Method of lasting an article of footwear

• US 9,445,649 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fabdesigns, Inc., Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Huffa, Bruce, Farris, Bryan N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US14/198,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20140245546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 36/45, 231/42.C, 231/42.F, 231/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/38 Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/02 Footwear stitched or nailed through
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/12 Stuck or cemented footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/00 Lasts
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/02 Lasts for making or repairing shoes making of wooden lasts B27M3/20
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/021 Lofty fabric with equidistantly spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/022 Lofty fabric with variably spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear may include assembling at least a portion of an upper of the article of footwear, the upper having a lower perimeter edge. A knitted component forming a portion of the upper includes at least one strand formed with the knitted component. The strand passes through opposite sides of the upper along the lower perimeter edge. The strand is tensioned, and a sole structure of the article of footwear is joined to the upper.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:

assembling at least a portion of an upper of the article of footwear, the upper having a lower perimeter edge;

providing a strobel sock having an integral lasting element extending through a portion of the strobel sock, the strobel sock and lasting element having been previously formed separately from the upper, the lasting element comprising;

(a) a first strip, (b) a second strip spaced apart from the first strip, and (c) at least one strand extending through the first strip and the second strip;

securing the strobel sock and lasting element to the upper, wherein securing the lasting element further comprises;

(a) joining the first strip to a lateral side of the upper adjacent to the lower perimeter edge, (b) joining the second strip to a medial side of the upper adjacent to the lower perimeter edge, and (c) wherein the at least one strand is disposed through the first strip and the second strip so as to extend between the lateral side of the upper and the medial side of the upper;

tensioning the at least one strand; and

joining a sole structure of the article of footwear to the upper.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the strobel sock extends through at least a portion of a heel region and a midfoot region of the upper.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the lasting element extends through a forefoot region of the upper.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the step of tensioning the strand includes drawing the first strip and the second strip closer together at the forefoot region of the upper.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of forming the strobel sock and the lasting element of unitary knit construction so that the first strip, the second strip, and the at least one strand are a one-piece element with the strobel sock.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the step of forming the strobel sock and the lasting element includes a flat-knitting process.

7. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of removing the strand from the lasting element after the step of joining an outsole associated with the sole structure to the upper.