Stitching system for a shoe upper
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSara Kilgore, Kassio Figur
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stitching system includes a jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine. The jig includes a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine and an upper member also capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine. The two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member. The lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts therebetween are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.
Claims19
A jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine, the jig comprising:
- a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine;
- and
- an upper member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine, the upper member further comprising a connecting flange and a stitching aperture, wherein the stitching aperture comprises a first end located proximal to the connecting flange, and a second end located distal to the connecting flange, and wherein the stitching aperture further comprises a plurality of semi-circular cutouts;
- wherein the two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member and wherein the lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts there between are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.
A system for stitching two shoe parts together comprising:
- an stitching machine including a head with a needle;
- a positioning mechanism operatively coupled to the stitching machine and capable of movement along an X-axis and a Y-axis;
- a planar jig for positioning the two shoe parts with respect to one another and removably coupled to the positioning mechanism, and
- a computing device for controlling actuation of the needle and the positioning mechanism such that the planar jig can be manipulated to provide a specific stitch arrangement for connecting the two shoe parts;
- wherein the planar jig includes a distal edge at a location distal from the positioning mechanism and having a configuration that follows a general shape of the specific stitch arrangement for connecting the two shoe parts, wherein the distal edge of the planar jig further comprises a plurality of semi-circular cutouts.
A method of joining two shoe parts together in a specific fashion, the method comprising:
- providing an automated stitching machine with a two axis positioning mechanism;
- coupling a planar jig to the two axis positioning mechanism, wherein the planar jig comprises an upper member and a lower member, the upper member further comprising a connecting flange and a stitching aperture, wherein the stitching aperture comprises a first end located proximal to the connecting flange, and a second end located distal to the connecting flange;
- securing the two shoe parts to the planar jig with the use of pins;
- accessing a pattern from a computing device of the automated stitching machine, wherein the pattern represents a stitch line for joining the two shoe parts together;
- and
- joining the two shoe parts together based upon the pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.