Composite plate for an article of footwear or equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11647808-B2
Application number	US-202016992047-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2020
Priority date	Jul 20, 2016
Publication date	May 16, 2023
Grant date	May 16, 2023

Abstract

A method for forming a plate includes attaching a first strand portion to a flexible substrate to form a first layer on the substrate and positioning a second strand portion on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a plurality of discrete regions on the substrate. The method also includes positioning a plurality of traction elements into corresponding cavities formed into a first mold surface and positioning the substrate on the first mold surface to change a shape of the substrate. At least one of heat and pressure is applied to the first strand portion, the second strand portion, the substrate, and the traction elements to conform the substrate to the shape of the first mold surface and form the traction elements into the substrate at each of the discrete regions. The method also includes incorporating the substrate into an article of footwear.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A component for an article of footwear having an upper, the component comprising:
a substrate configured to extend along a footbed of the upper;
a first cage portion extending from the substrate and along a side of the upper in a forefoot region of the upper;
a first tow of fibers including a first plurality of segments affixed to the substrate and a second plurality of segments affixed to the first cage portion; and
a polymeric resin consolidating the substrate, the first cage portion, and the first tow of fibers.

2. The component of claim 1 , wherein the first cage portion extends from a first end disposed proximate to the substrate to a distal end disposed proximate to an instep region of the upper.

3. The component of claim 1 , wherein the first cage portion extends along one of a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper.

4. The component of claim 1 , further comprising a second cage portion extending from the substrate and along a side of the upper in the forefoot region, the first tow of fibers including a third plurality of segments affixed to the second cage portion.

5. The component of claim 4 , wherein the first cage portion extends along one of a medial side of the upper and a lateral side of the upper and the second cage portion extends along the other of the medial side of the upper and the lateral side of the upper.

6. The component of claim 5 , wherein the first cage portion extends from a first end proximate to the substrate to a first distal end proximate to an instep region of the upper and the second cage portion extends from a second end proximate to the substrate to a second distal end proximate to the instep region of the upper.

7. The component of claim 6 , wherein the first distal end opposes the second distal end to define a gap therebetween at the instep region.

8. The component of claim 6 , wherein the first distal end is spaced apart from the second distal end at the instep region.

9. The component of claim 1 , wherein the first tow of fibers is affixed to at least one of the substrate or the first cage portion by stitching.

10. The component of claim 1 , wherein the first tow of fibers includes at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, glass fibers, and polymeric fibers.

11. A component for an article of footwear having an upper, the component comprising:
a substrate configured to extend along a footbed of the upper;
a first cage portion extending from the substrate and along the upper at a medial side of the upper;
a second cage portion extending from the substrate and along the upper at a lateral side of the upper;
a first tow of fibers including a first plurality of segments affixed to the substrate, a second plurality of segments affixed to the first cage portion, and a third plurality of segments affixed to the second cage portion; and
a polymeric resin consolidating the first tow of fibers, the substrate, the first cage portion, and the second cage portion.

12. The component of claim 11 , wherein the first cage portion extends from a first end disposed proximate to the substrate to a first distal end and the second cage portion extends from a second end disposed proximate to the substrate to a second distal end.

13. The component of claim 12 , wherein the first distal end opposes the second distal end.

14. The component of claim 13 , wherein the first distal end is spaced apart from the second distal end to define a gap between the first distal end and the second distal end.

15. The component of claim 14 , wherein the gap is disposed at and extends along an instep region of the upper.

16. The component of claim 11 , wherein the first cage portion and the second cage portion are aligned with one another across a width of the substrate.

17. The component of claim 11 , wherein the first tow of fibers is affixed to at least one of the substrate, the first cage portion, or the second cage portion by stitching.

18. The component of claim 11 , wherein the first tow of fibers includes at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, glass fibers, and polymeric fibers.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Amis Sam
• Bartel Aaron
• Guest Stefan E
• Lacey Sam
• Mcfarland Ii William C
• Steinbeck Christian Alexander
• Sterman Yoav
• Thuss Adam
• Waatti Todd A

Classifications

• A43B23/081

  Toe stiffeners · CPC title

• D05C17/00

  Embroidered or tufted products; Base fabrics specially adapted for embroidered work; Inserts for producing surface irregularities in embroidered products (layered products B32B; non-woven pile fabrics D04H11/00) · CPC title

• B32B2437/02

  Gloves, shoes · CPC title

• B32B2307/56

  Damping, energy absorption · CPC title

• B32B2262/14

  Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials · CPC title