Sole structure with bladder for article of footwear and method of manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9516919-B2
Application number	US-201414487981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2014
Priority date	Sep 16, 2014
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a sole structure includes providing a plate within a cavity of a mold. The plate includes a base and a rib, and the base includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface faces the upper, the second surface faces away from the first surface, and the rib projects from the second surface of the base. Moreover, the method includes providing a preform bladder member within the cavity of the mold, wherein the preform bladder member including a first member and a second member. The method additionally includes forming a bladder from the first and second members using the mold. Also, the method includes attaching the first member to the plate using the mold. Attaching the first member to the plate includes shaping the first member according to surfaces of the rib.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure configured to be attached to an upper of the article of footwear, the method comprising:
providing a plate within a cavity of a mold, the plate including a base and a rib, the base including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface configured to face the upper, the second surface facing away from the first surface, the rib projecting from the second surface of the base;
providing a first member and a second member within the cavity of the mold;
forming a bladder from the first member and the second member using the mold, the bladder including an interior chamber configured to contain a fluid; and
attaching the first member to the plate using the mold, wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes shaping the first member according to surfaces of the rib.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rib includes a first side surface, a second side surface, and an end surface that extends between the first and second side surfaces;
wherein the first side surface and the second side surface extend away from the second surface of the base;
wherein the end surface faces generally away from the second surface of the base; and
wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes attaching the first member to the first side surface, the second side surface, and the end surface.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes continuously layering the first member across the first side surface, the second side surface, and the end surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes an outer peripheral edge,
wherein the rib is spaced from the outer peripheral edge to define an outer area of the second surface, the outer area extending from the peripheral edge to the rib; and
wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes attaching the first member to the outer area.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rib includes a first segment, a second segment, and a break defined between the first and second segments;
wherein the attaching the first member to the plate includes attaching the first member to the plate within the break.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the first member and the second member within the cavity includes providing a parison within the cavity of the mold;
wherein the parison includes the first member, the second member, and an attachment portion that connects the first and second members; and
wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes blow-molding the parison to shape the first member according to the surfaces of the rib.

7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein forming the bladder includes attaching the first member and the second member together using the mold to define the interior chamber.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising heating the first member and the second member prior to attaching the first member and the second member together.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching the first member and the second member at a connected area, and layering the connected area on the plate such that the first member is layered between the plate and the second member.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein layering the connected area on the plate includes layering the connected area on the base and the rib of the plate.

11. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear,
the sole structure configured to be attached to an upper of the article of footwear, the method comprising:
providing a plate within a cavity of a mold, the plate including a base and a rib, the base including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface configured to face the upper, the second surface facing away from the first surface, the rib projecting from the second surface of the base, the plate including an outer peripheral edge;
providing a first member and a second member within the cavity of the mold;
forming a bladder from the first member and the second member using the mold, the bladder including an interior chamber configured to contain a fluid; and
attaching the first member to the plate using the mold, wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes shaping the first member according to surfaces of the rib;
wherein the rib includes a first side surface, a second side surface, and an end surface, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface extend away from the second surface of the base, and wherein the end surface extends between the first and second side surfaces;
wherein the rib is spaced from the outer peripheral edge to define an outer area of the second surface, the outer area extending from the peripheral edge to the rib;
wherein the rib includes a first segment and a second segment, and wherein an intermediate area of the second surface is defined between the first segment and the second segment;
wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes continuously layering the first member across the outer area, the first side surface, the second side surface, the end surface, and the intermediate area; and
wherein forming the bladder includes layering the second member on the first member at an attachment area, wherein the attachment area is layered on the intermediate area and the second side surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the first member and the second member within the cavity includes providing a parison within the cavity of the mold;
wherein the parison includes the first member, the second member, and an attachment portion that connects the first and second members; and
wherein attaching the first member to the plate includes blow-molding the parison to shape the first member according to the surfaces of the rib.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the bladder includes attaching the first member and the second member together using the mold to define the interior chamber.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising heating the first member and the second member prior to attaching the first member and the second member together.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising attaching the first member and the second member at a connected area, and layering the connected area on the plate such that the first member is layered between the plate and the second member.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein layering the connected area on the plate includes layering the connected area on the base and the rib of the plate.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Ernst Travis K
• Schindler Eric S

Classifications

• B29D35/122

  Soles · CPC title

• B29D35/128

  Moulds or apparatus therefor · CPC title

• A43B13/20 Primary

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

• A43B13/125

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title

• A43B13/127 Primary

  the midsole being multilayer · CPC title