THREE-DIMENSIONAL THERMO-MOLDING OF FOOTWEAR
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for manufacturing uppers for articles footwear that include thermo-forming an upper composed of one or more low melting point thermoplastic polymers. The methods may include disposing a skin for forming an upper over and inflatable bladder. The skin may include at least one of a base layer composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer and a grid layer including a yarn composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer. The skin and inflatable bladder may be placed into a mold cavity and the mold may be heated to a predetermined temperature. The inflatable bladder may be inflated 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, thereby forming an upper for an article of footwear.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
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disposing an inflatable bladder around a last; disposing a skin over the inflatable bladder, the skin comprising a layer comprising 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 less than or equal to 180 degrees C.; 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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification