Prior art

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Here is an analysis of the prior art cited in US patent 10443163, identifying the most relevant references and their potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The current date is April 26, 2026.

Cited Patent References

1. US2312078A

• Full Citation: US2312078A - Shoe upper.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: February 23, 1943; Priority/Filing: October 9, 1940.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a shoe upper construction. It focuses on using a "vamp" of knitted material, which is drawn over a last and attached to a sole. The knitting is performed to conform to the shape of the foot.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates claims related to a knitted upper and its formation, specifically regarding the general concept of using a knitted element for a shoe upper. Claims 1, 13, 18, and 21, which broadly describe a shoe with a knit upper formed of a unitary one-piece construction, could be partially anticipated by the general idea of a knitted vamp. However, the specific features of the wingtip pattern, different knit structures, and seamless knitting of distinct regions with specific broguing, as detailed in US10443163, are not explicitly present in US2312078A.

2. USD293386S

• Full Citation: USD293386S - Shoe upper.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 29, 1987; Priority/Filing: April 4, 1986.
• Brief Description: This is a design patent for a shoe upper. Design patents primarily protect the ornamental design of an article.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a design patent, USD293386S is less likely to anticipate the functional and structural claims of US10443163. It may show a general aesthetic for a shoe upper, but it would not disclose the specific unitary one-piece knit construction, seamless regions, different knit structures, or wingtip pattern with broguing as claimed in US10443163.

3. USD394739S

• Full Citation: USD394739S - Shoe upper.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: June 2, 1998; Priority/Filing: April 15, 1997.
• Brief Description: This is a design patent for a shoe upper.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to USD293386S, this design patent would not anticipate the technical and structural claims of US10443163 regarding the knit construction, seamless integration, differing knit structures, or the specific wingtip and broguing features.

4. USD401398S

• Full Citation: USD401398S - Shoe upper.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 24, 1998; Priority/Filing: October 28, 1997.
• Brief Description: This is another design patent for a shoe upper.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Again, as a design patent, USD401398S would not anticipate the functional or structural aspects of the knit wingtip upper described and claimed in US10443163.

5. US6910288B2

• Full Citation: US6910288B2 - Footwear incorporating a textile with fusible filaments and fibers.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: June 28, 2005; Priority/Filing: December 18, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent describes footwear that uses textiles incorporating fusible filaments and fibers, which can be melted to bond components together. It focuses on the materials and their bonding properties in footwear manufacturing.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 25, and 26 of US10443163 related to the use of hot melt yarn in the knitted element and the process of applying heat to affix the yarns. While it describes the use of fusible materials in footwear, it does not explicitly disclose the unitary one-piece knit upper, seamless regions, different knit structures (jersey, pointelle), or the specific wingtip pattern with broguing as a knitted feature of US10443163.

6. US7347011B2

• Full Citation: US7347011B2 - Article of footwear having a textile upper.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: March 25, 2008; Priority/Filing: March 3, 2004.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an article of footwear with a textile upper, focusing on regions of varying flexibility and support within the textile.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US7347011B2 might anticipate the general concept of a textile upper with varying properties, which could broadly relate to the "first area of a first type of knit structure and a second area of a second type of knit structure" mentioned in claims 1, 13, 18, and 21. However, it does not specifically disclose a knit upper of unitary one-piece construction with seamlessly knitted regions or the wingtip pattern with broguing formed by different knit types, as detailed in US10443163.

7. US20120255201A1

• Full Citation: US20120255201A1 - Seamless upper for footwear and method for making the same.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 11, 2012; Priority/Filing: April 8, 2011.
• Brief Description: This application describes a seamless upper for footwear and a method for making it. It focuses on creating a seamless construction to enhance comfort and fit.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly discusses a "seamless upper for footwear" and methods of making it. This directly relates to the "unitary one-piece construction" and "seamlessly knitted" regions described in claims 1, 13, 18, and 21 of US10443163. The novelty of US10443163 over this reference would likely hinge on the specific details of the seamless construction, such as the wingtip pattern, the line of broguing formed by holes during knitting, and the specific differentiation of knit structures (e.g., jersey and pointelle) that define the wingtip pattern. If US20120255201A1 does not disclose these specific design and structural elements within its seamless upper, US10443163 may retain novelty.

8. KR101367445B1

• Full Citation: KR101367445B1 - Upper of shoes.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: February 25, 2014; Priority/Filing: July 10, 2013.
• Brief Description: This Korean patent describes an upper for shoes. (Further details of its specific technical features would require a more in-depth analysis of the patent document itself.)
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without the full translated text and figures, it's difficult to determine the exact scope of anticipation. However, if it discloses a knit upper or seamless construction, it could broadly relate to the independent claims. The specific wingtip pattern, broguing, and differentiation of knit structures as claimed in US10443163 would be key to distinguishing it from this reference.

9. US20140310985A1

• Full Citation: US20140310985A1 - Shoe adapted to the shape of the foot.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 23, 2014; Priority/Filing: April 19, 2013.
• Brief Description: This application describes a shoe adapted to the shape of the foot, likely involving flexible or conforming upper materials.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could broadly relate to the conforming nature of a knit upper. However, like other general textile or upper patents, it is unlikely to specifically anticipate the detailed knit structures, seamless integration of specific regions, wingtip pattern, and knitted broguing features that define US10443163's claims.

10. US20150342285A1

• Full Citation: US20150342285A1 - Method Of Making An Article Of Footwear Including Knitting A Knitted Component Of Warp Knit Construction Forming A Seamless Bootie With Tucked-In Portion.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 3, 2015; Priority/Filing: May 30, 2014.
• Brief Description: This application describes a method of making footwear that includes knitting a warp knit component to form a seamless bootie.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is also highly relevant due to its explicit mention of "knitting a knitted component" to form a "seamless bootie." This directly addresses the "unitary one-piece construction" and "seamlessly knitted" aspects of claims 1, 13, 18, and 21. The distinction for US10443163 would again lie in the specific details of the knitted design: the wingtip pattern, the line of broguing formed during knitting, and the specific use of different knit structures (e.g., jersey and pointelle) to define that pattern. If this reference does not disclose these specific elements, then US10443163 could still be novel. The distinction between warp knit (in this reference) and potentially weft knit (common for full-fashioned uppers, though not explicitly limited in 10443163's claims, but generally inferred from "knitting machine" for a unitary upper) could also be a point of differentiation.

Most Relevant Prior Art

Based on the descriptions, the most relevant prior art references for US patent 10443163 appear to be:

• US20120255201A1 (Seamless upper for footwear and method for making the same): This patent application directly addresses the core concept of a seamless upper and methods for making it, which is central to claims 1, 13, 18, and 21 of US10443163. The key differentiator for US10443163 would be the specific ornamental and structural features of the "knit wingtip upper" (i.e., the wingtip pattern, broguing, and distinct knit structures forming these patterns, all integrated during the knitting process) not present in US20120255201A1.
• US20150342285A1 (Method Of Making An Article Of Footwear Including Knitting A Knitted Component Of Warp Knit Construction Forming A Seamless Bootie With Tucked-In Portion): Similar to US20120255201A1, this reference also describes knitting a seamless component for footwear. The analysis for anticipation and novelty would follow the same lines, focusing on the specific "wingtip pattern" and "broguing" features, along with the detailed description of different knit structures defining these patterns, as claimed in US10443163. The type of knit (warp vs. potentially weft) could also be a distinguishing factor.
• US6910288B2 (Footwear incorporating a textile with fusible filaments and fibers): This patent is highly relevant for claims 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 25, and 26, which relate to the use of hot melt yarn in the knitted upper and the heating process. If US10443163's claims for the material composition and heat-setting process are not sufficiently distinct from this reference, it could face anticipation challenges for those specific aspects.

The design patents (USD293386S, USD394739S, USD401398S) are generally less relevant for anticipating the functional and structural aspects of US10443163's utility claims, as they protect ornamental design rather than technical features. The remaining references (US2312078A, US7347011B2, KR101367445B1, US20140310985A1) provide broader context on knitted uppers and textile footwear but lack the specific detailed features that define the novelty of US10443163.