# US 2014/0150968 A1 · Method Of Manufacturing An Article Of Apparel With A Coated Graphic > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150968 A1 - Document ID: US20140150968A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/902,655 - Filed: 2013-05-24 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-03 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Steven McClard; Eric W. Halverson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150968A1 ## CPC - B41J 2/325: by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet - B44C 1/1712: {Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive} - A41D 19/0051: {Decorations} - A41D 19/01558: {using a layer of grip improving material (A41D19/01552 takes precedence)} - A63B 71/148: {Gloves for bowling and other ball games} - B32B 38/145: {Printing} - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - Y10T 156/108: Flash, trim or excess removal - Y10T 428/24612: Composite web or sheet - Y10T 428/24868: Translucent outer layer - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of applying a graphic to an article is disclosed. The method includes applying a graphic to a backer material and covering the backer material with a clear protective layer, which may be silicone, to help prevent degradation of the graphic with time and use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of applying a graphic to an article of apparel, the method comprising: receiving a graphic associated with the article of apparel; applying the graphic directly on a backer material; covering the backer material and the graphic with a protective layer; and forming a portion of the article of apparel from the backer material, the graphic, and the protective layer, the entire portion of the article of apparel conforming to a portion of a wearer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying the graphic further includes applying a set of customized graphics arranged as a palm of a glove directly on the backer material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying the graphic further includes printing the graphic directly on the backer material using a dye sublimation printer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of covering the backer material and the graphic further includes applying the protective layer to a surface of the backer material that is associated with an outer surface of the article of apparel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer is a transparent silicone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphic is received from a customization system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the article of apparel is a glove, and the step of forming further includes (a) forming a first material element from the backer material, the graphic, and the protective layer, and (b) forming a glove from the first material element and one or more additional material elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the article of apparel is a glove, and the step of forming includes forming an entire palmar side of the glove from the backer material. ### Claim 9 A method of applying a graphic to an article of apparel, the method comprising: receiving a graphic associated with the article of apparel; printing the graphic directly on the backer material using a dye sublimation printer; covering the backer material and the graphic with a transparent silicone layer; and forming a portion of the article of apparel from the backer material, the graphic, and the silicone layer, the portion of the article of apparel having (a) a first surface facing away from a wearer and an opposite second surface and (b) a first portion disposed on a first side and a second portion disposed on an opposite second side, and the graphic extending from the first surface through the first portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the backer material has a first thickness, the silicone layer has a second thickness, and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the portion of the article of apparel includes a metacarpal region and a plurality of phalangeal regions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the portion of the article of apparel is an entire palmar side of a glove. ### Claim 13 A method of applying a graphic to a glove, the method comprising: receiving a graphic associated with the glove; printing the graphic directly on a backer material; covering the backer material and the graphic with a protective layer; forming a first material element from the backer material, the graphic, and the protective layer; and combining the first material element with one or more additional material elements to form the glove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the graphic includes a plurality of pre-selected graphic regions, and each graphic region of the plurality of pre-selected graphic regions is disposed on one of a phalangeal region of the backer material and a metacarpal region of the backer material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of printing the graphic further includes printing the graphic directly on the backer material using a dye sublimation printer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of covering the backer material further includes applying the protective layer to a surface of the backer material that is associated with an outer surface of the glove. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the protective layer is a transparent silicone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the graphic is received from a customization system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the first material element forms an entire palmar side of the glove. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the backer material has a first thickness, the protective layer has a second thickness, and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.