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.
Claims18
A method of printing onto a base, comprising:
- positioning a nozzle of a printing system above an upper surface of the base;
- dispensing a yarn from the nozzle, the yarn including a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material;
- selectively attaching a first portion of the yarn to a first attachment region of the upper surface of the base by lowering the nozzle toward the first attachment region so that the first portion of the yarn contacts and bonds to the first attachment region;
- raising the nozzle away from the upper surface of the base after selectively attaching the first portion of the yarn to the first attachment region and moving the nozzle to a second attachment region;
- and
- selectively attaching a second portion of yarn to the second attachment region by lowering the nozzle toward the second attachment region so that the second portion of yarn contacts and bonds to the second attachment region;
- wherein the yarn has a curved portion that is unattached to the upper surface and extends between the first attachment region and the second attachment region.
A method of printing onto a base, comprising:
- positioning a nozzle of a printing system above an upper surface of the base;
- dispensing a yarn from the nozzle, the yarn including a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material;
- selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region of the upper surface of the base by moving the nozzle to the first attachment region and bonding the yarn to the upper surface at the first attachment region;
- moving the nozzle away from the upper surface of the base and along the upper surface away from the first attachment region;
- selectively attaching the yarn to a second attachment region by lowering the nozzle toward the second attachment region and bonding the yarn to the second attachment region, the second attachment region being spaced apart from the first attachment region;
- providing a portion of yarn between the first attachment region and the second attachment region that is unattached to the upper surface, the unattached portion of the yarn having a length that is greater than a distance between the first attachment region and the second attachment region;
- and
- shaping the unattached portion of the yarn between the first attachment region and the second attachment region so that the unattached portion of the yarn has a non-straight path along the upper surface of the base.
The method of claim 12, wherein the unattached portion has a curved shape between the first attachment region and the second attachment region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.