METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INFLATABLE BLADDERS FOR USE IN FOOTWEAR AND OTHER ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing an inflatable article, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first polymer film having an inner side and an outer side;
(b) applying a curable release coating to said inner side of said first polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of an inflatable compartment of an inflatable bladder;
(c) curing said release coating to said inner side of said first polymer film by the application of ultra violet light;
(d) providing a second polymer film having an inner side and an outer side with said first polymer film to form a layered element, such that said release coating is disposed between said inner side of said first polymer film and said inner side of said second polymer film;
(e) positioning said layered element between a first ply of material and a second ply of material;
(f) applying heat and pressure to said first and second plies of material positioned about said layered element, to adhere said first polymer film to said second polymer film except in the area where said release coating has been applied to said inner side of said first polymer film to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter; and
(g) removing said first and second plies of material from said adhered first and second polymer films.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable bladders for use in articles of manufacture. The method includes the steps of providing a first polymer film, applying a curable release coating to the polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of the inflatable bladder, curing the release coating to the first polymer film, providing a second polymer film with the first polymer film to form a layered element such that the release coating is disposed between the polymer films, positioning the layered element between two plies of material, applying heat and pressure to adhere the polymer films together except in the area where the release coating has been applied to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter, and removing the plies of material from the adhered first and second polymer films.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing an inflatable article, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first polymer film having an inner side and an outer side; (b) applying a curable release coating to said inner side of said first polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of an inflatable compartment of an inflatable bladder; (c) curing said release coating to said inner side of said first polymer film by the application of ultra violet light; (d) providing a second polymer film having an inner side and an outer side with said first polymer film to form a layered element, such that said release coating is disposed between said inner side of said first polymer film and said inner side of said second polymer film; (e) positioning said layered element between a first ply of material and a second ply of material; (f) applying heat and pressure to said first and second plies of material positioned about said layered element, to adhere said first polymer film to said second polymer film except in the area where said release coating has been applied to said inner side of said first polymer film to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter; and (g) removing said first and second plies of material from said adhered first and second polymer films. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 23)
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10. A method for manufacturing an inflatable bladder, comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a barrier material between a first film and a second film in a configuration that corresponds to the shape of an inflatable compartment of the inflatable bladder; (b) positioning said first and second films, with said barrier material positioned thereinbetween, between a first ply of material and a second ply of material; (c) adhering said first film to said second film, except in the vicinity of said barrier material, to form said inflatable bladder having said inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed, continuously substantially flat perimeter; and (d) removing said first and second plies of material from the inflatable bladder. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24)
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25. An inflatable article of footwear comprising:
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(a) a sole; and (b) an upper attached to said sole, said upper including an inflatable bladder, said inflatable bladder comprising; (i) a first film; (ii) a release agent applied and cured to said first film in a pattern that corresponds to the shape of an inflatable compartment of said inflatable bladder; and (iii) a second film adhered to said first film such that said release agent is disposed between said first film and said second film, and said first film and said second film do not adhere in the vicinity of the release agent thereby forming said inflatable compartment with a peripheral edge, wherein said inflatable bladder is devoid of raised weld lines or raised adhering seams and wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of said inflatable bladder is textured. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An inflatable article of footwear comprising:
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(a) an upper; (b) a sole attached to said upper; and (c) an inflatable bladder attached to the article of footwear, said inflatable bladder comprising; (i) a first single-layered film having an inner surface and a textured outer surface; (ii) a release agent applied and cured to said inner surface of said first single-layered film in a pattern that corresponds to the shape of an inflatable compartment of said inflatable bladder; (iii) a second single-layered film having an inner surface and a textured outer surface disposed in facing relationship with and adhered to said first single-layered film such that said release agent is disposed between said inner surface of said first single-layered film and said inner surface of said second single-layered film, said release agent preventing said first single-layered film from adhering to said second single-layered film in the area where said release agent is applied to form said inflatable compartment of said inflatable bladder. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification