Induction heating apparatuses and processes for footwear manufacturing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for making an article of footwear, comprising:
- a last shaped to resemble an outer surface of a human foot and including an outer surface, a bottom surface, and a groove formed at a junction of the bottom surface and the outer surface of the last, the groove encircling a perimeter of the last at the junction;
a susceptor material that is thermally reactive to an electromagnetic field and is received within the groove of the last, the susceptor material including an outer surface that is substantially flush with the outer surface of the last; and
an induction coil disposed proximate to the last and configured to produce an electromagnetic field that causes the susceptor material in the last to increase in temperature by induction heating.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for making an article of footwear is provided. The apparatus may include a last shaped to resemble a human foot and being formed at least in part from a susceptor material that is thermally reactive to an electromagnetic field. The apparatus may also include an induction coil disposed proximate to the last and configured to produce an electromagnetic field that causes the susceptor material in the last to increase in temperature by induction heating.
49 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for making an article of footwear, comprising:
-
a last shaped to resemble an outer surface of a human foot and including an outer surface, a bottom surface, and a groove formed at a junction of the bottom surface and the outer surface of the last, the groove encircling a perimeter of the last at the junction; a susceptor material that is thermally reactive to an electromagnetic field and is received within the groove of the last, the susceptor material including an outer surface that is substantially flush with the outer surface of the last; and an induction coil disposed proximate to the last and configured to produce an electromagnetic field that causes the susceptor material in the last to increase in temperature by induction heating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An apparatus for making an article of footwear, comprising:
-
a last shaped to resemble a human foot and including a groove formed around a perimeter of the last; a susceptor material that is thermally reactive to an electromagnetic field and is received within the groove of the last, the susceptor material including an outer rail aligned with an outer surface of the last and disposed at a peripheral portion of a sole region of the last and one or more inner rails extending inward from an inner surface of the outer rail in a direction away from the outer surface of the susceptor material toward a central portion of the last; and an induction coil disposed proximate to the last and configured to produce an electromagnetic field that causes the susceptor material in the last to increase in temperature by induction heating; wherein the outer rail has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially pie-shaped, having a curved outer surface and a substantially horizontal top surface, the inner surface of the outer rail being a substantially vertical inner surface; and wherein the one or more inner rails extend from the substantially vertical inner surface in an inward direction away from the outer surface of the outer rail.
-
-
19. An apparatus for making an article of footwear, comprising:
-
a last shaped to resemble a human foot and including a groove formed around a perimeter of the last; a susceptor material that is thermally reactive to an electromagnetic field and is received within the groove of the last, the susceptor material including an outer rail aligned with an outer surface of the last and disposed at a peripheral portion of a sole region of the last and a pair of inner rails extending inward from an inner surface of the outer rail in a direction away from the outer surface of the susceptor material, the pair of inner rails extending toward one another from opposite sides of the outer rail and being spaced apart from one another by a material of the last; and an induction coil disposed proximate to the last and configured to produce an electromagnetic field that causes the susceptor material in the last to increase in temperature by induction heating; wherein only an inner portion of the susceptor material contacts the last.
-
Specification