Last system for braiding footwear

• US 9,839,253 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bruce, Robert M., Lee, Eun Kyung, Sills, Craig K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Shaun R
• Application Number:
  US14/565,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160166000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: D2979
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0225 Composite materials, e.g. material with a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/02 Lasts for making or repairing shoes making of wooden lasts B27M3/20
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/022 comprising means, e.g. hooks, for holding, fixing or centering shoe parts on the last
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 3/48 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear can include a braided upper. The structure of the braided upper may be manufactured using an article forming member and a braiding apparatus. The article forming member includes a body portion substantially similar to a last for shoemaking, as well as a flange portion that extends outward from the body portion. The article forming member moves through the braiding apparatus in varying orientations that can improve the efficiency of the braiding, enhance the braiding pattern, and enhance structural support of the braided upper.

Claims

1. An article forming member for a braiding system, comprising:

a body portion, the body portion having the approximate shape of a foot, the body portion further including a cuff region, a heel region, a midfoot region and a forefoot region;

a flange portion extending at a first angle from the body portion, wherein the first angle is between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, and further wherein the flange portion includes a first end and a second end;

wherein the first end of the flange portion is attached to the forefoot region; and

wherein the shape of the cuff region is substantially different from the shape of the flange portion.

2. The article forming member of claim 1, wherein the surface of the second end is generally flat, and wherein the perimeter of the second end includes a substantially linear edge and a curved edge.

3. The article forming member of claim 2, wherein the curved edge of the second end is similar in shape to a half-ellipse.

4. The article forming member of claim 2, wherein the cuff region includes a top surface, wherein the top surface is substantially flat, and wherein the top surface has a generally oval shape.

5. The article forming member of claim 1, wherein the body portion and the flange portion comprise a monolithic portion.

6. The article forming member of claim 3, wherein the article forming member is configured to be inserted through a braiding apparatus of the braiding system.

7. The article forming member of claim 1, further including a first length extending from the heel region to the forefoot region and a second length extending from the heel region to the second end of the flange portion, wherein the second length is greater than the first length.

8. The article forming member of claim 1, further including a first axis extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, a second axis extending from the first end of the flange portion to the second end of the flange portion, and a third axis extending from the heel region to the cuff region, wherein the first axis and the second axis form the first angle, wherein the second axis and the third axis form a second angle, and wherein the first angle is different than the second angle.

9. A braiding system for the manufacture of a braided upper for an article of footwear comprising:

an article forming member, wherein the article forming member includes a body portion and a flange portion, wherein the body portion comprises a cuff region, wherein the shape of the cuff region is substantially different from the shape of the flange portion and further wherein the flange portion extends at an angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees from the body portion;

a braiding apparatus; and

wherein the article forming member is configured to be inserted through the braiding apparatus to form the braided upper.

10. The braiding system of claim 9, wherein the braiding apparatus includes a central braiding area, wherein the article forming member is configured to move through the central braiding area, such that the flange portion moves through the central braiding area prior to the body portion.

11. The braiding system of claim 10, wherein the braiding apparatus is configured to form a braided structure on the article forming member as the article forming member is passed through the braiding apparatus.

12. The braiding system of claim 11, wherein the article forming member is configured to be rotated from a first position to a second position during the formation of the braided upper, wherein the first position is different than the second position.

13. A method of manufacturing a braided structure comprising:

associating an article forming member with a braiding apparatus, wherein the article forming member includes a body portion and a flange portion extending at an angle from the body portion, wherein the body portion further includes a forefoot region and a heel region, wherein the flange portion further includes a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the body portion;

wherein the braiding apparatus includes a central braiding area;

associating the article forming member with the braiding apparatus so that a first axis of the flange portion intersects the central braiding area and moving the flange portion through the central braiding area, wherein the first axis extends from the first end of the flange portion to the second end of the flange portion;

rotating the article forming member so that a second axis of the body portion intersects the central braiding area and moving the forefoot region through the central braiding area, wherein the second axis extends from the forefoot region to the heel region;

thereby forming a braided structure on the article forming member.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein associating the article forming member with the braiding apparatus so that a first axis of the flange portion intersects the central braiding area includes orienting the flange portion such that the first axis is approximately perpendicular to the central braiding area.

15. The method of claim 14, where rotating the article forming member so that the second axis of the body portion intersects the central braiding area includes rotating the article forming member so that the second axis is approximately perpendicular to the central braiding area.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the article forming member further includes a cuff region, wherein a third axis of the article forming member extends from the heel region to the cuff region, and wherein the method further includes rotating the article forming member so that the third axis is approximately perpendicular to the central braiding area.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the article forming member in a direction toward the braiding apparatus, moving the article forming member through the central braiding area, and moving the article forming member away from the braiding apparatus.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the braided structure is an upper for an article of footwear.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the body portion includes a cuff region, the cuff region includes a top surface, and the top surface is substantially planar, wherein the flange portion includes a second end, wherein the second end is substantially planar, and

wherein the top surface and the second end are substantially different in shape.