Method of making an article comprising links

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9585437-B2
Application number	US-201314068482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2013
Priority date	Nov 6, 2008
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A method of making an article including links includes a step of generating a link pattern according to a pre-selected portion of the article. The link pattern includes a plurality of link indicia that correspond to a plurality of links. After associating each link from the plurality of links with a link indicia from the plurality of link indicia, a plurality of threads may be threaded through the plurality of links to form a link matrix. The link matrix may be associated with the pre-selected portion of an article to make an article including links.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of making an article, comprising the steps of:
creating a link pattern according to a pre-selected portion of the article, the link pattern comprising a plurality of link indicia that correspond to a plurality of links;
associating each link from the plurality of links with a link indicia from the plurality of link indicia;
forming a link matrix by threading a plurality of threads through the plurality of links; and
associating the link matrix with the pre-selected portion of the article;
wherein the step of creating a link pattern includes a step of generating a link pattern using a computer;
wherein the step of forming the link matrix includes forming a link matrix having a two-dimensional, single layer arrangement;
wherein the step of forming a two-dimensional, single layer link matrix is followed by a step of moving at least one link towards a center of the link matrix; and
wherein the curvature of the link matrix changes as the at least one link is moved.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the article is an article of footwear.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of threading the plurality of threads through the plurality of links is followed by a step of tying ends of the plurality of threads.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the link pattern is two-dimensional.

5. A method of making an article, comprising the steps of:
generating a two-dimensional link pattern with a computer;
applying the two-dimensional link pattern to a two-dimensional sheet of material, the link pattern comprising a plurality of link indicia that correspond to a plurality of links, wherein the link pattern includes at least two adjacent link indicia separated by a gap;
associating each link from a plurality of links with a link indicia from the plurality of link indicia;
threading a plurality of threads through the plurality of links to form a link matrix;
pushing the plurality of links inwardly toward a central portion of the link matrix, thereby forming the link matrix into a three-dimensional shape by changing a geometry of the link matrix from a substantially flat geometry to a curved geometry, wherein the gap corresponds to a curved portion of the link matrix;
wherein associating each link from the plurality of links with a link indicia from the plurality of link indicia includes associating links with the at least two adjacent link indicia; and
wherein pushing the plurality of links inwardly toward the center portion of each thread places the adjacent links of the link matrix in an abutting relationship with one another by eliminating the gap between the adjacent links.

6. The method of claim 5 , further including associating the link matrix with a portion of the article, wherein the portion of the article is curved.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the link pattern includes a plurality of rows of link indicia; and
wherein each row is associated with a thread from the plurality of threads.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the article is an article of footwear.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the link matrix is associated with a tongue of the article of footwear.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the link matrix is associated with an upper of the article of footwear.

11. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the gap separating the at least two adjacent link indicia extends through multiple link widths.

12. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the gap has a size that corresponds with a plurality of links.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the gap has a triangular shape.

14. A method of making an article, comprising the steps of:
receiving a customized design for the article with a computer;
generating, with a computer, a two-dimensional link pattern associated with the customized design;
applying the two-dimensional link pattern to a two-dimensional sheet of material, the link pattern comprising a plurality of link indicia that correspond to a plurality of links, wherein the link pattern includes at least two adjacent link indicia separated by a gap;
associating each link from a plurality of links with a link indicia from the plurality of link indicia;
threading a plurality of threads through the plurality of links to form a link matrix;
pushing the plurality of links inwardly toward a central portion of the link matrix, thereby forming the link matrix into a three-dimensional shape by changing a geometry of the link matrix from a substantially flat geometry to a curved geometry.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein associating each link from the plurality of links with a link indicia from the plurality of link indicia includes associating links with the at least two adjacent link indicia; and
wherein pushing the plurality of links inwardly toward the center portion of each thread places the adjacent links of the link matrix in an abutting relationship with one another by eliminating the gap between the adjacent links.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the article is an article of footwear.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the link matrix is associated with an upper of the article of footwear.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Aveni Michael A

Classifications

• A43B23/26

  Tongues for shoes · CPC title

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B23/0205

  characterised by the material (material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08) · CPC title

• A43B9/00

  Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts · CPC title

• A43B1/0027 Primary

  made at least partially from a material having special colours · CPC title