IPC分类号：
A43B13/41 | A43B23/02 | B29C67/00 | A43D1/02
国民经济行业分类号：
C1954 | C1953 | C1952 | C1951 | C2444 | C1761 | O8192 | C1959
当前申请(专利权)人：
NIKE INNOVATE C.V.
原始申请(专利权)人：
NIKE INTERNATIONAL LTD.
代理机构：
TOMBLING, ADRIAN GEORGE
摘要：
Various articles, such as footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, watchbands, and the like, and methods of forming those articles are presented. The articles are generally formed, in whole or in part, using rapid manufacturing techniques, such as laser sintering, stereolithography, solid deposition modeling, and the like. The use of rapid manufacturing allows for relatively economical and time efficient manufacture of customized articles. Portions of the articles may be manufactured using rapid manufacturing and those portions may be joined with portions formed using conventional, non-rapid manufacturing techniques. The methods may also include performing a scan of an appropriate body part of a user, such as a foot, in order to create a customized article of footwear for the user.
技术问题语段：
The technical problem addressed in this patent is the limitations and expense of conventional molding and article manufacturing methods used to produce articles such as footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment. These methods require expensive molding equipment that can only produce articles within a narrow range of sizes and designs, which results in material waste and little customization ability for the wearer.
技术功效语段：
This patent describes a method where a scan of a person's foot is used to create a custom pair of footwear that fits their unique physical characteristics. This can be done using rapid manufacturing techniques, like 3D printing, and allows for the insertion of design features by the user or designer. The result is a perfectly fitted and customized pair of footwear that provides better support, comfort, and fit for any individual.
权利要求：
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising: forming an upper using a rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique, wherein the step of forming the upper includes forming a plurality of generally flat upper portions and joining the plurality of upper portions together to form the upper; forming a sole structure including: forming a midsole using a rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique, wherein the midsole has a first region of a first thickness, a second region of a second thickness, and a third region of a third thickness, and forming an outsole engaged with the midsole and having an outsole thickness; and engaging the upper with the sole structure.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first thickness, the second thickness, and third thickness of the midsole are formed of different thicknesses.
3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the step of forming the midsole includes fusing thermoplastic elastomer materials together using laser energy.
4. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the step of forming the midsole includes forming the first thickness in a heel region of the sole structure and forming the third thickness in a toe region of the sole structure, wherein the first thickness is formed to be greater than the third thickness.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first thickness is in a range from 1.27 cm to 5.08 cm and the third thickness is in a range from .635 cm to 2.54 cm.
6. The method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the step of forming the midsole includes forming the second thickness in a midfoot region of the sole structure, and wherein the second thickness is formed to taper from the heel region to the toe region.
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of joining the plurality of upper portions together to form the upper includes connecting the plurality of upper portions together via at least one of stitching or adhesive bonding.
8. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper formed using a rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique, wherein the upper includes a plurality of generally flat upper portions joined together to form the upper; and a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes: a midsole formed using a rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique, wherein the midsole has a first region of a first thickness, a second region of a second thickness, and a third region of a third thickness, and an outsole engaged with the midsole and having an outsole thickness.
9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first thickness, the second thickness, and third thickness are different thicknesses.
10. The article of footwear according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness and less than the third thickness.
11. The article of footwear according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the midsole includes thermoplastic elastomer particles fused using laser energy in the rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique.
12. The article of footwear according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the first thickness is provided in a heel region of the sole structure and is greater than the third thickness provided in a toe region of the sole structure.
13. The article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein the first thickness is in a range from 1.27 cm to 5.08 cm and the third thickness is in a range from .635 cm to 2.54 cm.
14. The article of footwear according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the second thickness is provided in a midfoot region of the sole structure, and wherein the second thickness tapers from the heel region to the toe region.
15. The article of footwear according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the plurality of generally flat upper portions are joined together via at least one of stitching or adhesive bonding.