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US 9,840,745 B2Granted
Footwear and other products incorporating cultured leather
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorPamela S. Greene
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variety of products may incorporate cultured leather, which is produced in vitro. Examples of products that may incorporate cultured leather include footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, furniture, handbags or any other consumer or industrial product that commonly incorporates conventional leather or synthetic leather.
Claims14
A method of manufacturing a product, the method comprising:
- providing a container apparatus, the container apparatus including a culture medium and a support element therein;
- placing at least one reinforcing structure on the support element;
- introducing dermal cells into the culture medium, so that the dermal cells grow and divide to form a tissue layer including a first stratum on a first side of the tissue layer, a second stratum on a second side of the tissue layer and having different properties than the first stratum, and a third stratum disposed between the first stratum and the second stratum, wherein various solutions are deposited at different stages to induce specific strata to form, and wherein the reinforcing structure extends into both the first stratum and the second stratum and the reinforcing structure has (a) a first portion that extends into the third stratum such that the first portion of the reinforcing structure is parallel to both a first surface and a second surface of the third stratum, (b) a second portion that is perpendicular to the first portion of the reinforcing structure, the second portion of the reinforcing structure extending from the first portion through both the third stratum and the first stratum such that the second portion is surrounded by the third stratum and the first stratum, and (c) a third portion that is perpendicular to the first portion of the reinforcing structure, the third portion extending from the first portion through both the third stratum and the second stratum such that the third portion is surrounded by the third stratum and the second stratum;
- and wherein the second stratum has different properties that the first stratum, wherein the tissue layer grows around the at least one reinforcing structure in such a manner as to completely surround the at least one reinforcing structure, thereby forming a cultured leather that incorporates the at least one reinforcing structure;
- removing the cultured leather from the container apparatus;
- and
- incorporating the cultured leather into a product.
4 more elements
A method of manufacturing a product, the method comprising:
- providing a container apparatus, the container apparatus including a culture medium therein;
- depositing at least one explant onto the culture medium, the explant containing dermal cells, so that the dermal cells grow and divide to form a tissue layer, whereby various solutions are deposited at different stages to induce specific strata to form, and the tissue layer undergoes cell differentiation to form a cultured leather including a first stratum, a second stratum differing from the first stratum with respect to at least one physical property, and a third stratum disposed between the first stratum and the second stratum, wherein a reinforcing structure extends into both the first stratum and the second stratum and the reinforcing structure has (a) a first portion that extends into the third stratum such that the first portion of the reinforcing structure is parallel to both a first surface and a second surface of the third stratum, (b) a second portion that is perpendicular to the first portion of the reinforcing structure, the second portion of the reinforcing structure extending from the first portion through both the third stratum and the first stratum such that the second portion is surrounded by the third stratum and the first stratum, and (c) a third portion that is perpendicular to the first portion of the reinforcing structure, the third portion extending from the first portion through both the third stratum and the second stratum such that the third portion is surrounded by the third stratum and the second stratum;
- and wherein the second stratum has different properties that the first stratum,
- removing the cultured leather from the container apparatus;
- and
- incorporating the cultured leather into a product.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.