IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,332,809
Granted Patent B2
US 9,332,809 · App. 14/230,097 · Granted May 10, 2016

Method of making an article of footwear

Inventors: David P. Jones (Beaverton, OR); Bruce J. Kilgore (Lake Oswego, OR); Elizabeth Langvin (Sherwood, OR); James C. Meschter (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43D8/16A43B1/0054A43B3/0036A43B3/0078A43B3/0084A43B3/0089A43B9/00A43D8/30A43D111/00A43D999/00G06Q10/043G06Q30/0621A43D2200/00A43D2200/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,332,809
App. No.
14/230,097
Granted
May 10, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of designing an article of footwear via a website, converting a footwear representation into a set of two-dimensional portions, printing the two dimensional portions onto a sheet material, cutting and assembling the two dimensional portions into a finalized article of footwear. The method further includes a step of shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address. Systems for receiving an order for a customized article of footwear are also disclosed.

Claims (39)

1. A method for producing a customized article of footwear, comprising:

receiving a designation of a customized three-dimensional footwear representation of the customized article of footwear,

wherein the customized three-dimensional footwear representation includes a background color and a foreground design to be applied to a customized portion of the customized article of footwear, and

wherein the customized three-dimensional footwear representation includes a remaining portion of the customized article of footwear;

converting the customized three-dimensional footwear representation into a first two-dimensional portion corresponding to the customized portion and a second two-dimensional portion corresponding to the remaining portion;

applying the background color to a sheet material to provide the first two-dimensional portion on the sheet material;

applying the foreground design to the sheet material in the first two-dimensional portion to form the customized portion of the customized article of footwear; and

assembling the customized portion with the remaining portion to form the customized article of footwear.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet material has a color different from the background color.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet material is substantially identical in color to the background color.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein applying the background color comprises printing the background color.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein applying the background color comprises using at least one of a film transfer and a film lamination.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising cutting the first two-dimensional portion out of the sheet material to form the customized portion of the customized article of footwear.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein applying the background color comprises applying the background color within the first two-dimensional portion and also beyond the first two-dimensional portion.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising forming the remaining portion from sheet material to which a background color and foreground design are not applied.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the sheet material of the second two-dimensional portion has a background color different from the background color of the first two-dimensional portion.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet material is a stock material.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the background color is applied around the foreground design in the first two-dimensional portion.

12. A method for producing a customized article of footwear, comprising:

receiving a designation of a customized three-dimensional footwear representation of the customized article of footwear,

wherein the customized three-dimensional footwear representation includes a designated background color and foreground design to be applied to a customized portion of the customized article of footwear, and

wherein the customized three-dimensional footwear representation includes a remaining portion of the customized article of footwear;

converting the customized three-dimensional footwear representation into a set of two-dimensional portions, the set including a first two-dimensional portion corresponding to the customized portion of the customized article of footwear;

applying the designated background color and foreground design to a sheet material to provide the first two-dimensional portion on the sheet material and covering substantially the entire area of the first two-dimensional portion with the designated background color and foreground design to form the customized portion of the customized article of footwear; and

assembling the customized portion with the remaining portion to form the customized article of footwear.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the sheet material has a color different from the designated background color.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the sheet material is substantially identical in color to the designated background color.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein applying the designated background color comprises printing the designated background color.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein applying the designated background color comprises using at least one of a film transfer and a film lamination.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein applying the designated background color to the sheet material comprises applying the designated background color to the sheet material beyond the first two-dimensional portion.

18. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising forming the remaining portion from sheet material to which a background color and foreground design are not applied.

19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein assembling the customized portion with the remaining portion comprises placing the customized portion adjacent to the remaining portion with a first edge of the customized portion adjacent to a second edge of the remaining portion, and attaching the first edge to the second edge.

20. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the sheet material is a stock material.

21. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the designated background color is applied around the foreground design.

22. A method for producing a customized article of footwear, comprising:

displaying through a computer graphical interface system a graphical representation of the customized article of footwear;

receiving through the computer graphical interface system a selection of a background color and a foreground design to be applied to a designated portion of the graphical representation;

applying the selected background color and the selected foreground design to a sheet material to provide on the sheet material a two-dimensional portion corresponding to the designated portion and covering substantially the entire area within the two-dimensional portion with the selected background color and the selected foreground design; and

assembling the two-dimensional portion with another two-dimensional portion to form the customized article of footwear.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: JONES, DAVID P.; KILGORE, BRUCE J.; LANGVIN, ELIZABETH; MESCHTER, JAMES C.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 055495/0885 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13616762 · Sep 14, 2012
Division 13053445 · Mar 22, 2011
Division 11612320 · Dec 18, 2006
Related Publication 20140289976A1 · Oct 2, 2014