Article of apparel incorporating a stratified material
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJames Meschter, Susan Diane Cessor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of apparel having a substrate layer and an incised layer is disclosed. The substrate layer is at least partially formed from a material having a first degree of stretchability. The incised layer is secured to the substrate layer and at least partially formed from a material having a second degree of stretchability, the first degree of stretchability being greater than the second degree of stretchability. In addition, the incised layer includes at least a first incision and a second incision that are concentric, the first incision being positioned within the second incision.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing an article of apparel, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a topography of at least a portion of an individual covered by the article of apparel;
- forming a substrate layer extending around at least a portion of the individual and having a first degree of stretchability;
- forming a ring layer secured to the substrate layer and formed of a material having a second degree of stretchability different from the first degree of stretchability, forming the ring layer including:
- forming a first ring, the first ring being a topographical line corresponding to the topography;
- forming a second ring, the second ring being a topographical line corresponding to the topography;
- and
- positioning the first ring adjacent to and within the second ring to define an aperture exposing at least a portion of the substrate layer.
A method of manufacturing an article of apparel, the method comprising steps of:
- determining a topography of at least a portion of an individual covered by the article of apparel;
- providing a substrate layer at least partially formed from a material having a first degree of stretchability;
- forming a plurality of concentric incisions in an incised layer, the incisions being shaped as topographical lines corresponding to the topography, the incised layer being formed from a material having a second degree of stretchability, the first degree of stretchability being greater than the second degree of stretchability;
- and
- locating the incised layer coextensive with the substrate layer.
A method of forming an article of apparel having a configuration of footwear including an upper defining a void for receiving a foot and a sole structure secured to the upper, comprising:
- forming a substrate layer forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and extending from at least a lateral side of the upper to a medial side of the upper, the substrate layer being formed of a stretchable material;
- forming a first ring layer secured to the substrate layer and forming at least a second portion of the exterior surface of the upper, wherein forming the first ring layer including:
- positioning the first ring layer on the medial side of the upper;
- locating the first ring layer to correspond to joints between metacarpals and phalanges of the foot;
- and
- forming the first ring layer including at least a first pair of concentric rings defining an aperture exposing the substrate layer;
- forming a second ring layer secured to the substrate layer and forming at least a third portion of the exterior surface of the upper, forming the second ring layer including:
- positioning the second ring layer on the lateral side of the upper;
- locating the second ring layer to correspond to joints between metacarpals and phalanges of the foot;
- and
- forming the second ring layer to include at least a second pair of concentric rings defining an aperture exposing the substrate layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.