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THREE-DIMENSIONAL THERMO-MOLDING OF FOOTWEAR

  • US 20170325545A1
  • Filed: 05/16/2016
  • Published: 11/16/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

  • disposing an inflatable bladder around a last;

    disposing a skin over the inflatable bladder, the skin comprising at least one of;

    a base layer comprising a low melting point thermoplastic polymer and a grid layer comprising a yarn composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer;

    placing the assembled last, inflatable bladder, and skin within a cavity of a mold;

    heating the mold to a predetermined temperature; and

    inflating the inflatable bladder such that the skin is pressed against an interior surface of the heated mold cavity to cause the skin to take on the shape of the internal surface of the mold cavity onto which it is pressed, thereby forming an upper for an article of footwear.

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