IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,256,801
Granted Patent B2
US 12,256,801 · App. 18/074,252 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Article of footwear with dispensed saddle

Inventors: Ricardo Vestuti (Providence, RI); Brian Christensen (Centerville, MA); Dennis Gaboriault (Millbury, MA); Henry Hardigan (Pawtucket, RI)
Assignee: Reebok International Limited
A43B23/028A43B23/0225A43B23/0235A43B23/0245A43B23/0255
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,256,801
App. No.
18/074,252
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes forming an upper dispensed component by dispensing material over an upper for an article of footwear. The upper dispensed component includes a bonded segment that bonds to the article of footwear and a non-bonded segment that does not bond to the article of footwear. The non-bonded segment is dispensed over a non-stick material.

Claims (27)

1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:

forming an upper dispensed component by dispensing material over an upper for an article of footwear,

wherein a bonded segment of the upper dispensed component bonds to the article of footwear,

wherein a non-bonded segment of the upper dispensed component does not bond to the article of footwear, and

wherein the non-bonded segment is dispensed over a non-stick material that forms a portion of the upper.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bonded segment is bonded to the article of footwear at a medial featherline and/or a lateral featherline, and

wherein the non-bonded segment extends over an instep of the upper.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper dispensed component is dispensed directly onto the upper.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bonded segment of the upper dispensed component bonds to the article footwear as the upper dispensed component hardens.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-stick material is screen printed over a portion of the article of footwear.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-stick material is sprayed over a portion of the article of footwear.

7. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:

forming an upper dispensed component by dispensing material over a substrate, the substrate comprising a non-stick material that does not bond with the upper dispensed component as the upper dispensed component hardens; and

after forming the upper dispensed component over the substrate, attaching the upper dispensed component to an article of footwear such that the upper dispensed component is bonded to the article of footwear at bonded segments of the upper dispensed component and is not bonded to the article of footwear at non-bonded segments of the upper dispensed component.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the upper dispensed component is bonded to the article of footwear at a medial featherline a and lateral featherline of the article of footwear.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the upper dispensed component is stitched to the article of footwear.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the upper dispensed component extends over an instep of an upper for the article of footwear, and the non-bonded segments of the upper dispensed component are not bonded to the instep.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the upper dispensed component forms a stand-alone component as it hardens over the non-stick material.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dispensed component is attached to the article of footwear between an upper and a sole.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dispensing of the upper dispensed component is performed automatically by a mechanical device.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising changing a height of a nozzle of the mechanical device to change the geometry or physical appearance of the upper dispensed component.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising changing a speed of a nozzle of the mechanical device to change the geometry or physical appearance of the upper dispensed component.

16. The method of claim 7 , wherein the upper dispensed component is dispensed to define a plurality of apertures.

17. The method of claim 7 , wherein the non-bonded segment allows the upper to stretch and move independently from the upper.

18. The method of claim 7 , further comprising dispensing a sole dispensed component onto a substrate of a midsole of the article of footwear.

19. The method of claim 7 , further comprising removing the upper dispensed component from the substrate after forming the upper dispensed component over the substrate.

20. The method of claim 7 , wherein the substrate is not the article of the footwear.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2023
From: VESTUTI, RICARDO; CHRISTENSEN, BRIAN; GABORIAULT, DENNIS; HARDIGAN, HENRY
To: REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 062348/0001 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15831851 · Dec 5, 2017
Related Publication 20230100560A1 · Mar 30, 2023
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