Methods for compression molding foam articles
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsRainer Malinowski, Joseph Thomas Muth, Christian Alexander Steinbeck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Compression molded foam articles are provided having a closed cell foam structure comprising a plurality of cells having an anisotropic cell shape. The disclosed compression molded foam articles can be used as components or parts of a variety of articles, including articles of footwear and athletic equipment. Methods are disclosed for making the disclosed compression molded foam articles from a foamed preform having an elastomeric closed cell foam with substantially isotropic cell shape. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
Claims20
A foam midsole comprising:
- an elastomeric material having a closed cell foam structure comprising a plurality of cells having an anisotropic cell shape;
- wherein the plurality of cells having the anisotropic cell shape are present in a region of the foam midsole that does not include an external skin of the foam midsole, and the region occupies at least 1 cubic centimeter of a total volume of the foam midsole;
- wherein the foam midsole comprises a first axis, a second axis and a third axis;
- wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis and the third axis;
- wherein the second axis and the third axis are each perpendicular to each other;
- and
- wherein the second and the third axis define a plane parallel to a major surface of the foam article;
- and
- wherein an efficiency of the foam midsole determined along the first axis is greater than or equal to about 60 percent when determined in accordance with Efficiency Test Method, and is at least 2 percent greater than an efficiency of the foam midsole determined along the second axis, the third axis, or both the second and third axes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.