# US 12,004,592 B2 · Articles and methods of manufacture of articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,592 B2 - Document ID: US12004592B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/945,211 - Filed: 2020-07-31 - Published: 2020-11-19 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-23 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Kelly B. Jarvis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004592B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/41: combined with heel stiffener, toe stiffener, or shank stiffener - A43B 1/0027: {made at least partially from a material having special colours} - A43B 3/0078: {provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence)} - A43B 23/0235: {Different layers of different material} - A43B 23/08: Heel stiffeners; Toe stiffeners - A43D 1/025: {comprising optical means, e.g. mirrors, photo-electric cells, for measuring or inspecting feet} - B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting - B29D 35/126: {Uppers} - B29L 2031/50: Footwear, e.g. shoes or parts thereof - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract Various articles, such as footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, watchbands, and the like, and methods of forming those articles are presented. The articles are generally formed, in whole or in part, using rapid manufacturing techniques, such as laser sintering, stereolithography, solid deposition modeling, and the like. The use of rapid manufacturing allows for relatively economical and time efficient manufacture of customized articles. The articles may include one or more reinforcements configured to provide added durability to various regions of the articles. In addition, the articles may be formed from two or more materials in a single rapid manufacturing process. The rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique may also include using of varying intensities of the laser to fuse material to form the articles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, comprising: forming a first portion of the upper by depositing multiple successive layers of a thermoplastic material via a solid deposition modeling fabrication technique; providing a second portion of the upper as a separate piece from the first portion, the second portion comprising a second material that is different from the thermoplastic material; and attaching the second portion of the upper to the first portion of the upper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a vamp forefoot reinforcement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a toe region reinforcement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a collar reinforcement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a textile or plastic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the upper is attached to the first portion of the upper by adhesive or by stitching. ### Claim 7 A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, comprising: forming a first portion of the upper by depositing multiple successive layers of a thermoplastic material via a solid deposition modeling fabrication technique; and adhesively bonding a second portion of the upper with the first portion, the second portion comprising a second material that is different from the thermoplastic material, the second portion having been formed as a separate piece from the first portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a vamp forefoot reinforcement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a toe region reinforcement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a collar reinforcement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a textile or plastic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the upper is shaped as a logo or a company trademark. ### Claim 13 A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, comprising: forming a first portion of an upper by depositing multiple successive layers of a thermoplastic elastomer material via a solid deposition modeling fabrication technique; attaching a second portion of the upper to the first portion, wherein the second portion is formed as a separate piece from the first portion and includes a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, leather, and a textile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a vamp forefoot reinforcement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a toe region reinforcement. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a collar reinforcement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a textile material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the upper comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the attaching step includes bonding the second portion of the upper to the first portion of the upper. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the upper is attached to the first portion of the upper by adhesive or by stitching.