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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`___________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`___________________
`
`
`SKECHERS U.S.A., INC.,
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`NIKE, INC.,
`Patent Owner
`___________________
`
`Patent No. 9,060,562
`___________________
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 9,060,562
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Mail Stop “PATENT BOARD”
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`

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`Patent No. 9,060,562
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`II.
`
`
`Page
`INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 17
`OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLANGED PATENT ................................... 17
`A. Overview of the ’562 Patent ............................................................. 17
`B.
`Prosecution History of the ’562 Patent ............................................ 19
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE AND GROUNDS ....................... 20
`III.
`IV. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ........................................ 22
`V.
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ....................................................................... 23
`VI. GROUND 1A: DUA-592 ANTICIPATES CLAIMS 1-4 AT
`LEAST UNDER NIKE’S APPARENT CONSTRUCTION OF
`“INTEGRAL KNIT TONGUE” ................................................................. 24
`A. Overview of Dua-592 ....................................................................... 24
`B.
`Claim 1 ............................................................................................. 25
`1.
`Element 1[pre] ........................................................................ 25
`2.
`Element 1[a] ........................................................................... 25
`3.
`Element 1[b] ........................................................................... 27
`4.
`Element 1[c] ........................................................................... 28
`5.
`Element 1[d] ........................................................................... 34
`Claim 2 ............................................................................................. 38
`Claim 3 ............................................................................................. 38
`Claim 4 ............................................................................................. 39
`
`C.
`D.
`E.
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Page
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`B.
`C.
`D.
`E.
`F.
`G.
`H.
`
`VII. GROUND 1B: DUA-592 RENDERS OBVIOUS CLAIMS 8-14
`AND 16-23 AT LEAST UNDER NIKE’S APPARENT
`CONSTRUCTION OF “INTEGRAL KNIT TONGUE” .......................... 41
`A.
`Claim 8 ............................................................................................. 41
`1.
`Element 8[pre] ........................................................................ 41
`2.
`Elements 8[a]-8[b] ................................................................. 41
`3.
`Element 8[c] ........................................................................... 44
`4.
`Element 8[d] ........................................................................... 46
`Claim 9 ............................................................................................. 46
`Claim 10 ........................................................................................... 48
`Claim 11 ........................................................................................... 50
`Claim 12 ........................................................................................... 50
`Claim 13 ........................................................................................... 50
`Claim 14 ........................................................................................... 51
`Claim 16 ........................................................................................... 52
`1.
`Element 16[pre] ...................................................................... 52
`2.
`Element 16[a] ......................................................................... 52
`3.
`Element 16[b] ......................................................................... 53
`4.
`Element 16[c] ......................................................................... 53
`5.
`Element 16[d] ......................................................................... 54
`Claim 17 ........................................................................................... 54
`Claim 18 ........................................................................................... 56
`Claim 19 ........................................................................................... 56
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`I.
`J.
`K.
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Page
`L.
`Claim 20 ........................................................................................... 56
`M. Claim 21 ........................................................................................... 56
`N.
`Claim 22 ........................................................................................... 56
`O.
`Claim 23 ........................................................................................... 57
`VIII. GROUND 1C: DUA-592 ALONE OR IN VIEW OF MCDONALD
`AND/OR HORII RENDERS OBVIOUS CLAIMS 5-7 AND 15 AT
`LEAST UNDER NIKE’S APPARENT CONSTRUCTION OF
`“INTEGRAL KNIT TONGUE” ................................................................. 57
`A.
`Claim 5 ............................................................................................. 57
`1.
`Element 5[a] ........................................................................... 57
`2.
`Element 5[b] ........................................................................... 65
`3.
`Element 5[c] ........................................................................... 66
`Claim 6 ............................................................................................. 67
`B.
`Claim 7 ............................................................................................. 71
`C.
`Claim 15 ........................................................................................... 72
`D.
`IX. GROUND 1D: CLAIMS 1-23 ARE OBVIOUS UNDER
`GROUNDS 1A-1C IN VIEW OF CALDERONE UNDER
`SKECHERS CONSTRUCTION OF “INTEGRAL KNIT
`TONGUE” .................................................................................................. 73
`X. GROUND 2A: OKAMOTO ANTICIPATES CLAIMS 1-4 AT
`LEAST UNDER NIKE’S APPARENT CONSTRUCTION OF
`“INTEGRAL KNIT TONGUE” ................................................................. 78
`A. Overview of Okamoto ...................................................................... 78
`B.
`Claim 1 ............................................................................................. 80
`1.
`Element 1[pre] ........................................................................ 80
`2.
`Element 1[a] ........................................................................... 81
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Page
`3.
`Element 1[b] ........................................................................... 82
`Element 1[c] ........................................................................... 82
`4.
`Element 1[d] ........................................................................... 84
`5.
`Claim 2 ............................................................................................. 88
`C.
`Claim 3 ............................................................................................. 88
`D.
`Claim 4 ............................................................................................. 90
`E.
`XI. GROUND 2B: OKAMOTO IN VIEW OF DUA-592 RENDERS
`OBVIOUS CLAIMS 5-23 AT LEAST UNDER NIKE’S
`APPARENT CONSTRUCTION OF “INTEGRAL KNIT
`TONGUE” .................................................................................................. 91
`A.
`Proposed Combination ..................................................................... 91
`B.
`Claim 5 ............................................................................................. 95
`1.
`Element 5[a] ........................................................................... 95
`2.
`Element 5[b] ........................................................................... 97
`3.
`Element 5[c] ........................................................................... 98
`Claim 6 ............................................................................................. 99
`Claim 7 ........................................................................................... 102
`Claim 8 ........................................................................................... 104
`1.
`Element 8[pre] ...................................................................... 104
`2.
`Elements 8[a]-8[b] ............................................................... 104
`3.
`Element 8[c] ......................................................................... 106
`4.
`Element 8[d] ......................................................................... 107
`Claim 9 ........................................................................................... 107
`
`C.
`D.
`E.
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`F.
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Page
`G.
`Claim 10 ......................................................................................... 108
`Claim 11 ......................................................................................... 108
`H.
`Claim 12 ......................................................................................... 108
`I.
`Claim 13 ......................................................................................... 108
`J.
`Claim 14 ......................................................................................... 109
`K.
`Claim 15 ......................................................................................... 109
`L.
`M. Claim 16 ......................................................................................... 111
`1.
`Element 16[pre] .................................................................... 111
`2.
`Element 16[a] ....................................................................... 111
`3.
`Element 16[b] ....................................................................... 111
`4.
`Element 16[c] ....................................................................... 111
`5.
`Element 16[d] ....................................................................... 113
`Claim 17 ......................................................................................... 113
`N.
`Claim 18 ......................................................................................... 113
`O.
`Claim 19 ......................................................................................... 113
`P.
`Claim 20 ......................................................................................... 114
`Q.
`Claim 21 ......................................................................................... 114
`R.
`Claim 22 ......................................................................................... 114
`S.
`Claim 23 ......................................................................................... 114
`T.
`XII. GROUND 2C: CLAIMS 1-23 ARE OBVIOUS UNDER
`GROUNDS 2A-2B IN VIEW OF CALDERONE UNDER
`SKECHERS CONSTRUCTION OF “INTEGRAL KNIT
`TONGUE” ................................................................................................ 114
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Page
`XIII. DISCRETIONARY FACTORS ............................................................... 117
`A.
`§ 314(a) Does Not Favor Denial .................................................... 117
`B.
`§ 325(d) Does Not Favor Denial .................................................... 117
`XIV. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS .......................................................... 118
`A. Notice of Real Party-In-Interest (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1)) ............. 118
`B.
`Notice of Related Matters (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2)) ....................... 118
`C.
`Designation of Lead And Back-Up Counsel (37 C.F.R. §
`42.8(b)(3)) ...................................................................................... 118
`Service Information (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(4)) ................................ 119
`D.
`Fees ................................................................................................. 119
`E.
`Grounds for Standing ..................................................................... 119
`F.
`XV. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................... 119
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`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Patent No. 9,060,562
`
` Page(s)
`
`Cases
`Genomics, Inc. v. Bio-Rad Labs., Inc.,
`IPR2020-00086, Paper 8 (PTAB Apr. 27, 2020) ............................................... 23
`KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc.,
`550 U.S. 398 (2007) ............................................................................................ 55
`Nike, Inc. v. New Balance Athletics, Inc.,
`Case No. 1:23-cv-12666-JEK (D. Mass) .......................................................... 118
`Nike, Inc. v. Skechers U.S.A., Inc.,
`Case No. 2:23-cv-09346-AB-PVC (C.D. Cal.) ................................................ 118
`Wellman, Inc. v. Eastman Chem. Co.,
`642 F.3d 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2011) .......................................................................... 23
`Western Digital Corp. v. SPEX Techs., Inc.,
`IPR2018-00084, Paper 14 (PTAB Apr. 25, 2018) ............................................. 24
`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. §102(b) .............................................................................................. 20, 21
`35 U.S.C. §103 ............................................................................................. 21, 22, 56
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`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`
`Patent No. 9,060,562
`
`EX1005
`
`Document
`Exhibit No.
`EX1001 U.S. Patent No. 9,060,562 (the “’562 patent”)
`EX1002 Declaration of Sabit Adanur, Ph.D.
`EX1003 Declaration of Grant Delgatty
`EX1004 Declaration of Ingrid Hsieh-Yee
`Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement (May 15,
`2024)
`Proposed Construction of Disputed Terms (May 15, 2024)
`EX1006
`EX1007 Nike’s Opening Claim Construction Brief (May 24, 2024)
`EX1008
`Skechers’ Opening Claim Construction Brief (May 24, 2024)
`EX1009 Nike’s Responsive Claim Construction Brief (June 7, 2024)
`EX1010
`Skechers’ Responsive Claim Construction Brief (June 7, 2024)
`EX1011 Nike’s Initial Infringement Contentions for the ’562 Patent
`(March 1, 2024)
`EX1012 Vidal Guidance Memorandum (June 21, 2022)
`EX1013
`File History of the ’562 Patent
`EX1014 U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2005/0193592 (“Dua-592”)
`EX1015 European Patent Publication No. EP 2149629A1 (“Okamoto”)
`EX1016 WIPO Patent Publication No. WO 98/43506 (“McDonald”)
`Japanese Patent Publication No. JP H3-003203 (“Horii”) -
`Translation
`EX1018 U.S. Patent No. 7,624,518 (“Calderone”)
`EX1019 U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20120233882 (“Huffa”)
`EX1020 The Product Range, STOLL (September 2003)
`Wonseok Choi, Three Dimensional Seamless Garment Knitting
`on V-Bed Flat Knitting Machines, 4 J. TEXTILE AND APPAREL,
`TECH. AND MGMT., 1-33 (2005)
`EX1022 U.S. Patent No. 6,216,494 (“Essig”)
`
`EX1017
`
`EX1021
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`EX1025
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`EX1027
`
`Document
`Exhibit No.
`EX1023 U.S. Patent No. 1,952,628
`EX1024 U.S. Patent No. 1,573,299
`Maya Wei-Haas, How Chuck Taylor Taught America How to
`Play Basketball, SMITHSONIAN MAG. (Aug. 8, 2016),
`https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-chuck-
`taylor-taught-america-how-play-basketball-180960050/
`EX1026 Trend Collection, STOLL (2002)
`Susanna E. Lewis & Julia Weissman, A Machine Knitter’s
`Guide to Creating Fabrics (Lark Books 1986)
`EX1028 U.S. Patent No. 6,931,762 (“Dua-762”)
`EX1029 U.S. Patent No. 7,774,956 (“Dua-956”)
`EX1030 U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20120079742 (“Ferreira”)
`EX1031
`Japanese Patent Publication No. JP H3-003203 (“Horii”)
`Aaron Nojima, Remembering Crooked Tongues, SNEAKER
`HISTORY (Jan. 28, 2015),
`https://sneakerhistory.com/2015/01/28/remembering-crooked-
`tongues
`Transcript of Claim Construction Hearing (September 20,
`2024) in Nike, Inc. v. Skechers U.S.A., Inc., No. 23-cv-09346
`(C.D. Cal.)
`EX1034 Excerpts from Nike’s Supplemental Infringement Contentions
`for the ’562 Patent (October 23, 2024)
`EX1035-
`EX1049 Reserved
`David J. Spencer, KNITTING TECHNOLOGY: A COMPREHENSIVE
`HANDBOOK AND PRACTICAL GUIDE (3rd ed.) (Woodhead
`Publishing Limited, Cambridge, England 2001)
`EX1051 U.S. Patent No. 1,803,554 (“Knilans”)
`EX1052 U.S. Patent No. 2,047,724 (“Zuckerman”)
`EX1053 U.S. Patent No. 2,675,631 (“Doughty”)
`EX1054 Excerpts of Sandy Black, KNITWEAR IN FASHION (Thames &
`Hudson 2002)
`
`EX1032
`
`EX1033
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`EX1050
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`EX1058
`
`Document
`Exhibit No.
`EX1055 CN 2187379Y (“Li”) - Translation
`EX1056 CN 2187379Y (“Li”)
`EX1057 Excerpts of Man-Made Fiber and Textile Dictionary (4th ed.)
`(Celanese Corporation, December 1978)
`M. Legner, 3D-Products for Fashion and Technical Textile
`Applications from Flat Knitting Machines, MELLIAND
`INTERNATIONAL (September 2003), 238-241
`EX1059 KNITTING INTERNATIONAL (February 2004), 35-39
`EX1060 Oswald Rieder, Flat and Circular Knitting Machine Trends,
`INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE BULLETIN (December 2003), 49-51
`EX1061 Derek T. Ward, The Future of Knitting, INTERNATIONAL
`TEXTILE BULLETIN (May 2023), 46-50
`Sabit Adanur, WELLINGTON SEARS HANDBOOK OF INDUSTRIAL
`TEXTILES (Johnston Industries Group 1995)
`
`EX1062
`
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`CLAIM LISTING
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`
`
`1[a]
`
`1[b]
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`1[c]
`
`1[d]
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`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`Claim/
`Text of Claim
`Element
`1[pre] A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of
`footwear, the method comprising:
`knitting a portion of the knitted component defining an upper with
`a knitting machine,
`the upper including a portion of at least one of an exterior surface
`of the knitted component and an opposite interior surface of the
`knitted component; and
`knitting an integral knit tongue that is of unitary knit construction
`with the upper with the knitting machine, the integral knit tongue
`extending through a throat area of the knitted component; and
`wherein the integral knit tongue is joined by knitting with the
`knitting machine to: (1) a forward portion of the throat area, and
`(2) at least along a portion of both of a lateral side and a medial
`side of the throat area of the knitted component extending through
`a portion of a length of the throat area in a longitudinal direction
`from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper.
`The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of selecting
`the knitting machine to be a flat knitting machine.
`The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of knitting the
`integral knit tongue includes forming a course of the integral knit
`tongue to include at least one common yarn with the upper.
`The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of joining the
`integral knit tongue by knitting includes forming a course with the
`knitting machine that joins the integral knit tongue to the upper.
`The method recited in claim 1, wherein the integral knit tongue
`comprises a partially integral portion and a free portion,
`the method further comprising:
`knitting the partially integral portion with the knitting machine of
`unitary knit construction with the upper at the forward portion of
`the throat area and at least along the portion of both of the lateral
`side and the medial side of the throat area of the knitted
`component extending through the portion of the length of the
`throat area in the longitudinal direction; and
`knitting the free portion with the knitting machines of unitary knit
`construction with the partially integral portion at a rearward
`
`5[a]
`
`5[b]
`
`5[c]
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Claim/
`Element
`
`Text of Claim
`portion of the integral knit tongue and remaining unattached to the
`remaining portions of the knitted component.
`The method recited in claim 5, wherein the step of knitting the
`free portion further comprises:
`knitting the free portion of the integral knit tongue with the
`knitting machine;
`holding the free portion on needles of the knitting machine;
`knitting a first portion of the upper with the knitting machine
`while the free portion is held on the needles, the first portion of
`the upper including at least the rearward portion of the integral
`knit tongue;
`joining the free portion to the integral knit tongue at the rearward
`portion; and
`knitting a second portion of the upper with the knitting machine.
`The method recited in claim 6, wherein the step of knitting the
`first portion further comprises holding the free portion stationary
`with respect to a needle bed of the knitting machine during
`knitting of the first portion of the upper, and the first portion of the
`upper moving with respect to the free portion during knitting of
`the first portion of the upper;
`wherein the step of joining the free portion includes forming a
`course with the knitting machine that joins the free portion to the
`integral knit tongue; and
`wherein the step of knitting the second portion further comprises
`moving the free portion and the upper together during knitting of
`the second portion of the upper.
`8[pre] A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of
`footwear, the method comprising:
`knitting a first portion of the knitted component defining an upper
`with a first feeder of a knitting machine, the upper including a
`portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the knitted
`component and an opposite interior surface of the knitted
`component;
`knitting a second portion of the knitted component defining the
`upper with a second feeder of the knitting machine; and
`knitting an integral knit tongue that is of unitary knit construction
`with the upper with at least one of the first feeder and the second
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8[a]
`
`8[b]
`
`8[c]
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`
`
`Claim/
`Element
`
`8[d]
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
`
`Text of Claim
`feeder of the knitting machine, the integral knit tongue extending
`through a throat area of the knitted component; and
`wherein the integral knit tongue is joined by knitting with the
`knitting machine to: (1) a forward portion of the throat area, and
`(2) at least along a portion of both of a lateral side and a medial
`side of the throat area of the knitted component extending through
`a portion of a length of the throat area in a longitudinal direction
`from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper.
`The method recited in claim 8, wherein the step of knitting the
`first portion further comprises:
`knitting the exterior surface of the first portion of the upper with
`the first feeder;
`knitting the opposite interior surface of the first portion of the
`upper with the first feeder; and
`knitting at least a portion of the integral knit tongue with the first
`feeder.
`The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of knitting the
`second portion further comprises:
`knitting the exterior surface of the first portion of the upper with
`the second feeder;
`knitting the opposite interior surface of the second portion of the
`upper with the second feeder; and
`knitting at least a portion of the integral knit tongue with the
`second feeder.
`The method recited in claim 8, wherein the first portion of the
`upper is one of a medial side and a lateral side of the knitted
`component.
`The method recited in claim 8, wherein the step of knitting the
`integral knit tongue includes forming a course of the integral knit
`tongue to include at least one common yarn with the upper.
`The method recited in claim 12, further comprising forming at
`least one course of the first portion of the upper or the second
`portion of the upper with the knitting machine that is substantially
`continuous with at least one course of the integral knit tongue at
`the forward portion of the throat area of the upper.
`The method recited in claim 12, further comprising:
`forming at least one course of the first portion of the upper that is
`substantially continuous with at least one course of the integral
`
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Claim/
`Element
`
`Text of Claim
`knit tongue along the lateral side of the throat area of the upper;
`and
`forming at least one course of the second portion of the upper that
`is substantially continuous with at least one course of the integral
`knit tongue along the medial side of the throat area of the upper.
`The method recited in claim 8, wherein the integral knit tongue
`comprises a partially integral portion and a free portion, the
`method further comprising:
`knitting the free portion of the integral knit tongue with at least
`one feeder of the knitting machine;
`holding the free portion on needles of the knitting machine;
`knitting the first portion of the upper with the first feeder of the
`knitting machine and knitting the second portion of the upper with
`the second feeder while the free portion is held on the needles, the
`first portion of the upper and the second portion of the upper
`including at least a rearward portion of the integral knit tongue;
`joining the free portion to the integral knit tongue at the rearward
`portion; and
`resuming knitting the first portion of the upper with the first feeder
`of the knitting machine and resuming knitting the second portion
`of the upper with the second feeder of the knitting machine.
`16[pre] A method of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of
`footwear, the method comprising:
`knitting a first portion of the knitted component defining an upper
`with a first feeder of a knitting machine, the upper including a
`portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the knitted
`component and an opposite interior surface of the knitted
`component;
`knitting a second portion of the knitted component defining the
`upper with a second feeder of the knitting machine; and
`knitting an integral knit tongue that is of unitary knit construction
`with the upper with a third feeder of the knitting machine, the
`integral knit tongue extending through a throat area of the knitted
`component; and
`wherein the integral knit tongue is joined by knitting with the
`knitting machine to: (1) a forward portion of the throat area, and
`(2) at least along a portion of both of a lateral side and a medial
`side of the throat area of the knitted component extending through
`
`15
`
`16[a]
`
`16[b]
`
`16[c]
`
`16[d]
`
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`
`
`Claim/
`Element
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`Patent No. 9,060,562
`
`Text of Claim
`a portion of a length of the throat area in a longitudinal direction
`from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper.
`The method recited in claim 16, wherein the upper comprises a
`first type of yarn; and
`wherein the integral knit tongue comprises a second type of yarn,
`the second type of yarn being different from the first type of yarn.
`The method recited in claim 17, wherein the second type of yarn is
`an elastic yarn.
`The method recited in claim 16, wherein the step of knitting the
`integral knit tongue includes forming a course of the integral knit
`tongue to include at least one common yarn with the upper.
`The method recited in claim 19, further comprising forming at
`least one course of the first portion of the upper or the second
`portion of the upper with the knitting machine that is substantially
`continuous with at least one course of the integral knit tongue at
`the forward portion of the throat area of the upper.
`The method recited in claim 19, further comprising:
`forming at least one course of the first portion of the upper that is
`substantially continuous with at least one course of the integral
`knit tongue along the lateral side of the throat area of the upper;
`and
`forming at least one course of the second portion of the upper that
`is substantially continuous with at least one course of the integral
`knit tongue along the medial side of the throat area of the upper.
`The method recited in claim 16, wherein the step of knitting the
`first portion further comprises:
`knitting the exterior surface of the first portion of the upper with
`the first feeder; and
`knitting the opposite interior surface of the first portion of the
`upper with the first feeder.
`The method recited in claim 22, wherein the step of knitting the
`second portion further comprises:
`knitting the exterior surface of the first portion of the upper with
`the second feeder;
`knitting the opposite interior surface of the second portion of the
`upper with the second feeder.
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`- xvi -
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`The claims of ’562 patent are directed to methods of manufacturing footwear
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`comprised of basic features known long before the priority date, as seen in Nike’s
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`own prior publications and patents. The application that issued as the ’562 patent
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`coined terms like “integral knit tongue” to repackage such features. But that was not
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`enough to convince the Office to allow the claims over an earlier Nike publication
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`by the same inventor describing the same old feature (US2008/0110048 (“Dua-
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`048”)). EX1013, 146-47. So Nike argued that the publication did not disclose
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`joining its integral knit tongue “by knitting” to a knitted component defining a
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`footwear upper. Id., 64. That alleged distinction led to allowance. Id., 40. But
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`knitting a tongue into an upper was well known many years before the ’562 patent,
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`including in Nike’s own 2004 patent application by the same inventor,
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`US2005/0193592 (EX1014).
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`For these and additional reasons below, the claims of the ’562 patent should
`
`be found unpatentable.
`
`II. OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLANGED PATENT
`A. Overview of the ’562 Patent
`The ’562 patent describes footwear 100 where “a majority of [the] upper 120
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`is formed from a knitted component 130, which extends through each of forefoot
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`region 101, midfoot region 102, and heel region 103, along both lateral side 104 and
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`medial side 105, over forefoot region 101, and around heel region 103.” EX1001,
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`6:54-59.
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`Id., FIG. 1. The footwear 100 includes “an integral knit tongue 140 [that] is formed
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`of unitary knit construction with upper 120 and extends through throat area 123 of
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`upper 120 between lateral side 104 and medial side 105.” Id., 6:32-35; EX1002,
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`
`
`¶69.
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`With reference to Figures 16-29, the ’562 patent describes basic operations of
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`knitting an upper with an integral knit tongue using a flat knitting machine. During
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`this process, an integral knit tongue may be knitted while the knitting machine
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`“add[s] additional courses … to form further portions” from the heel edges to the toe
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`portion. EX1001, 20:63-21:1.
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`- 18 -
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`
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`Id., FIG. 21; EX1002, ¶70.
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`The ’562 patent further describes knitting certain parts of the upper before
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`other parts of the upper, or knitting multiple parts of the upper at the same time.
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`EX1001, 21:50-22:27, FIGs. 22-25. The ’562 patent does not suggest these
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`operations require a special knitting machine or techniques, but rather states that one
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`embodiment uses a “V-bed flat knitting machine,” “but any of the knitted
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`components or portions of knitted components may be produced on other types of
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`knitting machines.” Id., 18:66-19:3; EX1002, ¶¶72-73.
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`B.
`Prosecution History of the ’562 Patent
`During prosecution of the ’562 patent, claims reciting an integral knit tongue
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`were rejected as being anticipated by Dua-048. EX1013, 146-47. Nike did not
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`contest that Dua-048 discloses an integral knit tongue. See id., 63-64; EX1002, ¶75.
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`Instead, the Nike amended claim 1 to require the “integral knit tongue” to be joined
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`- 19 -
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`Patent No. 9,060,562
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`by knitting along the front and sides of a throat area of the upper and argued that
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`Dua-048 was distinguishable from the amended claims because in Dua-048 the
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`“central textile element 60 [] is ‘stitched’ to each of lateral textile element 40 and
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`medial textile element 50.” EX1013, 53-54, 64.
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`III.
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`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE AND GROUNDS
`The asserted grounds rely on the following references, each of which is prior
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`art to the ’562 patent under pre-AIA §102(b):
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`• US2005/0193592 by Nike, Inc., entitled “Article of Footwear Having a
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`Textile Upper,” published on September 8, 2005 (“Dua-592”)
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`(EX1014).
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`• EP2149629A1 by Shima Seiki Manufacturing., Ltd., entitled “Three-
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`Dimensi