Abstract:
Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (a) a lightweight foam midsole component for supporting the foot; and (b) a plurality of heavier and/or denser cage components covering selected areas of the midsole component. Spaces are provided between the cage components. These spaces may be sized, shaped, and oriented to define and/or correspond to flexion lines of the foot and/or to produce a more natural flex motion to the sole. The soles additionally may include one or more outsole components, e.g., on bottom surface(s) of the cage component(s) and/or the foam midsole. These sole structures may be engaged with an upper to form a shoe. The uppers may include one or more lace receiving openings supported by elongated wire or textile components. Methods of making footwear including such uppers and/or sole structures also are described.
Abstract:
A chamber (32) includes a first barrier portion (41), a second barrier portion (42), a peripheral bond (44), an interior bond (61,71), and a fold (62,72). The first barrier portion (41) defines a first surface (45) of the chamber (32). The second barrier portion (42) defines a second surface (46) of the chamber (32), the first surface (45) being opposite the second surface (46). The peripheral bond (44) joins the first barrier portion (41) and the second barrier portion (42) to form an interior void (43) within the chamber (32) and seal a fluid within the interior void. The interior bond (61,71) is spaced inward from the peripheral bond (44) and joins the first barrier portion (41) and the second barrier portion (42). Additionally, the fold (62,72) is in the second barrier portion (42) and extends away from the interior bond (61,71) and through a majority of a thickness of the chamber (32).
Abstract:
A golf ball is provided that has a certain relationship among the hardness values of its various layers. The golf ball may have a four-piece construction, including an inner core, an outer core, a mantle layer, and the cover layer. Of the inner core, outer core, and mantle layer, two may be considered soft while one may be considered hard. The inner core may be made from a highly neutralized polymer.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber may include obtaining a spacer textile material a stabilization structure. A tensile member is removed from an area of the spacer textile material where the stabilizing structure is absent. The tensile member is located between a first polymer element and a second polymer element. Additionally, (a) the first layer is bonded to the first polymer element, (b) the second layer is bonded to the second polymer element, and (c) the first polymer element and the second polymer element are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.
Abstract:
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes one or more outsole portions. At least some of these outsole portions include a plurality of alternating upward-facing and downward-facing elongate channels. The channels may have a base and two sidewalls, with adjacent channels sharing a common sidewall. The bases of the downward-facing channels and the upward-facing channels form upper and lower surfaces of the outsole portion, respectively. The sidewalls are arranged at non-perpendicular angles to the upper surface. A first outsole portion has a pressure-versus-strain curve having a local maximum at a "trip point" pressure value and a first strain value and wherein the pressure-versus-strain curve has a change in strain of at least approximately 10% before a second occurrence of the "trip point" pressure value is reached. An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.
Abstract:
A sole structure with an integrated cleat member includes a plate member with a protruding portion that forms a first portion of the cleat member. A second portion of the cleat member is attached to the first portion and may be made of a less rigid material than the first portion. A supporting structure can be disposed inside the protruding portion. A method of forming the sole structure can include reshaping a portion of a plate member to form a protruding portion, molding a cleat tip portion onto the protruding portion and molding a supporting structure into a concave inner portion of the protruding portion.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are disclosed for apparel assembly using three-dimensional printing directly onto fabric apparel materials. Disclosed is a method and system for direct three-dimensional printing and assembly of an article of apparel, including designing a three-dimensional pattern for printing, positioning at least a portion of the article on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray, printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the article using the designed pattern, curing the printed material, and removing the article from the three-dimensional printing system.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are disclosed for three-dimensional printing directly onto an article of apparel. Disclosed is a method and system for direct three-dimensional printing onto an article of apparel, including designing a three-dimensional pattern for printing onto the article, positioning at least a portion of the article on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray, printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the article using the designed pattern, curing the printed material, and removing the article from the three-dimensional printing system.
Abstract:
A mold used to form a midsole for an article of footwear and a method of manufacturing are disclosed. The mold includes a first portion and a second portion cooperating to define a midsole recess, the first portion including a major recess and plurality of wall segments extending throughout the major recess and cooperating to define a plurality of minor recesses. A fillet is provided at each intersection of adjacent wall segments. The mold may have a draft angle of less than or equal to approximately 2.5 degrees.
Abstract:
An article of footwear (100) has an upper (110) and a sole structure (120) secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a chamber (200) that encloses a pressurized fluid. The chamber includes subchambers (220) laterally extending in a medial to lateral direction of the bladder. A bottom surface of the chamber may include at least one bond (230) that laterally extends across the bottom surface of the chamber from one side edge to another side edge of the chamber in the medial to lateral direction. The bond may cooperate with an indentation (240) in the bottom surface that separates one subchamber from another. A diameter of the subchambers may decrease in a direction from a heel region to a forefoot region of the chamber. The indentation extends past the ends areas of the bond such that the indentation extends entirely across the chamber.