IP Library Granted Patent US 12,150,512
Granted Patent B2
US 12,150,512 · App. 17/523,631 · Granted Nov 26, 2024

Footwear article having repurposed material with structural-color concealing layer

Inventors: Jennifer Bee (Portland, OR); Jeremy Gantz (Lake Oswego, OR); Kim Kovel (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B1/0027A43B23/07
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,150,512
App. No.
17/523,631
Granted
Nov 26, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

In example aspects, materials are repurposed for footwear manufacturing. That is, in some instances, materials in the footwear manufacturing supply chain are potentially subject to disposal. However, aspects of this disclosure sustainably repurpose those materials (that might otherwise be disposed of) to be used in footwear articles. In some aspects, the repurposed materials may be obscured with a concealing layer.

Claims (9)

1. A footwear article comprising:

an upper comprising a first substrate and a second substrate;

the first substrate having a first externally facing surface and a first internally facing surface opposite the first externally facing surface;

the second substrate having a second externally facing surface and a second internally facing surface opposite the second externally facing surface, wherein the second substrate is a repurposed material;

a first structural color element applied to the first externally facing surface of the first substrate and imparts a first structural color, wherein the first structural color element comprises a first set of layers; and

a second structural color element applied to the second externally facing surface of the second substrate and imparts a second structural color, wherein the second structural color element comprises a second set of layers;

wherein the first structural color and second structural color are visually similar at a first observation angle from outside of the footwear article, and

wherein a portion of the first structural-color element is configured to at least partially abrade such that the first structural color imparted at the portion of the first structural color element that is configured to at least partially abrade and the second structural color are visually different at the first observation angle from outside of the footwear article.

2. The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the first set of layers comprises a first plurality of constituent layers and a first reflective layer positioned between two or more layers of the first plurality of constituent layers, wherein the second set of layers comprises a second plurality of constituent layers and a second reflective layer positioned between two or more layers of the second plurality of constituent layers.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2021
From: BEE, JENNIFER; KOVEL, KIM; GANTZ, JEREMY
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 058077/0194 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16988252 · Aug 7, 2020
Related Publication 20220061450A1 · Mar 3, 2022