Abstract:
A fluid-filled chamber (40) may be incorporated into footwear and other products. The chamber is formed from a polymer material that defines a first surface (41), a second surface (42) located opposite the first surface, and a sidewall surface (43) extending around a periphery of the chamber and between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of bonds (45) are spaced inward from the sidewall surface and join the first surface and the second surface, and the bonds are distributed to form a regularly-spaced array, such as a hexagonal array. In some configurations, the first surface and the second surface may define elliptically-shaped structures between the bonds. In addition, the bonds may be formed to have a slope that is an average of slopes of the first surface and the second surface in areas proximal the bonds.
Abstract:
This invention concerns an injection moulding process for soles in expansible and cross-linking "EVA" based compounds characterised in that during the cooling stage of the moulded sole (1) the spontaneous shrinkage of the same is arrested by means of a template (3) consisting of a rigid shaped plate placed on the sole (1) so that its edge connects with a perimeter edge (2) realised specifically on the upper surface (1a) of the sole (1), whose dimensions reduce no further either during the remaining cooling phase or after cooling.
Abstract:
An article of footwear includes an upper (16) and sole structure (14), and the upper (16) includes a foot receiving shoe opening. The article of footwear further includes a heel cup (52) attached to the upper (16) and extending from the sole structure (14) to at least a portion of the rear heel collar (74) of upper (16). Additionally, the heel cup (52) is uniformly molded with an upper portion (64), midportion (58), and lower portion (54) and the upper portion (64) has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion (58), and the midportion (58) and lower portion (54) form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The upper portion (64) has a first configuration and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion (64) is lowered relative to the first configuration and the upper portion (64) is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. The midportion (58) includes a peripheral portion (70) having a first thickness and a central portion (50) having a second thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness.
Abstract:
An article of footwear includes an upper (16) and sole structure (14), and the upper (16) includes a foot receiving shoe opening. The article of footwear further includes a heel cup (52) attached to the upper (16) and extending from the sole structure (14) to at least a portion of the rear heel collar (74) of upper (16). Additionally, the heel cup (52) is uniformly molded with an upper portion (64), midportion (58), and lower portion (54) and the upper portion (64) has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion (58), and the midportion (58) and lower portion (54) form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The upper portion (64) has a first configuration and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion (64) is lowered relative to the first configuration and the upper portion (64) is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. The midportion (58) includes a peripheral portion (70) having a first thickness and a central portion (50) having a second thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness.
Abstract:
A shock absorbing heel for footwear, made of leather. or a material visually similar to leather, and formed by a rubber underheel (1) with at least one opening (7) from which there projects an appendix (2) of a core (3) made of a resilient plastic material. The material is injected on the underheel in a chamber (12) delimited by strips (4, 5) of leather or the like arranged on the underheel and along its edge and connected to the underheel through the core of plastic material.
Abstract:
A mould for a gas assisted method of injection moulding has first and second mould parts defining a mould cavity. A series of upstanding ribs extend from the surface of the mould defining the mould cavity. These ribs produce complementary channels (30) in a moulding produced in the mould. These channels (30) split the mould cavity into a plurality of communicating sub-sections (31). Channels are provided splitting the ribs into sections and forming, during the moulding process, connecting ribs (35) of plastic between the plastic adjacent the channels (30). These ribs contribute to the lateral rigidity of the moulded product. The sub-sections enable an otherwise uncontrollable void to be divided into controllable smaller voids.
Abstract:
An article of footwear includes an upper (16) and sole structure (14), and the upper (16) includes a foot receiving shoe opening. The article of footwear further includes a heel cup (52) attached to the upper (16) and extending from the sole structure (14) to at least a portion of the rear heel collar (74) of upper (16). Additionally, the heel cup (52) is uniformly molded with an upper portion (64), midportion (58), and lower portion (54) and the upper portion (64) has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion (58), and the midportion (58) and lower portion (54) form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The upper portion (64) has a first configuration and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion (64) is lowered relative to the first configuration and the upper portion (64) is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. The midportion (58) includes a peripheral portion (70) having a first thickness and a central portion (50) having a second thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness.
Abstract:
A fluid-filled chamber (40) may be incorporated into footwear and other products. The chamber is formed from a polymer material that defines a first surface (41), a second surface (42) located opposite the first surface, and a sidewall surface (43) extending around a periphery of the chamber and between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of bonds (45) are spaced inward from the sidewall surface and join the first surface and the second surface, and the bonds are distributed to form a regularly-spaced array, such as a hexagonal array. In some configurations, the first surface and the second surface may define elliptically-shaped structures between the bonds. In addition, the bonds may be formed to have a slope that is an average of slopes of the first surface and the second surface in areas proximal the bonds.