Last system for articles with braided components

• US 10,299,544 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bruce, Robert M., Lee, Eun Kyung, Sills, Craig K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bays, Marie D
• Application Number:
  US15/613,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20170265596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 36 45
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0225 Composite materials, e.g. material with a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/02 Lasts for making or repairing shoes making of wooden lasts B27M3/20
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/022 comprising means, e.g. hooks, for holding, fixing or centering shoe parts on the last
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/146 Uppers
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 3/48 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

A last system and a method of making the last system are disclosed. The last system includes a last member and an exterior layer. The exterior layer becomes deformable when heated above a characteristic temperature. The method can include forming a braided footwear component on the last system. The exterior layer may be joined with the braided footwear component by heating the last system above the characteristic temperature.

Claims

1. An upper for an article of footwear comprising:

a composite material forming at least a portion of the upper, the composite material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and comprising;

a matrix material; and

a plurality of braided strands thermally bonded with the matrix material such that the plurality of braided strands are embedded within the matrix material, wherein an inner surface of the matrix material separates the plurality of braided strands and the first surface;

a first portion having a first thickness, the first thickness comprising the composite material; and

a second portion having a second thickness, the second thickness comprising the composite material, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

2. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the plurality of braided strands are partially, but not fully, embedded with the matrix material.

3. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of braided strands are completely encased within the matrix material.

4. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is located in a toe region of the upper.

5. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is located in a heel region of the upper.

6. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is located in an eyestay region of the upper.

7. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is located in a sole region of the upper.

8. The upper according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is located in a medial side region of the upper.

11. The upper according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of braided strands are surrounded by the matrix at the interior surface and the exterior surface of the upper.

9. An upper for an article of footwear comprising:

a composite material forming at least a portion of the upper, the composite material comprising;

a matrix comprising a heat deformable material; and

a plurality of braided strands thermally fused with the heat deformable material;

wherein the upper comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface comprising the matrix, and wherein a portion of the matrix separates the plurality of braided strands from the interior surface of the upper.

10. The upper according to claim 9, wherein the composite material at the exterior surface of the upper comprises an outer surface of the matrix and at least a portion of the plurality of braided strands.