Selective attachment of a yarn structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTodd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system are disclosed. A method of printing onto a base having an upper surface spaced from a lower surface by a base thickness includes dispensing a yarn from a nozzle of a printing system and selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region. The step of dispensing the yarn includes dispensing a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material. The step of selectively attaching the yarn to the first attachment region includes moving the nozzle into the first attachment region. The step of moving the nozzle into the first attachment region reduces the base thickness by a prodding distance. The heat-moldable material bonds to the first attachment region.
Claims20
A fabric substrate comprising:
- a yarn disposed on a surface of the fabric substrate, the yarn including a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material;
- a plurality of attached regions in which yarn is bonded to the surface of the fabric substrate, the plurality of attached regions comprising at least a first attachment region and a second attachment region;
- and
- at least one unattached region in which the yarn is not bonded to the surface, the at least one unattached region including at least a first unattached region between the first attachment region and the second attachment region.
A method of printing a yarn onto a surface of a fabric substrate, the method comprising:
- dispensing the yarn from a nozzle of a printing system, the yarn including a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material, wherein the step of dispensing the yarn comprises dispensing the heat-moldable material in a liquid state and wherein the step of dispensing the yarn comprises dispensing the melt-resistant material in a solid state;
- selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region of the surface of the fabric substrate by contacting the yarn with the first attachment region;
- moving the nozzle away from the first attachment region after selectively attaching the yarn at the first attachment region;
- selectively attaching the yarn to a second attachment region of the surface of the fabric substrate by moving the nozzle to the second attachment region and contacting the yarn with the second attachment region,
- wherein the heat-moldable material bonds to the first attachment region and second attachment region during a transition of the heat-moldable material from the liquid state to a solid state of the heat-moldable material;
- wherein a continuous segment of the yarn is unattached to the surface of the fabric substrate in an unattached region between the first attachment region and the second attachment region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.