Method of making an upper

• US 10,485,302 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Christensen, Brian, Davis, Paul, Vestuti, Ricardo, Hardigan, Henry, Gaboriault, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Edmund H
• Application Number:
  US15/644,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20190008234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/127 the midsole being multilayer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0295 Pieced uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/00 Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes dress fastenings in general A44B
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/15 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. extrusion moulding around inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/151 Coating hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/155 Partial coating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/156 Coating two or more articles simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/50 using adhesive tape , e.g. thermoplastic tape; using threads or the like B29C65/3444 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/62 Stitching
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

An upper for an article of footwear includes a first upper panel, a second upper panel, and an extruded component. The extruded component is disposed along a border between the first upper panel and the second upper panel. The extruded component joins the first upper panel to the second upper panel.

Claims

1. A method of making an upper, the method comprising:

shaping a first panel to form part of the upper;

shaping a second panel to form another part of the upper;

placing the first panel adjacent to the second panel;

extruding a component along a border between the first panel and the second panel to join the first panel and the second panel together; and

extruding the component to form a portion of a closure system for the upper.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the first panel adjacent to the second panel comprises abutting the first panel against the second panel.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

shaping additional panels to form parts of the upper;

extruding the component along borders between the additional panels, the first panel, and the second panel to join each of the panels to form the entire upper.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first panel completely surrounds the second panel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the component comprises polyurethane.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a material of the first panel is different than a material of the second panel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising stitching the first panel and the second panel together.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is disposed on an exterior surface of the first panel and the second panel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the component forms an exterior surface of the upper.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first panel and the second panel are only joined together by the component.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the additional panels comprise at least eight panels.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first panel comprises a heel counter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein shaping the first panel comprises cutting.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is extruded along the border between the first panel and the second panel when the first panel and the second panel are in a flat configuration.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is extruded along the border between the first panel and the second panel when the first panel and the second panel are disposed on a three-dimensional form.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the three-dimensional form comprises a shoe last.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the closure system comprises a loop configured to receive laces.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein extruding the component to form the portion of the closure system comprises extruding two portions of the component such that the upper is configured to receive a lace between the two portions of the component.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the closure system is configured to support a separate component that is configured to receive laces.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the closure system strengthens a hole in the upper that is configured to receive laces.