Foam compositions and uses thereof
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorHossein A. Baghdadi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.
Claims27
A component for an article of footwear, the component comprising the crosslinked reaction product of a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises about 5 parts by weight to about 15 parts by weight of an A-B-A block copolymer based upon a total weight of the first composition, wherein each of the A blocks comprise repeat units according to the following formula
- where each occurrence of R1 is independently a hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms,
- where each occurrence of R2 is independently none or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms,
- wherein the B block is a random copolymer of ethylene and a first alpha-olefin, wherein the first alpha olefin has 3 to 8 carbon atoms;
- and wherein the A-B-A- block copolymer comprises about 10% to about 40% of the A blocks by weight based upon an entire weight of the A-B-A block copolymer;
- about 10 parts by weight to about 20 parts by weight of an olefinic block copolymer based upon the entire weight of the first composition, wherein the olefinic block copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene and a second alpha-olefin, wherein the second alpha olefin has 6 to 12 carbon atoms;
- and
- about 30 parts by weight to about 60 parts by weight of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer based upon the entire weight of the first composition, wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprises a first ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a first vinyl acetate content and a second ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a second vinyl acetate content, wherein the first vinyl acetate content is different from the second vinyl acetate content, wherein the first vinyl acetate content is about 10% to about 45% by weight based upon an entire weight of the first ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,
- wherein a ratio I of a total parts by weight of the olefinic block copolymer to a total parts by weight of the A-B-A- block copolymer is about 0.8 to 3.0;
- wherein a ratio V of total parts by weight of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer to total parts by weight of the olefinic block copolymer is from about 2.00 to about 5.00;
- and
- wherein the component has an energy return of about 70% to about 85%.
An article of footwear comprising a component, wherein the component is made by a process comprising crosslinking and foaming a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises:
- about 5 parts by weight to about 15 parts by weight of an A-B-A block copolymer based upon a total weight of the first composition, wherein each of the A blocks comprise repeat units according to the following formula
- where each occurrence of R1 is independently a hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms,
- where each occurrence of R2 is independently none or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms,
- wherein the B block is a random copolymer of ethylene and a first alpha-olefin, wherein the first alpha-olefin has 3 to 8 carbon atoms;
- and wherein the A-B-A- block copolymer comprises about 10% to about 40% of the A blocks by weight based upon an entire weight of the A-B-A block copolymer;
- about 10 parts by weight to about 20 parts by weight of an olefinic block copolymer based upon the entire weight of the first composition, wherein the olefinic block copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene and a second alpha-olefin, wherein the second alpha olefin has about 6 to 12 carbon atoms;
- and
- about 30 parts by weight to about 60 parts by weight of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer based upon the entire weight of the first composition, wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprises a first ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a first vinyl acetate content and a second ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a second vinyl acetate content, wherein the first vinyl acetate content is different from the second vinyl acetate content;
- wherein a ratio V of total parts by weight of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer to total parts by weight of the olefinic block copolymer is from about 2.00 to about 5.00;
- and
- wherein the component has an energy return of about 70% to about 85%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.