Method of Manufacturing Footwear Having Sipes

• US 20100269271A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Jeffrey L., Kim, Namkook
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 12/146.B
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 8/00 Machines for cutting, ornamenting, marking or otherwise working up shoe part blanks pulling-over or lasting A43D9/00 - A43D23/00; making or fastening soles, heels or welts A43D25/00 - A43D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 8/02 Cutting-out cutting in general B26D, B26F; of leather articles in general C14B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 8/56 of sole blanks by slitting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/085 On sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/10 by heating with Laser B23K26/00; severing by heating B26F
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/44 Cutters therefor; Dies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 2001/4472 Cutting edge section features
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 2001/4481 having special lateral or edge outlines or special surface shapes, e.g. apertures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0333 Scoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0363 Plural independent scoring blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/748 With work immobilizer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7607 Normal to plane of cut

Abstract

A method of manufacturing footwear including the steps of positioning a sole member on a first portion of a cutting assembly; heating a second portion of the cutting assembly, the second portion including a cutting die; pressing the heated cutting die into the sole member to form a plurality of sipes in the sole member; and removing the cutting die from the sole member.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing footwear comprising the steps of:

positioning a sole member on a first portion of a cutting assembly;

heating a second portion of the cutting assembly, the second portion including a cutting die;

pressing the heated cutting die into the sole member to form a plurality of sipes in the sole member; and

removing the cutting die from the sole member.

2. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the cutting die includes at least one blade.

3. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the cutting die includes a plurality of blades.

4. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a bottom plate.

5. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a jig.

6. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 5, wherein the jig includes a base member and a plurality of pins positioned about a periphery of the base member.

7. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the jig includes a plurality of upwardly extending projections.

8. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 7, wherein the cutting die includes a plurality of recesses, each recess receiving one of the projections of the jig.

9. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the cutting die is heated to between approximately 160°

C. and approximately 220°

C.

10. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the cutting die is pressed into the sole member for approximately 2 seconds to approximately 15 seconds.

11. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein a depth of the sipes is between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 50 mm.

12. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, further comprising the step of securing an upper to the sole member.

13. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein the sole member is a midsole.

14. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 13, further comprising the step of securing an outsole to the midsole.

15. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, wherein a height of at least one sipe varies along its length.

16. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 1, further comprising the step of securing the sole member to the first portion with vacuum clamping.

17. A method of manufacturing footwear comprising the steps of:

positioning a sole member on a jig of a first portion of a cutting assembly;

heating a second portion of the cutting assembly to selected temperature, the second portion including a cutting die having a plurality of blades;

pressing the blades into the sole member for a selected period of time to form a plurality of sipes in the sole member; and

removing the cutting die from the sole member.

18. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 17, wherein the cutting die is heated to between approximately 160°

C. and approximately 220°

C.

19. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 17, wherein the blades are pressed into the sole member for approximately 2 seconds to approximately 15 seconds.

20. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 17, wherein a depth of the sipes is between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 50 mm.

21. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 17, further comprising the step of securing an upper to the sole member.

22. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 17, wherein the sole member is a midsole.

23. The method of manufacturing footwear of claim 22, further comprising the step of securing an outsole to the midsole.

24. A method of manufacturing footwear comprising the steps of:

positioning a sole member on a jig of a first portion of a cutting assembly, the jig including a base member and a plurality of pins positioned about a periphery of the base member, the first portion including a plurality of upwardly extending projections;

heating a cutting die of the second portion to a temperature between approximately 160°

C. and approximately 220°

C., the cutting die having a plurality of blades and a plurality of recesses, each recess configured to receive one of the projections of the first portion;

pressing the blades into the sole member for a period of time between approximately 2 seconds and approximately 15 seconds to form a plurality of sipes in the sole member; and

removing the cutting die from the sole member.