Shoe last extension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11596206-B2
Application number	US-202017131278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2020
Priority date	May 31, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

A last extension for a shoe last provides a pattern defining an origin location. The origin location on the last extension can be used to identify locations or points on a last or a shoe component on a last for control of location-critical manufacturing operations, including decorative and functional operations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for manufacturing an article of footwear, the system comprising:
a last, comprising:
a top surface, and
one or more protrusions extending from the top surface; and

a last extension comprising:
a body comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a first surface and a second surface each extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, and
the body further comprising a dimensional pattern formed on at least the first surface, the dimensional pattern comprising grooves having a width and a depth in the shape of at least a line and a point off the line, the dimensional pattern defining an origin; and

a mounting mechanism comprising a cavity formed in the body, wherein the cavity includes an opening located on at least the lower surface of the body, and wherein the one or more protrusions can be inserted into the cavity to secure the last to the last extension.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dimensional pattern comprises two intersecting lines.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the two intersecting lines are orthogonal to each other.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the two intersecting lines are continuous grooves extending across at least a portion of the first surface.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the line comprises a first indentation in the first surface and the point comprises a second indentation in the first surface, and wherein the first indentation and the second indentation are distinct indentations.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the origin defines a critical reference point.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions are a pair of spaced-apart protrusions extending from the top surface of the last.

8. A system for manufacturing an article of footwear, the system comprising:
a last, comprising:
a top surface, and
a pair of protrusions extending from the top surface;

a last extension comprising:
a body comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface is configured to be joined to the top surface of the last,
the body comprising a first surface and a second surface each extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, and the body comprising a dimensional pattern located on at least the first surface, the dimensional pattern defining an origin; and

a mounting mechanism comprising a cavity formed in the body, wherein the cavity includes an opening located on at least the lower surface of the body, and wherein the pair of protrusions can be inserted into the cavity to secure the last to last extension, and wherein the dimensional pattern comprises grooves having a width and a depth in the shape of at least a line and a point off the line.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the origin defines a critical reference point, and wherein the mounting mechanism further comprises a pair of rails extending along a length of the body such that the pair of rails at least partially define the cavity.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Jurkovic Dragan
• Mars Philip
• Hsiao Yu-Shu
• Lin Chun-Chi

Classifications

• A43D2200/10

  Fully automated machines, i.e. machines working without human intervention · CPC title

• A43D119/00

  Driving or controlling mechanisms of shoe machines; Frames for shoe machines · CPC title

• A43D3/022 Primary

  comprising means, e.g. hooks, for holding, fixing or centering shoe parts on the last · CPC title

• A43D3/025 Primary

  Longitudinally expansible lasts · CPC title

• A43D3/027 Primary

  Lasts with exchangeable parts, e.g. for changing the form or for remodelling · CPC title