Jig for a shoe sole portion
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsPatrick Conall Regan, Feng-Ming Ou, Hao-Zhen Chen, Chih-Chung Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Automated painting of a shoe sole portion of a shoe is enhanced by use of a jig. The shoe sole portion may be secured between top and bottom plates of the jig such that a side surface of the shoe sole portion is left exposed. Additionally, the jig is adapted to create configurable masking lines along the side surface of the shoe sole portion using multi-layer deforming layers.
Claims12
A jig for securing during painting a shoe sole portion comprising a relatively planar lower surface, at least a partially concave upper surface opposite the lower surface, a medial side surface and a lateral side surface, wherein the medial side surface, and the lateral side surface of the shoe sole portion converge at a toe region and a heel region of the shoe sole portion, the jig in an open position comprising:
- a bottom plate having a layered construction comprising a first non-deforming layer, an inner deforming sub-layer, and an outer deforming sub-layer positioned between the inner deforming sub-layer and the first non-deforming layer, the outer deforming sub-layer of the bottom plate being releasably secured to the first non-deforming layer of the bottom plate by one or more of screws, adhesives, and hook-and-loop fasteners, the inner deforming sub-layer being more deformable than the outer deforming sub-layer, the inner deforming sub-layer of the bottom plate having a shoe sole portion facing surface and an opposing surface, the shoe sole portion facing surface comprising a convex surface;
- and
- a top plate pivotably coupled to the bottom plate, the top plate having a layered construction comprising a first non-deforming layer, an inner deforming sub-layer, and an outer deforming sub-layer positioned between the inner deforming sub-layer and the first non-deforming layer, the outer deforming sub-layer of the top plate being releasably secured to the first non-deforming layer of the top plate by one or more of screws, adhesives, and hook-and-loop fasteners, the inner deforming sub-layer being more deformable than the outer deforming sub-layer, the inner deforming sub-layer having a shoe sole portion facing surface and an opposing surface, the shoe sole portion facing surface comprising a planar surface;
- wherein:
- the inner deforming sub-layer and the outer deforming sub-layer of each of the bottom plate and the top plate are formed of a unitary construction,
- when the jig is in the open state, the bottom plate and the top plate of the jig are not in contact with the shoe sole portion and the top plate and the bottom plate of the jig are not in contact with each other, and
- the top plate and the bottom plate are adapted to secure the shoe sole portion there between when the jig is in a closed position such that the planar surface of the inner deforming sub-layer of the top plate of the jig is adapted to be in contact with the relatively planar lower surface of the shoe sole portion, the convex surface of the inner deforming sub-layer of the bottom plate of the jig is adapted to be in contact with the at least partially concave upper surface of the shoe sole portion, and at least a portion of the lateral side surface or the medial side surface of the shoe sole portion is left exposed for painting.
A jig for securing during painting a shoe sole portion comprising a relatively planar lower surface, at least a partially concave upper surface opposite the lower surface, a medial side surface, and a lateral side surface, wherein the medial side surface and the lateral side surface of the shoe sole portion converge at a toe region and a heel region of the shoe sole portion, the jig in an open position comprising:
- a bottom plate having a layered construction comprising a first rigid layer, an inner deforming sub-layer, and an outer deforming sub-layer positioned between the inner deforming sub-layer and the first rigid layer, the outer deforming sub-layer of the bottom plate being releasably secured to the first rigid layer of the bottom plate by one or more of screws, adhesives, and hook-and-loop fasteners, the inner deforming sub-layer being more deformable than the outer deforming sub-layer, the inner deforming sub-layer of the bottom plate having a shoe sole portion facing surface and an opposing surface, the shoe sole portion facing surface comprising a convex surface;
- and
- a top plate pivotably coupled to the bottom plate, the top plate having a layered construction comprising a second rigid layer, an inner deforming sub-layer, and an outer deforming sub-layer positioned between the inner deforming sub-layer and the second rigid layer, the outer deforming sub-layer of the top plate being releasably secured to the second rigid layer of the top plate by one or more of screws, adhesives, and hook-and-loop fasteners, the inner-deforming sub-layer being more deformable than the outer deforming sub-layer, the inner deforming sub-layer of the top plate having a shoe sole portion facing surface and an opposing surface, the shoe sole portion facing surface comprising a planar surface;
- wherein the inner deforming sub-layer and the outer deforming sub-layer of each of the bottom plate and the top plate are formed of a unitary construction, wherein when the jig is in the open state, the top plate and the bottom plate of the jig are not in contact with the shoe sole portion and the top plate and the bottom plate of the jig are not in contact with each other, and wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are adapted to receive the shoe sole portion when the jig is in a closed position such that the planar surface of the inner deforming sub-layer of the top plate of the jig is adapted to be in contact with the relatively planar lower surface of the shoe sole portion, the convex surface of the inner deforming sub-layer of the bottom plate of the jig is adapted to be in contact with the at least partially concave upper surface of the shoe sole portion, and at least a portion of the lateral side surface or the medial side surface of the shoe sole portion is left exposed for painting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.