US 11,925,237 B2
Articles of footwear with printed material deposited thereon
Ryan R. Larson, Portland, OR (US); and Todd W. Miller, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/115,473.
Application 17/115,473 is a division of application No. 15/993,106, filed on May 30, 2018, granted, now 10,863,795.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085030 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 23/02 (2006.01); A43B 3/00 (2022.01); B29D 35/14 (2010.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01)
CPC A43B 23/0265 (2013.01) [A43B 3/0078 (2013.01); A43B 23/0215 (2013.01); A43B 23/0235 (2013.01); A43B 23/026 (2013.01); A43B 23/027 (2013.01); A43B 23/0275 (2013.01); B29D 35/146 (2013.01); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); B29K 2995/007 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure;
an upper coupled to the sole structure; and
a layer disposed only on the upper, wherein the layer includes a plurality of materials each having a different hardness than an adjacent material,
wherein the plurality of materials is arranged on the upper such that a stiffness of the upper is gradated from a toe portion of the upper to a heel portion of the upper, wherein a stiffness of the heel portion is greater than a stiffness of the toe portion, and wherein the layer has a continuous and even gradation that extends along the entire length of the upper.