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:
A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.
Abstract:
An article of footwear includes an upper and a midsole positioned beneath the upper. The midsole includes an upper portion formed of a first material and a lower portion formed of a second material and positioned beneath the upper portion. The lower portion includes a plurality of support members spaced from adjacent support members. A plurality of connecting members extend between and are connected to adjacent support members, with the connecting members having a height that is less than a height of the support members to which the connecting members are connected, and an upper surface that is substantially flush with an upper surface of the support members to which the connecting members are connected.
Abstract:
A composite panel portion of an upper (11) includes a contouring element (31-34) located between a backing (29) and an outer panel (19). The outer panel (19) conforms to the contouring element (31-34) and the backing (29) so as to form a raised contour.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.
Abstract:
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly positioned beneath the upper. The sole assembly has a vertically extending channel formed in its bottom surface inward of a periphery of the sole assembly, the channel including opposed sidewalls and an end surface. The sole assembly includes a first portion having a first color; and a second portion having a second color that is different than the first color. An interface between the first portion and the second portion is positioned at a central portion of one of the sidewalls of the channel. A method of forming such an article of footwear is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of forming a sole assembly includes positioning a plurality of preforms having different colors together to form a sole assembly preform and placing the sole assembly preform in a recess in a first portion of a mold assembly. The sole assembly preform is subjected to heat for a predetermined amount of time such that the plurality of preforms bond to one another to form a sole assembly.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a sole assembly (10) includes using a jig (70, 94) with a first mold assembly (30) to distribute pellets (80) a first material into a recess (98) of a first mold member (32, 84) of the first mold assembly (30). A second material is injected into the first mold assembly (30), and the first mold assembly (30) is heated to form a first preform (48). The first preform (48) and a second preform (62) are heated in a second mold assembly (82) to form a sole assembly (10) with a camouflage appearance around only a periphery of the sole assembly (10).
Abstract:
A bladder for an article of footwear includes a support chamber and an expansion chamber. The support chamber has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall and defining a peripheral profile of the support chamber. The expansion chamber extends from the peripheral wall at a first end of the bladder. In some examples, the peripheral wall defines a first end of the support chamber having one or more lobes extending from the top wall to the bottom wall. The one or more lobes may include a first lobe disposed adjacent to a first side of the support chamber and a second lobe disposed adjacent to a second side of the support chamber. The expansion chamber may be disposed between the first lobe and the second lobe at the first end of the support chamber.