ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH SOIL-SHEDDING PERFORMANCE
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- providing an outsole, the outsole having an outsole backing member wherein one or more traction elements are operably secured to the outsole backing member, and a film secured to the outsole backing member and defining an external surface of the outsole,wherein the film comprises a hydrogel, andwherein the film has a water uptake capacity at 24 hours ranging from 40% to 900% by weight, as characterized by a Water Uptake Capacity Test with a Footwear Sampling Procedure; and
securing the outsole to an upper such that the film defines a ground-facing surface of the article of footwear.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to articles of footwear and components thereof, including outsoles, which can be used in conditions normally conducive to the accumulation of soil on the outsoles. In particular, the disclosure relates to articles of footwear and components thereof including an outsole with an external hydrogel film having a water uptake capacity at 24 hours greater than 40% by weight. The outsoles can prevent or reduce the accumulation of soil on the footwear during wear on unpaved surfaces such as sporting fields. When the outsoles are wetted with water, the outsoles can become more compliant and/or can rapidly uptake and/or expel water, which can prevent soil from adhering to the outsole and/or can assist in shedding soil present on the outsole.
1 Citation
17 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
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providing an outsole, the outsole having an outsole backing member wherein one or more traction elements are operably secured to the outsole backing member, and a film secured to the outsole backing member and defining an external surface of the outsole, wherein the film comprises a hydrogel, and wherein the film has a water uptake capacity at 24 hours ranging from 40% to 900% by weight, as characterized by a Water Uptake Capacity Test with a Footwear Sampling Procedure; and securing the outsole to an upper such that the film defines a ground-facing surface of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An outsole for an article of footwear, the outsole comprising:
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an outsole backing member, wherein one or more traction elements are operably secured to the outsole backing member; and a film secured to the outsole backing member and defining an external surface of the outsole, wherein the film comprises a hydrogel, wherein the outsole backing member compositionally comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane, and wherein the hydrogel comprises a crosslinked polymeric network having copolymer chains that are physically crosslinked. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification