Patent ID: 11925237
Assignee: NIKE, INC.
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 15:
16. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure;
an upper coupled to the sole structure and comprising a toe portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion; and
a printed layer disposed on the upper, wherein the printed layer is at least partially absorbed into a surface of the upper, wherein the printed layer includes a first printed material comprising a first hardness, a second printed material comprising a second hardness, and a third printed material comprising a third hardness, wherein the second printed material is harder than the first printed material, and wherein the third printed material is harder than the first printed material and the second printed material,
wherein the toe portion of the upper has the first printed material disposed thereon,
wherein the midfoot portion of the upper comprises a first region and a second region disposed farther toward the heel portion than the first region, wherein the first region has a first mixture of the first printed material and the second printed material disposed thereon, wherein the first mixture is harder than the first printed material and softer than the second printed material, wherein the second region has a second mixture of the second printed material and the third printed material disposed thereon, and wherein the second mixture is harder than the second printed material and softer than the third printed material,
wherein the heel portion of the upper has the third printed material disposed thereon, and
wherein a hardness of the printed layer is gradated, and the printed layer has a continuous and even gradation that extends along the entire length of the upper.