US 12,232,574 B2
3D printed footwear with improved cosmetics, comfort and ventilation
Maxwell G. Ames, Greer, SC (US)
Filed by Maxwell G. Ames, Greer, SC (US)
Filed on Dec. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/074,732.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/286,347, filed on Dec. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0172314 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. A43D 3/02 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC A43D 3/02 (2013.01) [B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); A43D 2200/60 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for producing a 3D printed shoe, comprising:
creating a 3D printed shoe last model in a CAD system connected to a 3D printer;
printing the 3D printed shoe last model for construction of a conceptual model shoe last;
documenting shapes and pieces of the conceptual model shoe last using at least one of hand measurements and 3D scanning;
initializing a first additive manufacturing design tool for construction of a 3D printed shoe in the CAD system by creating a first solid upper and a first solid lower from the conceptual model shoe last;
subtracting the 3D printed shoe last model from a combination of the first solid upper and the first solid lower resulting in a void foot space between the combination of the first solid upper and the first solid lower;
introducing a positive draft to interior walls of the first solid upper and exterior walls of the first solid lower to enable stacking onto each other on a build platform of the 3D printer;
generating an assembly aid with specific dimensions between the first solid upper and first solid lower of the 3D printed shoe with the first solid lower positioned adjacent interior walls of the assembly aid and the first solid upper positioned adjacent exterior walls of the assembly aid;
designing cosmetic features of the 3D printed shoe on top of the conceptual model shoe for the first solid upper or the first solid lower without merging;
adding anchor points for at least one shoelace into the first solid upper without merging;
initializing a second additive manufacturing design tool wherein walls in a second solid upper comprise hollowed-out walls in the second solid upper;
adding a plurality of perforations having different shapes and sizes to an interior wall of the second solid upper;
preventing an exterior wall of the second solid upper from being perforated, thereby preventing liquid or solid matter from entering the 3D printed shoe;
generating a first organic lattice between the second solid upper and a second solid lower;
hollowing, perforating, and a thickening the second solid upper and the first organic lattice to fill any internal voids;
lightly perforating a second solid lower perforated portion positioned below a sole of the foot;
hollowing a second solid lower hollowed portion;
introducing a second organic lattice into the second solid lower hollowed portion with a specific cell size and thickness;
merging the second solid upper to the second solid lower perforated portion;
texturing the second solid upper outer walls of the second solid upper lower walls to reflect the cosmetic features of the conceptual model shoe;
mixing and sorting different 3D printed shoe sizes in order of decreasing size for maximum packing density stacking of a 3D printed shoes build;
printing the 3D printed shoes build using a build material;
extracting, separating and cleaning the 3D printed shoes build;
painting the cosmetic features of the 3D printed shoe;
coating the second solid upper and second solid lower with a protective coating;
bonding the second solid upper and second solid lower to each other;
coating the cosmetic features with a protective coating; and
bonding the cosmetic features to the second solid upper and second solid lower to generate a ventilated 3D printed shoe.