Method for manufacturing inflatable footwear or bladders for use in inflatable articles
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing an inflatable article of footwear, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first film;
(b) applying a barrier material to a first side of said first film in a bladder configuration;
(c) providing a second film with said first film, such that said barrier material is disposed between said first film and said second film;
(d) adhering said first film to said second film to form a sealed peripheral area, except in the area where said barrier material has been applied to said first film, to form at least one inflatable compartment corresponding in overall shape to said bladder configuration;
(e) cutting along said sealed peripheral area to form a bladder having said at least one inflatable compartment and a sealed peripheral edge; and
(f) incorporating said bladder into footwear to form the inflatable article of footwear.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second. The inflatable article or bladder of the present invention may be used as or in athletic equipment, for example, including footwear.
102 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing an inflatable article of footwear, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first film;
(b) applying a barrier material to a first side of said first film in a bladder configuration;
(c) providing a second film with said first film, such that said barrier material is disposed between said first film and said second film;
(d) adhering said first film to said second film to form a sealed peripheral area, except in the area where said barrier material has been applied to said first film, to form at least one inflatable compartment corresponding in overall shape to said bladder configuration;
(e) cutting along said sealed peripheral area to form a bladder having said at least one inflatable compartment and a sealed peripheral edge; and
(f) incorporating said bladder into footwear to form the inflatable article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
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- 3. The method of clam 1, wherein said barrier material is an embossed or textured surface of said first film.
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12. A method for manufacturing an inflatable bladder, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first film having a first side and a second side;
(b) applying a barrier material to said first side of said first film;
(c) providing a second film with said first side of said first film, such that said barrier material is disposed between said first film and said second film;
(d) adhering said first film to said second film to form a sealed peripheral area, except in the area where said barrier material has been applied to said first side of said first film, to form at least one inflatable compartment corresponding in overall shape to a bladder configuration; and
(e) cutting along said sealed peripheral area to form a bladder having said at least one inflatable compartment and a sealed peripheral edge. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for manufacturing a customized inflatable article of manufacture, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a database, wherein said database comprises at least one information record for at least one customized bladder design;
(b) providing a first film;
(c) applying a barrier material to a first side of said first film in accordance with said at least one information record to form at least one customized bladder design;
(d) providing a second film with said first film, such that said barrier material is disposed between said first film and said second film;
(e) adhering said first film to said second film to form a sealed peripheral area, except in the area where said barrier material has been applied to said first film, to form at least one inflatable compartment corresponding in overall shape to said customized bladder design; and
(f) cutting along said sealed peripheral area to form a bladder having said at least one inflatable compartment and a sealed peripheral edge.
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24. A method for manufacturing an inflatable bladder, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first film;
(b) providing a second film;
(c) positioning a barrier material in an area between said first film and said second film;
(d) adhering said first film to said second film to form a sealed peripheral area, except in said area where said barrier material is provided between said first film and second film, to form at least one inflatable compartment corresponding in overall shape to a bladder configuration; and
(e) cutting along said sealed peripheral area to form a bladder having at least one inflatable compartment and a sealed peripheral edge.
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Specification