Method of making an article of footwear with a last having retractable pins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9961964-B2
Application number	US-201615142105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Feb 14, 2013
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A last assembly includes a plurality of retractable pins and a plurality of vacuum holes, both acting to hold footwear segments to the last assembly to facilitate manufacturing of, or modification to, an article of footwear. A method of making or modifying an article of footwear includes placing footwear segments on the last assembly by associating an extension portion of at least one footwear segment with the retractable pins, modifying the footwear segments and then removing the extension portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of creating an upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
placing a footwear segment on a last member, wherein the last member includes a plurality of retractable pins and wherein the footwear segment includes an extension portion;
inserting the plurality of retractable pins through holes in the extension portion;
modifying the footwear segment while the footwear segment is on the last member; and
removing the extension portion from the footwear segment.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retractable pins are aligned with each other along a straight line, further comprising:
placing the last member on a base platform;
placing a flexible membrane over the footwear segment; and
applying a vacuum between the flexible membrane and the base platform such that the flexible membrane presses against the base platform,
wherein modifying the footwear segment comprises placing a second footwear segment on the last member, and applying heat to the footwear segment and the second footwear segment such that the footwear segment is fused to the second footwear segment, and
wherein removing the extension portion from the footwear segment comprises removing the extension portion after the footwear segment is fused to the second footwear segment.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retractable pins are centered at an instep of the last member.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is integrally formed with the footwear segment.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is configured to be attached and removed from the footwear segment.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the extension portion includes a first end portion engaged with an eyelet of the footwear segment and a second end portion that receives at least one of the plurality of retractable pins.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is configured for use with at least one other footwear segment.

8. A method of creating an upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
placing a first footwear segment on a last member such that a first set of retractable pins of the last member are inserted through a first set of holes of the first footwear segment, wherein the first set of retractable pins are disposed on an upper instep portion of the last member;
placing a second footwear segment on the last member such that a second set of retractable pins on the last member are inserted through a second set of holes of the second footwear segment, wherein the second set of retractable pins are disposed on a heel portion of the last member;
placing the last member on a base platform;
placing a flexible membrane over the first footwear segment; and
applying a vacuum between the flexible membrane and the base platform to cause a suction to be applied by a plurality of vacuum holes disposed on the last member to hold the first footwear segment and the second footwear segment onto the last member.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
applying heat to the second footwear segment such that the first footwear segment is fused to the second footwear segment;
wherein the first footwear segment is a base segment; and
wherein the second footwear segment is a heel segment that covers the second set of holes such that the heel segment causes the second set of retractable pins to at least partially retract when the first footwear segment and the second footwear segment are placed on the last member.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first set of retractable pins are aligned with each other along a straight line that extends longitudinally on the upper instep portion of the last member.

11. A method of creating an upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
placing a first footwear segment on a last member such that a first set of retractable pins of the last member are inserted through a first set of holes of the first footwear segment, wherein the first set of retractable pins are aligned with each other along a straight line;
placing the last member on a base platform;
placing a flexible membrane over the first footwear segment; and
applying a vacuum between the flexible membrane and the base platform, including applying the vacuum through a plurality of vacuum holes in an outer surface of the base platform, such that the flexible membrane presses against the outer surface of the base platform.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising applying heat to the first footwear segment.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
placing a second footwear segment on the last member; and
applying heat to the second footwear segment such that the first footwear segment is fused to the second footwear segment.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first footwear segment includes an extension portion, and wherein the extension portion includes the first set of holes.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first set of retractable pins are aligned with each other along a straight line that extends longitudinally on an upper instep portion of the last member.

16. A method of creating an upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
placing a first footwear segment on a last member such that a first set of retractable pins of the last member are inserted through a first set of holes of the first footwear segment, wherein the first set of retractable pins are aligned with each other along a straight line that extends longitudinally on an upper instep portion of the last member;
placing the last member on a base platform;
placing a flexible membrane over the first footwear segment; and
applying a vacuum between the flexible membrane and the base platform such that the flexible membrane presses against the base platform,
wherein the step of placing the first footwear segment on the last member includes inserting a second set of retractable pins of the last member through a second set of holes of the first footwear segment, and wherein the second set of retractable pins are aligned with each other along a straight line that extends longitudinally on a heel portion of the last member.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
placing a second footwear segment that is a heel segment on the last member;
applying heat to the second footwear segment such that the first footwear segment is fused to the second footwear segment;
wherein the first footwear segment is a base segment; and
wherein the second footwear segment is a heel segment that covers the first set of holes such that the heel segment causes the first set of retractable pins to at least partially retract when the first footwear segment and the second footwear segment are placed on the last member.

18. A method of creating an upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
placing a first footwear segment on a last member such that a first set of retractable pins of the last member are inserted through a first set of holes of the first footwear segment, wherein the first set of retractable pins are aligned with each other along a straight line;
placing the last member on a base platform;
placing a flexible membrane over the first footwear segment; and
applying a vacuum between the flexible membrane and the base platform such that the flexible membrane presses against the base platform,
wherein the step of applying a vacuum between the flexible membrane and the base platfo

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Sam
• Kilmer Jared M
• Berend Thomas
• Le Tony H

Classifications

• A43D3/022 Primary

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

• A43D9/00

  Devices for binding the uppers upon the lasts (for the toe ends A43D15/00) · CPC title

• A43D3/04

  Pneumatic lasts; Elastic lasts · CPC title

• A43D3/02

  Lasts for making or repairing shoes (making of wooden lasts B27M3/20) · CPC title

• A43B23/0255

  assembled by gluing or thermo bonding · CPC title