strength, average elongation at break, average tensile elastic modulus, and average modulus at 100% strain.
2 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear, comprising:
a 3D-printed article having a gradient in a property between a first portion and a second portion, wherein the 3D-printed article is a single integrated material, and wherein the property is a mechanical property.
3 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear, comprising:
a 3D-printed article having a gradient in a property between a first portion and a second portion, wherein the 3D-printed article is a single integrated material, and wherein the property is an optical property.
4 . (canceled)
5 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the property is average pore size.
6 . (canceled)
7 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the property is average stiffness.
8 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the property is average Shore A hardness.
12 . (canceled)
13 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the property is average microindentation hardness.
14 . (canceled)
15 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the property is average density.
16 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion is positioned above the second portion.
19 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion is positioned beside the second portion.
20 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are directly adjacent.
21 . (canceled)
22 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion is positioned closer to a sensor than the second portion.
23 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in any claim 1 , wherein the 3D-printed article is a component of one or more of a sole, an upper, a midsole, an outsole, an insole, a toe box, an eyestay, a heel counter, a logo, an eyelet, a quarter panel, and a no sew overlay feature.
24 . (canceled)
25 . An article of footwear comprising the 3D-printed article for use in footwear of claim 1 .
26 - 28 . (canceled)
29 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the 3D-printed article comprises a foam.
30 - 31 . (canceled)
32 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion is positioned above the second portion, and wherein the first portion has a lower average density than the second portion.
33 - 35 . (canceled)
36 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the 3D-printed article comprises an elastomer.
37 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the gradient is present over a distance of greater than or equal to 2 mm.
38 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the 3D-printed article comprises a pathway along which the 3D-printed article lacks an interface over which the property undergoes a step change, and wherein the pathway has a length of at least 5 mm.
39 - 41 . (canceled)
42 . A 3D-printed article for use in footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the property varies smoothly throughout the 3D-printed article.
43 - 51 . (canceled)