Three-dimensional printing of a traced element
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsYoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a traced element is disclosed. The method may include printing layers of a traced element and incorporating a textile strand in overlapping polymer layers of the traced element. In some embodiments, the traced element may be formed on a base layer. The traced element may be incorporated into an upper for an article of footwear.
Claims20
An upper for an article of footwear comprising a traced element, the traced element comprising:
- a first polymer layer comprising:
- a peripheral segment defining an outer periphery of the traced element;
- a first segment extending between a first pair of points on the outer periphery, the first segment disposed along a first trace path;
- and
- a second segment extending between a second pair of points on the outer periphery of the upper, the second segment disposed along a second trace path;
- and
- a second polymer layer comprising:
- a third segment extending between the first pair of points on the outer periphery and disposed along a third trace path that is aligned with and at least partially overlaps the first trace path;
- and
- a fourth segment extending between the second pair of points on the outer periphery and disposed along a fourth trace path that is aligned with and at least partially overlaps the second trace path.
A method of manufacturing a traced element of an upper for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- forming a peripheral boundary by depositing one or more polymer layers along a peripheral polymer-trace path, the peripheral boundary defining an outer periphery of the traced element;
- and
- forming a first polymer layer of a first plurality of segments, the first polymer layer including a first segment and a second segment,
- forming a second polymer layer of a second plurality of segments that at least partially overlaps the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer including a third segment and a fourth segment,
- wherein the first segment is formed by depositing a polymer material along a first polymer-trace path that extends between a first set of points along the outer periphery, and the second segment is formed by depositing the polymer material along a second polymer-trace path that extends between a second set of points along the outer periphery;
- and
- wherein the third segment is formed by depositing the polymer material along a third polymer-trace path that is aligned with and at least partially overlaps the first polymer-trace path, and the fourth segment is formed by depositing the polymer material along a fourth polymer-trace path that is aligned with and at least partially overlaps the third polymer-trace path.
An upper for an article of footwear comprising a traced element, the traced element comprising:
- a first polymer layer comprising:
- a peripheral segment defining an outer periphery of the traced element;
- a first segment extending between a first pair of points on the outer periphery, the first segment disposed along a first trace path;
- and
- a second segment extending between a second pair of points on the outer periphery of the upper, the second segment disposed along a second trace path;
- and
- a thermoplastic-coated strand disposed on the first segment and the second segment of the first polymer layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.