On | LightSpray | A deep dive in the patent publications related to this revolutionary technology
- Raphaël Hoesli
- Jul 24, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 4, 2025
On just released an exciting new technology called the LightSpray. It does not just enable the running shoes to be lace free it revolutionises shoe manufacturing. By uniting robotics and materials innovation, this unique process cuts a decades-old, multi-part process into a three-minute, minimal-waste step. Have a look at On's technology overview before we dive in the two patent applications related to this amazing innovation.
Patent 1:
Method of manufacturing a textile material.
CH717906A2
ON CLOUDS GMBH C/O ON AG
Bibliographic data:
Publication date: | 2022-03-31 |
Application date: | 2020-09-30 |
Priority date: | 2020-09-30 (CH12392020A) |
Application number: | CH01239/20 |
Inventors: | JOHANNES VOELCHERT, NILS ALTROGGE, MARTIN RÜEGG |
CPC classification: | A43B 1/04 A43B 23/0215 A43B 23/025 A43D 2200/60 B29C 41/365 B29D 35/126 D04H 3/05 |
IPC classification: | B29D 35/12, A43B 23/02, B29C 41/36, D04H 3/05, A43B 1/028 |
Legal status: | UNKNOWN |
Family status: | ACTIVE |
External links: |
A. What is the invention?
B. How does it work?
C. What is new?
D. Why is it useful?
A. The invention is a method for producing a textile material, in particular a shoe upper, by applying a molten polymer composition to a shaping carrier (e.g. a last) using a nozzle with an outlet opening and surrounding air outlet openings. The molten polymer composition is applied as a helical filament onto the shaping carrier.
B. The method works as follows:
1. A polymer composition is melted at a first temperature.
2. The molten polymer composition is applied to a shaping carrier (e.g. a last) using a nozzle.
3. The nozzle has an outlet opening for the molten polymer composition and several air outlet openings arranged around the outlet opening.
4. Compressed air is applied through the air outlet openings to the molten polymer composition as it exits the nozzle, causing it to be applied as a helical filament onto the shaping carrier.
C. The new aspects are:
- Applying the molten polymer composition as a helical filament rather than a straight filament or non-woven material.
- Using a nozzle with surrounding air outlet openings to create the helical filament.
- The ability to control the properties of the textile material by adjusting parameters like the helix radius.
D. The invention is useful because it allows the production of a loop-like or mesh-like textile material, like a shoe upper, using an additive manufacturing approach. This provides more design flexibility compared to traditional textile manufacturing methods like knitting or weaving.
Patent 2:
METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SHOE COMPONENT AND SHOE COMPONENT
WO2024133187A1
ON CLOUDS GMBH
Bibliographic data:
Publication date: | 2024-06-27 |
Application date: | 2023-12-19 |
Priority date: | 2022-12-19 (CH15162022A) |
Application number: | EP2023086525 |
Inventors: | VOELCHERT JOHANNES, RÜEGG MARTIN, BELL THOMAS |
CPC classification: | A43B 1/04 A43B 23/0245 A43B 9/20 B33Y 10/00 B33Y 80/00 |
IPC classification: | A43B 23/02, A43B 1/04, B33Y 80/00, B33Y 30/00, A43B 9/20 |
Legal status: | ACTIVE |
Expiration: | 2025-07-19 (31 months limit, exceptions may apply) |
Family status: | ACTIVE |
External links: |
A. What is the invention?
B. How does it work?
C. What is new?
D. Why is it useful?
A. The invention is a method for producing a shoe component, in particular a shoe. The key steps are:
1. Providing a sole unit with a thermoplastic rim portion.
2. Arranging a last on the sole unit.
3. Heating the thermoplastic rim portion to make it flowable/melted/softened.
4. Applying a molten thermoplastic upper material onto the heated thermoplastic rim portion to produce an upper component.
5. Curing the molten thermoplastic upper material and the heated thermoplastic rim portion to provide a locking engagement between the upper component and the sole unit.
B. The method works by directly applying the molten thermoplastic upper material onto the heated thermoplastic rim portion of the sole unit. This allows the upper component and sole unit to be connected through a material bonding engagement, without the need for additional steps like stitching or gluing.
C. The key new aspects are:
- Directly applying the molten thermoplastic upper material onto the heated thermoplastic rim portion to create a material bonding engagement.
- Eliminating the need for additional connection steps like stitching or gluing.
D. The invention is useful because it provides a more efficient shoe production process that avoids the need for separate connection steps. This can improve the performance and waterproofing of the shoe, as well as worker safety by eliminating hazardous gluing agents.
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