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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. 9,510,636
`___________________
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 9,510,636
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`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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`
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`
`

`

`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`Page
`INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 14
`I.
`OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLENGED PATENT .................................... 15
`II.
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE AND GROUNDS ....................... 16
`III.
`IV. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ........................................ 17
`V.
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ....................................................................... 18
`VI. GROUND 1A: CLAIMS 1-6, 8-17, AND 19-27 ARE
`ANTICIPATED BY DUA-956 AT LEAST UNDER NIKE’S
`APPARENT CONSTRUCTION OF “INTEGRAL KNIT
`TONGUE” .................................................................................................. 20
`A. Overview of Dua-956 ....................................................................... 20
`B.
`Claim 1 ............................................................................................. 24
`C.
`Claim 2 ............................................................................................. 44
`D.
`Claim 3 ............................................................................................. 45
`E.
`Claim 4 ............................................................................................. 47
`F.
`Claim 5 ............................................................................................. 48
`G.
`Claim 6 ............................................................................................. 48
`H.
`Claim 8 ............................................................................................. 49
`I.
`Claim 9 ............................................................................................. 50
`J.
`Claim 10 ........................................................................................... 50
`K.
`Claim 11 ........................................................................................... 54
`L.
`Claim 12 ........................................................................................... 58
`M. Claims 13-17 and 19-27 ................................................................... 60
`
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`

`B.
`
`C.
`
`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`Page
`
`
`VII. GROUND 1B: CLAIMS 1-6, 8-17, AND 19-27 ARE OBVIOUS
`OVER DUA-956 ALONE OR IN VIEW OF HORII ................................ 62
`A.
`It Would Have Been Obvious to Construct Embodiment #1
`Using Dua-956’s Approach for Embodiments #2-#3 ...................... 62
`It Would Have Been Obvious to Modify Embodiment #1 of
`Dua-956 With Horii.......................................................................... 67
`Dua-956’s Unitary Knit Upper Satisfies Claims 1-6, 8-17,
`and 19-27 For the Reasons Provided Under Ground 1A ................. 70
`VIII. GROUND 1C: CLAIMS 1-6, 8-17, and 19-27 ARE OBVIOUS
`UNDER GROUNDS 1A-1B IN FURTHER VIEW OF
`CALDERONE ............................................................................................ 70
`IX. GROUND 1D: CLAIMS 7 AND 18 ARE OBVIOUS OVER
`GROUNDS 1A-1C IN FURTHER VIEW OF MCDONALD
`AND/OR HORII ......................................................................................... 75
`X. GROUND 2A: CLAIMS 1-6, 8-17, AND 19-27 ARE OBVIOUS
`OVER DUA-592 AND CALDERONE. .................................................... 81
`A. Overview of Dua-592 ....................................................................... 81
`B.
`Overview of Calderone .................................................................... 84
`C.
`The Proposed Combination .............................................................. 85
`D.
`Claim 1 ............................................................................................. 88
`E.
`Claim 2 ........................................................................................... 103
`F.
`Claim 3 ........................................................................................... 104
`G.
`Claim 4 ........................................................................................... 104
`H.
`Claim 5 ........................................................................................... 106
`I.
`Claim 6 ........................................................................................... 108
`J.
`Claim 8 ........................................................................................... 108
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`Page
`
`
`
`Claim 9 ........................................................................................... 109
`K.
`Claim 10 ......................................................................................... 110
`L.
`M. Claim 11 ......................................................................................... 113
`N.
`Claim 12 ......................................................................................... 115
`O.
`Claims 13-17 and 19-27 ................................................................. 116
`XI. GROUND 2B: CLAIMS 7 AND 18 ARE OBVIOUS UNDER
`GROUND 2A IN FURTHER VIEW OF MCDONALD AND/OR
`HORII ....................................................................................................... 118
`XII. DISCRETIONARY FACTORS ............................................................... 123
`A.
`§ 314(a) Does Not Favor Denial .................................................... 123
`B.
`§ 325(d) Does Not Favor Denial .................................................... 123
`XIII. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS .......................................................... 124
`A. Notice of Real Party-In-Interest (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1)) ............. 124
`B.
`Notice of Related Matters (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2)) ....................... 124
`C.
`Designation of Lead And Back-Up Counsel (37 C.F.R. §
`42.8(b)(3)) ...................................................................................... 124
`Service Information (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(4)) ................................ 125
`D.
`Fees ................................................................................................. 125
`E.
`Grounds for Standing ..................................................................... 125
`F.
`XIV. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................... 125
`
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`

`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
` Page(s)
`
`Cases
`Genomics, Inc. v. Bio-Rad Labs., Inc.,
`IPR2020-00086, Paper 8 (PTAB April 27, 2020) .............................................. 19
`Intel Corporation v. Qualcomm Incorporated,
`21 F.4th 784 (Fed. Cir. 2021) ............................................................................. 66
`KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc.,
`550 U.S. 398 (2007) ............................................................................................ 66
`Nike, Inc. v. New Balance Athletics, Inc.,
`Case No. 1:23-cv-12666-JEK (D. Mass) .......................................................... 124
`Nike, Inc. v. Skechers U.S.A., Inc.,
`Case No. 2:23-cv-09346-AB-PVC (C.D. Cal.) ................................................ 124
`PAR Pharmaceutical, Inc. v. TWI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
`773 F.3d 1186 (Fed. Cir. 2014) .......................................................................... 67
`Wellman, Inc. v. Eastman Chem. Co.,
`642 F.3d 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2011) .......................................................................... 18
`Western Digital Corp. v. SPEX Techs., Inc.,
`IPR2018-00084, Paper 14 (PTAB April 25, 2018) .....................................passim
`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. § 102(b) ............................................................................................. 16, 17
`35 U.S.C. § 103 .................................................................................................. 17, 18
`Regulations
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1) ............................................................................................ 124
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) ............................................................................................ 124
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) ............................................................................................ 124
`
`11378972
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`Page(s)
`
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(4) ............................................................................................ 125
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3) .......................................................................................... 19
`
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`- vi -
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`

`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`
`Exhibit No.
`EX1001
`EX1002
`EX1003
`EX1004
`
`EX1005
`
`EX1006
`EX1007
`EX1008
`EX1009
`
`EX1010
`
`EX1011
`
`EX1012
`EX1013
`EX1014
`
`EX1015
`
`Document
`U.S. Patent No. 9,510,636 (the “’636 patent”)
`Declaration of Sabit Adanur, Ph.D.
`Declaration of Grant Delgatty
`Declaration of Ingrid Hsieh-Yee
`Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement (May 15,
`2024)
`Proposed Construction of Disputed Terms (May 15, 2024)
`Nike’s Opening Claim Construction Brief (May 24, 2024)
`Skechers’ Opening Claim Construction Brief (May 24, 2024)
`Nike’s Responsive Claim Construction Brief (June 7, 2024)
`Skechers’ Responsive Claim Construction Brief (June 7,
`2024)
`Nike’s Supplemental Infringement Contentions for the ’636
`Patent (March 1, 2024)
`Vidal Guidance Memorandum (June 21, 2022)
`File history of the ’636 Patent (Excerpts)
`U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2005/0193592 (“Dua-592”)
`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
`U.S. Patent No. 7,624,518 (“Calderone”)
`U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2012/0233882 (“Huffa”)
`Reserved
`
`EX1017
`
`EX1018
`EX1019
`EX1020-
`1022
`EX1023
`EX1024
`
`U.S. Patent No. 1,952,628
`U.S. Patent No. 1,573,299
`
`
`
`
`
`- vii -
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`

`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`Exhibit No.
`
`EX1025
`
`EX1026
`EX1027
`EX1028
`EX1029
`EX1030
`EX1031
`
`EX1032
`
`Document
`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/
`Trend Collection, STOLL (2002)
`Reserved
`U.S. Patent No. 6,931,762 (“Dua-762”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,774,956 (“Dua-956”)
`U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2012/0079742 (“Ferreira”)
`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.)
`U.S. Patent No. 9,573,331 (“McDowell”)
`EX1034
`U.S. Patent No. 4,766,681
`EX1035
`EX1036 Majority Analysis
`EX1037
`U.S. Patent No. 9,730,484 (“Dua-484”)
`EX1038
`Patent Owner’s Response for IPR2023-01460
`H. Hong et al., The development of 3D shaped knitted fabrics
`for technical purposes on a flat knitting machine, Indian
`Journal of Fibre & Textile Research, Vol. 1, September 1994,
`pp. 189-194
`Excerpts from Nike's Supplemental Infringement Contentions
`for ’636 patent
`Future Materials – 2004
`EX1041
`EX1042 melliand International, November 1999
`EX1043
`Textile network, May 2007
`
`EX1033
`
`EX1039
`
`EX1040
`
`- viii -
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`

`

`
`
`Exhibit No.
`EX1044-
`1049
`
`Reserved
`
`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`Document
`
`EX1050
`
`David J. Spencer, KNITTING TECHNOLOGY: A
`COMPREHENSIVE HANDBOOK AND PRACTICAL GUIDE (3rd ed.)
`(Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge, England 2001)
`U.S. Patent No. 1,803,554 (“Knilans”)
`EX1051
`EX1052 U.S. Patent No. 2,047,724 (“Zuckerman”)
`EX1053
`U.S. Patent No. 2,675,631 (“Doughty”)
`Excerpts of Sandy Black, KNITWEAR IN FASHION (Thames &
`Hudson 2002)
`CN 2187379Y (“Li”) - Translation
`CN 2187379Y (“Li”)
`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
`KNITTING INTERNATIONAL (February 2004), 35-39
`Oswald Rieder, Flat and Circular Knitting Machine Trends,
`INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE BULLETIN (December 2003), 49-51
`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)
`
`EX1054
`
`EX1055
`EX1056
`
`EX1057
`
`EX1058
`
`EX1059
`
`EX1060
`
`EX1061
`
`EX1062
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`- ix -
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`

`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`CLAIM LISTING
`
`Text of Claim
`An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure
`secured to the upper, the article of footwear incorporating a
`knitted component comprising:
`a portion of the knitted component defining the upper,
`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, the interior surface defining a void for
`receiving a foot; and
`an integral knit tongue formed with the upper and extending
`through a throat area of the knitted component; and
`at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior
`surface of the knitted component,
`wherein the integral knit tongue is joined to a forward portion of
`the throat area and at least along a portion of a lateral side and a
`medial side of the throat area of the knitted component extending
`from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein at least a
`portion of the integral knit tongue and a portion of the upper
`include at least one course having a common yarn.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein at least a
`portion of the upper and a portion of the integral knit tongue are
`formed from a common knit structure.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one
`raised element is formed of unitary knit construction with the
`upper and the integral knit tongue.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 4, wherein the knitted
`component includes at least two raised elements disposed on each
`of the lateral side and the medial side of the throat area of the
`upper and extending a height above the exterior surface of the
`knitted component.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one
`raised element further comprises at least one lace aperture
`configured to receive a lace.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the integral knit
`tongue comprises at least a partially integral portion and a free
`portion;
`
`- x -
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`
`Claim/
`Element
`
`1[pre]
`
`1[a1]
`
`1[a2]
`
`1[b]
`
`1[c]
`
`1[d]
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
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`

`

`
`
`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`Claim/
`Element
`
`Text of Claim
`the partially integral portion being of unitary knit construction
`with the upper at the forward portion of the throat area and at least
`along the portion of the lateral side and the medial side of the
`throat area of the knitted component; and
`the free portion being of unitary knit construction with the
`partially integral portion at a rearward portion of the integral knit
`tongue and remaining unattached to the remaining portions of the
`knitted component.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 1, 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 article of footwear recited in claim 8, wherein the second type
`of yarn is an elastic yarn.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the knitted
`component comprises at least two knit element layers, the at least
`two knit element layers including:
`a first knit element layer comprising a portion of the knitted
`component associated with the exterior surface; and
`a second knit element layer comprising a portion of the knitted
`component associated with the interior surface; and
`wherein the second knit element layer further includes the integral
`knit tongue.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 10, wherein at least a first
`portion of the first knit element layer and the second knit element
`layer are decoupled along the throat area of the knitted
`component.
`The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein at least a
`second portion of the first knit element layer and the second knit
`element layer are joined along the throat area of the knitted
`component.
`13[pre] A knitted component for an article of footwear, the knitted
`component comprising:
`a portion of the knitted component defining an upper, 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, the interior surface configured to define a void for
`receiving a foot; and
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13[a]
`
`
`
`
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`- xi -
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`

`
`
`Claim/
`Element
`13[b]
`
`13[c]
`
`13[d]
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`Text of Claim
`an integral knit tongue with the upper and extending through a
`throat area of the knitted component; and
`at least one raised element having at least one lace aperture
`configured to receive a lace,
`wherein the integral knit tongue is joined to a forward portion of
`the throat area and at least along a portion of a lateral side and a
`medial side of the throat area of the knitted component extending
`from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper.
`The knitted component recited in claim 13, wherein at least a
`portion of the integral knit tongue and a portion of the upper
`include at least one course having a common yarn.
`The knitted component recited in claim 13, wherein at least a
`portion of the upper and a portion of the integral knit tongue are
`formed from a common knit structure.
`The knitted component recited in claim 13, wherein the at least
`one raised element is formed of unitary knit construction with the
`upper and the integral knit tongue.
`The knitted component recited in claim 16, comprising at least
`two raised elements disposed on each of a lateral side and a
`medial side of the upper and extending a height above the exterior
`surface of the knitted component.
`The knitted component recited in claim 13, wherein the integral
`knit tongue comprises at least a partially integral portion and a
`free portion;
`the partially integral portion being of unitary knit construction
`with the upper at the forward portion of the throat area and at least
`along the portion of the lateral side and the medial side of the
`throat area of the knitted component; and
`the free portion being of unitary knit construction with the
`partially integral portion at a rearward portion of the integral knit
`tongue and remaining unattached to the remaining portions of the
`knitted component.
`The knitted component recited in claim 13, 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 knitted component recited in claim 19, wherein the second
`type of yarn is an elastic yarn.
`
`
`
`
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`- xii -
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`

`
`
`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`21[a]
`
`21[b]
`
`21[c]
`
`Claim/
`Text of Claim
`Element
`21[pre] A knitted component for an article of footwear, the knitted
`component comprising:
`an upper and an integral knit tongue formed of unitary knit
`construction with the upper and extending through a throat area of
`the knitted component;
`the knitted component comprising at least two knit element layers,
`including:
`a first knit element layer comprising a portion of an exterior
`surface of the knitted component; and
`a second knit element layer comprising a portion of an interior
`surface of the knitted component, the interior surface disposed
`opposite to the exterior surface and the interior surface being
`configured to define a void for receiving a foot; and
`wherein the integral knit tongue is joined to a forward portion of
`the throat area and at least along a portion of a lateral side and a
`medial side of the throat area of the knitted component extending
`from the forward portion to an ankle opening of the upper.
`The knitted component recited in claim 21, wherein the second
`knit element comprises the integral knit tongue.
`The knitted component recited in claim 21, wherein at least a first
`portion of the first knit element layer and the second knit element
`layer are decoupled along the throat area of the knitted
`component.
`The knitted component recited in claim 23, wherein at least a
`second portion of the first knit element layer and the second knit
`element layer are joined along the throat area of the knitted
`component.
`The knitted component recited in claim 21, wherein at least a
`portion of the integral knit tongue and a portion of the upper
`include at least one course having a common yarn.
`The knitted component recited in claim 21, further comprising at
`least one raised element that is formed of unitary knit construction
`with the upper and the integral knit tongue.
`The knitted component recited in claim 26, wherein the first knit
`element layer comprises the at least one raised element.
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`
`
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`

`

`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`The claims of the ’636 patent are directed to articles of footwear comprised of
`
`basic features known long before the priority date, including in Nike’s own prior
`
`publications. The ’636 patent coins terms like “integral knit tongue” to refer to an
`
`old concept that Nike and others had already described years earlier. But that
`
`concept, standing on its own, was rejected as being anticipated by a much earlier
`
`Nike publication by the same named inventor (US2005/0115284 Dua). EX1013, 4-
`
`7. So Nike took to introducing another coined term, this time adding a “raised
`
`element” that extends above the exterior surface of the upper (EX1013, 12, 14). This
`
`led to allowance. EX1013, 25. But “raised elements” of the type described in the
`
`’636 patent include shoe-lace structures like those shown in orange in the figure
`
`below from a 2006 patent filing by Converse (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nike’s),
`
`six years before the ’636 patent’s earliest possible priority date.
`
`
`
` ’636 Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` Converse Prior Art
`
`
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`- 14 -
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`

`
`EX1001, FIG. 1 (“raised elements 142” shown in orange); EX1018 (Calderone),
`
`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`FIG. 1 (prior art “raised elements” annotated in orange). Nike itself disclosed the use
`
`of “raised elements,” at least under Nike’s construction of the term, years before the
`
`priority date of the ’636 patent. See infra, Section VI.
`
`Repackaging old concepts using newly-coined terms to describe basic shoe
`
`components is not novel, and not the type of effort worthy of a patent. For these and
`
`additional reasons below, the claims of the ’636 patent should be found unpatentable.
`
`II. OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLENGED PATENT
`The ’636 patent describes footwear 100 having an upper 120 formed from a
`
`knitted component 130 that “extends through each of forefoot region 101, midfoot
`
`region 102, and heel region 103, along both lateral side 104 and medial side 105,
`
`over forefoot region 101, and around heel region 103.” EX1001, 6:57-62.
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`

`

`
`EX1001, FIG. 1. Moreover, “an integral knit tongue 140 is formed of unitary knit
`
`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
`
`construction with upper 120 and extends through throat area 123 of upper 120
`
`between lateral side 104 and medial side 105.” Id., 6:35-38. Raised elements 142
`
`are disposed along the sides of the throat area, as shown in FIG. 1, and include lace
`
`apertures 143 through which a lace 122 extends. See id., 6:39-46.
`
`III.
`
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE AND GROUNDS
`The asserted grounds rely on the following references, each of which is prior
`
`art to the ’636 patent under pre-AIA §102(b):
`
`• US7,774,956 by Nike, Inc., entitled “Article of Footwear Having a Flat
`
`Knit Upper Construction or Upper Construction,” issued on August 17,
`
`2010 (“Dua-956) (EX1029).
`
`• WO 98/43506 by FILA U.S.A., Inc. was published on October 8, 1998
`
`(“McDonald”) (EX1016).
`
`• Japanese Application Publication No. H3-3203 by Mizuno Corp. was
`
`published on January 14, 1991 (“Horii”) (EX1017; EX1031).
`
`• US2005/0193592 by Nike, Inc., entitled “Article of Footwear Having a
`
`Textile Upper,” was published on September 8, 2005 (“Dua-592”)
`
`(EX1014).
`
`• US7,552,547 by Converse, Inc., entitled “Slip On Athleisure Shoe,”
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`issued on June 30, 2009 (“Calderone”) (EX1018).
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`The asserted grounds are:
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`• Ground 1A: Claims 1-6, 8-17, and 19-27 are anticipated under 35
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`U.S.C. § 102(b) by Dua-956.
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`• Ground 1B: Claims 1-6, 8-17, and 19-27 are obvious under 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 103 over Dua-956 alone or in combination with Horii.
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`• Ground 1C: Claims 1-6, 8-17, and 19-27 are obvious under 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 103 under Grounds 1A-1B in further view of Calderone.
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`• Ground 1D: Claims 7 and 18 are obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for the
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`reasons articulated under each of Grounds 1A-1C in further view of
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`McDonald and/or Horii.
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`• Ground 2A: Claims 1-6, 8-17, and 19-27 are obvious under 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 103 over Dua-592 and Calderone.
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`• Ground 2B: Claims 7 and 18 are obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for the
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`reasons articulated under Ground 2A in further view of McDonald
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`and/or Horii.
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`IV. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`The ’636 patent relates to an article of footwear that incorporates a knitted
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`component that has an upper and an integral knit tongue. EX1001, Abstract. A
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`person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) in the field of the ’636 patent in
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`February 2012 would have been someone with at least a few years of experience in
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`knit materials and knitting methods and machines that can be used in making
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`footwear, or a bachelor’s degree in textile-related sciences, engineering, or industrial
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`product design, or equivalent academic or work experience, including in the
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`footwear industry. EX1002, ¶68. Such a person of ordinary skill would have at least
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`a general understanding of general construction processes and materials used in the
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`manufacturing process of fabric-based articles. For individuals with a lower
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`educational level, a person could still be of ordinary skill in the art provided that
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`person’s working experience compensates for any such lower educational level, or
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`vice versa. See id.
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`This Petition does not turn on this specific definition of the level of ordinary
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`skill. The claims would been obvious from the perspective of any reasonable
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`definition of a POSITA.
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`V. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
`In the parallel litigation, the parties have agreed to constructions for some
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`terms and proposed constructions for other terms. EX1005-EX1006.
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`However, “claim terms need only be construed ‘to the extent necessary to
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`resolve the controversy.’” Wellman, Inc. v. Eastman Chem. Co., 642 F.3d 1355,
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`1361 (Fed. Cir. 2011). Here, Petitioner believes that no terms require express
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`construction for purposes of resolving the issues raised in the Petition because the
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`claims are invalid under both parties’ interpretations.
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`In parallel litigation, Patent Owner is taking the position that no claim terms
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`require construction. EX1007, 1. Accordingly, this Petition includes challenges of
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`the claims based on Patent Owner’s reading of the claims onto the accused shoes in
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`the parallel litigation. Genomics, Inc. v. Bio-Rad Labs., Inc., IPR2020-00086, Paper
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`8 at 21 (PTAB April 27, 2020) (permitting the petitioner to base its challenge “on
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`claim constructions implied by Patent Owner’s district court infringement
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`contentions without expressing subjective agreement with those constructions”); id.,
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`18 (concluding that 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3) “does not prohibit Petitioner from
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`submitting a claim construction it believes is incorrect and relying on that
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`construction to show how the claim is unpatentable”); Western Digital Corp. v.
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`SPEX Techs., Inc., IPR2018-00084, Paper 14 (PTAB April 25, 2018).
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`The Petition also challenges the claims under Petitioner’s constructions.
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`VI. GROUND 1A: CLAIMS 1-6, 8-17, AND 19-27 ARE ANTICIPATED BY
`DUA-956 AT LEAST UNDER NIKE’S APPARENT CONSTRUCTION
`OF “INTEGRAL KNIT TONGUE”1
`A. Overview of Dua-956
`Dua-956 is generally directed to articles of footwear having uppers “at least
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`partially formed from a material produced through a flat knitting process.” EX1029,
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`4:7-10. Dua-956 discloses various embodiments for its flat knitted upper, including
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`a first embodiment, referred to as “first upper,” illustrated in FIGs. 1-9B
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`(“Embodiment #1”). EX1002, ¶¶74-75.
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`The upper 30 of Embodiment #1 comprises a lateral textile element 40, a
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`medial textile element 50, and a central textile element 60, each of which is formed
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`of a unitary (i.e., one-piece) construction through a flat knitting process. See id., 6:4-
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`49, 7:5-6. Dua-956 explains that these textile elements include “a lateral textile
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`element 40, a medial textile element 50, and a central textile element 60 [colored in
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`green ],” as show below. EX1029, 5:54-56; EX1002, ¶76.
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`1 None of the references to “integral knit tongue” or “tongue” in this Ground 1A
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`and below for Ground 1B, including in the figure annotations, is made under
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`Skechers’ proposed construction, which is separately addressed in Ground 1C.
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`EX1029, FIG. 3.2
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`Dua-956 further explains that the “central textile element 60 forms portions
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`of upper 30 extending under the foot, over forward portions of the foot, and around
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`the heel of the foot.” Id., 5:60-62. The central textile element 60 “includes a forward
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`portion 61, a center portion 62, and a rearward portion 63 formed of unitary (i.e.,
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`one piece) construction,” as shown below. Id., 6:46-49.
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`2 Unless otherwise indicated, all color and text boxes in patent figures are added.
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`FIGs. 8A-8C.
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`As shown above, once knitted, each of textile elements 40 and 50 are “stitched
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`or otherwise joined to central textile element 60 … to form an interior void shaped
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`to receive the foot.” Id., 8:49-9:14.
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`In contrast to upper 30 of Embodiment #1—in which textile elements 40, 50,
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`and 60 may be knitted individually before being joined together—the upper 70 of
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`Embodiment #2 (FIGs. 10A-10C) “includes a central portion 71, a pair of side
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`portions 72, and eight lace loops 73,” as shown below. Id., 9:58-61.
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`Id., FIG. 10A; EX1002, ¶¶77-79.
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`For upper 30' of Embodiment #3 (FIGs. 11A-B), Dua-956 discloses that the
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`“[u]pper 30' includes a foot-receiving portion 31' and a pair of straps 32',” where the
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`“[f]oot-receiving portion 31'” (colored in green) “is formed of unitary (i.e., one
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`piece) construction by the flat knitting process.” EX1029, 10:31-35.
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`Id., FIG. 11A. Dua-956 explains that the unitary (i.e., one piece) flat knit foot-
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`IPR Petition for US9,510,636
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`receiving portion 31' is “a textile element shaped to extend around the foot” and “has
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`an opening 33' for inserting and removing the foot from upper 30'.” Id., 10:35-38;
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`EX1002, ¶¶80-81. The upper 130 of Embodiment #4 (FIGs. 12-13) is also of a
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`unitary kit construction. EX1029, 11:13-16, 11:18-22.
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`B. Claim 1
`Element 1[pre]: An article of footwear having an upper and a sole
`structure secured to the upper, the article of footwear
`incorporating a knitted component comprising:
`Dua-956 discloses an article of footwear (e.g., footwear 10) that includes a
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