Polymeric component with injected, embedded ink and apparatus and method for manufacturing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427048-B2
Application number	US-201414299274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

An article, such as an article of footwear, includes a polymeric component that has a first surface, a second surface, and a thickness between the first surface and the second surface. The article has ink injected into the polymeric component at a predetermined depth from the first surface such that the ink is embedded in the polymeric component at least partially between the first surface and the second surface. The polymeric component includes multiple layers. The ink is embedded in at least one of the layers. An apparatus for establishing a graphical image on a polymeric component includes a support frame, a jig connected to the support frame and configured to hold the polymeric component, and the needle. A method for manufacturing an article includes inserting a needle into a polymeric component, and injecting ink through the needle so that the ink provides a graphical image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing an article comprising:
inserting at least one needle into a polymeric component that includes multiple layers and has a thickness; wherein the inserting is to a depth less than the thickness so that the needle does not penetrate entirely through the polymeric component;
injecting ink into at least a portion of the polymeric component through the inserted needle so that the ink is embedded in at least one of the layers as a graphical image in the portion of the polymeric component;
piercing a predetermined pattern in the polymeric component;
wherein the inserting said at least one needle and the injecting ink through said at least one needle are after the piercing the predetermined pattern; and
wherein the inserting said at least one needle is within the pierced, predetermined pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting is at a controlled or predetermined rate of insertion of the needle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting is at a controlled or predetermined pressure of the needle against the polymeric component.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injecting is at a controlled or predetermined rate of flow of the ink from the needle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injecting is in the pierced, predetermined pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injecting includes injecting multiple colors of ink.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the injecting is of multiple colors of ink injected sequentially.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said at least one needle includes multiple needles; and wherein the injecting is of multiple colors of ink injected simultaneously with the multiple needles at different portions of the polymeric component.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inflating the polymeric component with a fluid.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inflating is prior to the injecting.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inflating is after the injecting.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wiping the ink off of a surface of the polymeric component after the injecting.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining via a controller whether a predetermined ink drying time has elapsed after the injecting;
moving the polymeric component only if said predetermined ink drying time has elapsed; and
injecting ink into the polymeric component at a different region of the polymeric component through said at least one needle after moving the polymeric component.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
holding the polymeric component in a jig during the injecting;
determining via a controller whether a predetermined ink drying time has elapsed after the injecting; and
removing the polymeric component from the jig only if the predetermined ink drying time has elapsed.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
thermoforming the polymeric component as a bladder element for an article of footwear in a mold assembly;
determining via a controller whether a predetermined cooling time has elapsed after the thermoforming of the bladder element;
removing the thermoformed bladder element from the mold assembly only if the predetermined cooling time has elapsed; and
wherein the inserting said at least one needle is after removing the thermoformed bladder element from the mold assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
inflating the bladder element after the thermoforming of the bladder element and prior to inserting said at least one needle.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
inflating the bladder element after the inserting said at least one needle.

18. A method for manufacturing an article comprising:
inserting at least one needle into a polymeric component that includes multiple layers and has a thickness; wherein the inserting is to a depth less than the thickness so that the needle does not penetrate entirely through the polymeric component;
injecting ink into at least a portion of the polymeric component through the inserted needle so that the ink is embedded in at least one of the layers as a graphical image in the portion of the polymeric component;
determining via a controller whether a predetermined ink drying time has elapsed after the injecting;
moving the polymeric component only if said predetermined ink drying time has elapsed; and
injecting ink into the polymeric component at a different region of the polymeric component through said at least one needle after moving the polymeric component.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
thermoforming the polymeric component as a bladder element for an article of footwear in a mold assembly;
determining via a controller whether a predetermined cooling time has elapsed after the thermoforming of the bladder element;
removing the thermoformed bladder element from the mold assembly only if the predetermined cooling time has elapsed; and
wherein the inserting said at least one needle is after removing the thermoformed bladder element from the mold assembly.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
inflating the polymeric component with a fluid.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the inflating is prior to the injecting ink into at least a portion of the polymeric component.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the inflating is after the injecting ink into at least a portion of the polymeric component.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the inserting is at a controlled or predetermined rate of insertion of the needle.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein the inserting is at a controlled or predetermined pressure of the needle against the polymeric component.

25. The method of claim 18 , wherein the injecting ink into at least a portion of the polymeric component is in a predetermined pattern.

26. The method of claim 18 , wherein the injecting ink into at least a portion of the polymeric component includes injecting multiple colors of ink sequentially.

27. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
holding the polymeric component in a jig during the injecting; and
removing the polymeric component from the jig only if the predetermined ink drying time has elapsed.

28. A method for manufacturing an article comprising:
inserting at least one needle into a polymeric component that includes multiple layers and has a thickness; wherein the inserting is to a depth less than the thickness so that the needle does not penetrate entirely through the polymeric component;
injecting ink into at least a portion of the polymeric component through the inserted needle so that the ink is embedded in at least one of the layers as a graphical image in the portion of the polymeric component; and
inflating the polymeric component with a fluid.

29. The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
thermoforming the polymeric component as a bladder element for an article of footwear in a mold assembly;
determining via a controller whether a predetermined cooling time has elapsed after the thermoforming of the bladder element;
removing the thermoformed bladder element from the mold assembly only if the predetermined cooling time has elapsed; and
wherein the inserting said at least one needle is after removing the thermoformed bladder element from the mold assembly.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• James Dervin A

Classifications

• D06H1/02

  Marking by printing or analogous processes · CPC title

• Y10T428/24876

  Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.] · CPC title

• A43B1/0072

  made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials · CPC title

• A43B13/20

  Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} · CPC title

• B29D35/12

  Producing parts thereof, e.g. soles, heels, uppers, by a moulding technique · CPC title