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US 10,932,528 B2Granted
Last system for articles with braided components
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsRobert M. Bruce, Eun Kyung Lee, Craig K. Sills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A last system and a method of making the last system are disclosed. The last system includes a last member and an exterior layer. The exterior layer becomes deformable when heated above a characteristic temperature. The method can include forming a braided footwear component on the last system. The exterior layer may be joined with the braided footwear component by heating the last system above the characteristic temperature.
Claims20
A last system for making an article of footwear, comprising:
- a last member having an outer surface;
- an exterior layer comprising a heat deformable material applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the last member, the heat deformable material being moldable when heated to a temperature above a characteristic temperature of the heat deformable material;
- and
- a footwear component formed onto at least a portion of the exterior layer, the footwear component having a plurality of braided strands that are joined with the exterior layer at the temperature above the characteristic temperature and that are bonded with the exterior layer at a temperature below the characteristic temperature.
1 more element
A method for making an article of footwear on a last system comprising:
- forming a last member having a foot-shaped geometry, the last member having an outer surface and comprising a first material;
- applying a moldable material to at least a portion of the outer surface of the last member, the applied moldable material defining an exterior layer and comprising a second material, the second material being different than the first material, and wherein the second material is configured to be moldable when heated to a temperature above a characteristic temperature;
- forming a plurality of braided strands on the exterior layer;
- and
- heating the exterior layer above the characteristic temperature to form a composite structure comprising the exterior layer and the plurality of braided strands, wherein an inner surface of the exterior layer separates the plurality of braided strands and the last member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.