Unitary multi-use alignment fixture for shoe production

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968163-B2
Application number	US-201414490885-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2014
Priority date	Sep 26, 2008
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A system for manufacturing shoes is provided that includes two or more pieces of equipment used in the customization and manufacturing of shoes and an alignment fixture that may engage with each piece of equipment by way of an alignment mounting member. The alignment fixture may secure to it a portion of a shoe, such as an upper portion, wherein the shoe portion remains in a flat position, and in a fixed relationship to the alignment fixture, throughout the various processes performed by the pieces of equipment. These processes may include, for example, printing, laser, embroidery, forming, cutting, or the like.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An alignment fixture for use during a shoe manufacturing process, the alignment fixture comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion; and
a securing mechanism comprising an alignment mating member configured to secure the alignment fixture to an alignment mounting member located at a piece of manufacturing equipment;
wherein the alignment fixture is configured to secure a portion of a shoe between the first portion and the second portion of the alignment fixture so that the shoe portion remains flat and fixed in place in relation to the first portion and the second portion of the alignment fixture, while various processes are performed on the shoe portion to thereby reduce manufacturing variation from shoe to shoe.

2. The alignment fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a first cutout area having one or more notches, wherein the second portion comprises a second cutout area that corresponds with the first portion and one or more pins configured to be received into the one or more notches of the first cutout area.

3. The alignment fixture of claim 1 , further comprising a third portion that is secured to the first and second portions, wherein the third portion includes at least one raised area.

4. The alignment fixture of claim 3 , wherein the third portion further includes one or more recessed areas configured to receive various materials to be included in the shoe portion.

5. The alignment fixture of claim 1 , wherein the alignment mounting member comprises one or more pins configured to engage with the alignment mating member of the securing mechanism.

6. The alignment fixture of claim 2 , wherein the first cutout area and the second cutout area are configured to have a similar shape with the shoe portion.

7. The alignment fixture of claim 3 , wherein the at least one raised area is configured to have a similar shape with the shoe portion.

8. The alignment fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are secured to each other by way of one or more hinges.

9. The alignment fixture of claim 5 , wherein the alignment mating member comprises one or more slots configured to receive the one or more pins of the alignment mounting member, and wherein the piece of manufacturing equipment comprises one or more of a printer, a laser machine, an embroidery machine, a forming machine, a sewing machine, and a cutting machine.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Kamakeeaina Tricia
• Petty Jeremy
• Graham Eric
• Crisp Melody

Classifications

• C14B1/56

  Ornamenting, producing designs, embossing (pressing or rolling in general C14B1/30; producing design on furs C14B15/12) · CPC title

• A43D8/06

  Dies therefor · CPC title

• A43D2200/00

  Machines or methods characterised by special features · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title

• A43D8/00 Primary

  Machines for cutting, ornamenting, marking or otherwise working up shoe part blanks (pulling-over or lasting A43D9/00 - A43D23/00; making or fastening soles, heels or welts A43D25/00 - A43D83/00) · CPC title