IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,622,475
Granted Patent B2
US 12,622,475 · App. 17/634,086 · Granted May 12, 2026

Methods, systems, and articles for producing a film pattern on a substrate material

Inventors: Cody Evin Janes (Beaverton, OR); Daniel P. Morgan (Beaverton, OR); Kyle Schepke (Portland, OR); Joshua Patrick Williams (Portland, OR); Yang-Hua Ou (Miaoli, TW)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A41D27/28A41D13/0156A41D31/02A41D31/125A41D31/185B05C5/0208B05C11/00B05D1/265B05D1/286B05D7/14B32B3/085B32B5/26B32B7/05B32B37/0076D06B1/02B32B3/266B32B2274/00B32B2305/18B32B2307/728B32B2307/734Y10T442/162Y10T442/3854Y10T442/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,622,475
App. No.
17/634,086
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to systems, methods, and articles for producing a patterned film and using the patterned film to form a pattern of discrete overlay film structures on a substrate material. A uniform thickness of a film material is deposited on to a first surface of a run of carrier sheets, where each carrier sheet includes one or more holes extending there through. A first carrier sheet is extracted from the run of carrier sheets, and a second surface of the carrier sheet is positioned on a substrate material. Heat and/or pressure is applied to the film material to cause the film material to transfer to the substrate material through the one or more holes in the carrier sheet forming a pattern of discrete overlay film structures on the substrate material. The carrier sheet along with remaining portions of the film material is removed from the substrate material.

Claims (17)

1 . A method for producing a patterned film, the method comprising:

continuously extruding a uniform thickness of a film material on to a first surface of a run of carrier sheets, each carrier sheet of the run of carrier sheets having a plurality of holes extending there through, the film material extending across the plurality of holes of the carrier sheet and maintaining a uniform thickness as it extends across the plurality of holes, the plurality of holes configured to define the patterned film formed by transferring the film material to a substrate material through the plurality of holes;

rolling the run of carrier sheets with the film material deposited thereon around a central axis of rotation; and

curing the film material.

2 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein the uniform thickness of the film material is from about 40 microns to about 200 microns.

3 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein the film material comprises one of a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) film material, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film material, or a thermoplastic poly(ether-amide) elastomer (TPAE) film material.

4 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein the film material is cured from about 24 hours to about 36 hours.

5 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein the run of carrier sheets is formed from one or more of a fibrous material, a nonwoven material, a woven composite material and a metal material.

6 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein each of the carrier sheets comprises a second surface opposite the first surface, and the second surface of the carrier sheet includes an adhesive layer extending across the carrier sheet, wherein the adhesive layer extends across the plurality of holes.

7 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein each of the carrier sheets has a thickness from about 50 microns to about 500 microns.

8 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein each of the carrier sheets comprises a non-stick coating disposed between the film material and the carrier sheet.

9 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 8 , wherein the non-stick coating comprises silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene.

10 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 8 , wherein the curing step occurs prior to the rolling step.

11 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 1 , wherein rolling the run of carrier sheets with the film material deposited thereon around a central axis of rotation forms a rolled good.

12 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 11 , wherein the curing step occurs prior to the rolling step.

13 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes each have a diameter that is least 5 mm.

14 . The method for producing the patterned film of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes each have a minimum width of at least 5 mm and a minimum length of at least 5 mm.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: OU, YANG-HUA
To: NIKE 360 HOLDING B.V.
Reel/Frame 062011/0825 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: JANES, CODY EVIN; MORGAN, DANIEL P.; SCHEPKE, KYLE; WILLIAMS, JOSHUA PATRICK
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 062012/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: NIKE 360 HOLDING B.V.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 062012/0057 →
Continuity (5)
Provisional Application 62972426 · Feb 10, 2020
Provisional Application 62951154 · Dec 20, 2019
Provisional Application 62924527 · Oct 22, 2019
Provisional Application 62885589 · Aug 12, 2019
Related Publication 20220347717A1 · Nov 3, 2022
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