Method for molding tensile strand elements
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing an element, the method comprising:
- positioning a strand between a first layer and a second layer;
locating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between a first surface and a second surface of a press, the first surface including a first material, and the second surface including a second material, the first material having lesser compressibility than the second material;
compressing the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between the first surface and the second surface, and heating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer to bond the first layer to the second layer;
incorporating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer into an article of footwear; and
wherein the step of incorporating includes positioning the second layer to form a portion of an exterior surface of the article of footwear.
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Abstract
Articles of footwear and a variety of other products may incorporate tensile strand elements. In manufacturing an element, such as the tensile strand elements, a strand, a first layer, and a second layer may be located between a first surface and a second surface of a press. The first surface includes a first material and the second surface includes a second material, with the first material having greater hardness than the second material. The strand, the first layer, and the second layer are then compressed between the first surface and the second surface.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an element, the method comprising:
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positioning a strand between a first layer and a second layer; locating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between a first surface and a second surface of a press, the first surface including a first material, and the second surface including a second material, the first material having lesser compressibility than the second material; compressing the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between the first surface and the second surface, and heating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer to bond the first layer to the second layer; incorporating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer into an article of footwear; and wherein the step of incorporating includes positioning the second layer to form a portion of an exterior surface of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacturing an element for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
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positioning a strand between a first layer and a second layer; locating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between a first surface and a second surface of a press, each of the first surface and the second surface having substantially planar areas adjacent to the first layer and the second layer, and each of the first surface and the second surface being formed from different materials; compressing the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between the first surface and the second surface such that (a) portions of the first layer that are in contact with the strand protrude into the first surface to a first depth and (b) portions of the second layer that are in contact with the strand protrude into the second surface to a second depth, the first depth being less than the second depth; incorporating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer into the article of footwear, positioning the first layer to be more toward an interior of the article of footwear than the second layer, and positioning the second layer to form a portion of an exterior surface of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of manufacturing an element, the method comprising:
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positioning a strand between a first layer and a second layer; locating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between a first surface and a second surface of a press, the first surface including a first material, and the second surface including a second material, the first material having greater hardness than the second material, and at least one of the first material and the second material being a silicone material; compressing the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between the first surface and the second surface such that (a) portions of the first layer that are in contact with the strand are substantially planar and (b) portions of the second layer that are in contact with the strand protrude outward and away from the first layer; and further including steps of (a) incorporating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer into an article of footwear and (b) positioning the second layer to form a portion of an exterior surface of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification