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US 12,285,081 B2Granted
Methods of forming an article of footwear using a gathering system and articles formed by the same
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTory Cross, Kassio Figur, Guillermo Raffaele
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming an article of footwear can include providing an upper in a substantially flat orientation, securing a gathering string along at least a portion of a perimeter of a first surface of the upper with a securing member that is attached to the upper, positioning the upper on a last, and applying tension to the gathering string to at least partially conform the upper to a shape of the last.
Claims18
A method of forming of an upper of an article of footwear, comprising:
- positioning the upper in a flat orientation;
- securing a gathering string to the upper while in the flat orientation, the gathering string being secured along at least a portion of a perimeter of a first surface of the upper with a securing member that is attached to the upper, the gathering string being moveable relative to the securing member;
- and
- forming, while in the flat orientation, a plurality of crossing portions with the gathering string that extend from a first location along the perimeter of the upper at one of a medial side or lateral side to a second location along the perimeter of the upper at the other one of the medial side or lateral side such that the plurality of crossing portions extend across the first surface between the medial side and the lateral side, the plurality of crossing portions providing one or more intersection points where at least two of the plurality of crossing portions intersect with each other;
- after forming the plurality of crossing portions in the flat orientation, manipulating the upper into a three-dimensional shape and positioning the upper on a last and moving the plurality of crossing portions away from the first surface of the upper so that the plurality of crossing portions extend across a bottom surface of the last;
- and
- applying tension to the gathering string to at least partially conform the upper to a shape of the last.
4 more elements
A method of forming of an article of footwear, comprising:
- assembling an upper in a flat-forming process that comprises securing a gathering string to a perimeter of the upper while the upper is in a flat orientation, the gathering string being movable along the perimeter and forming two or more crossing portions that extend across a first surface of the upper between a first side and a second side of the upper, the two or more crossing portions providing at least one intersection point along the first surface of the upper;
- after assembling the upper in the flat-forming process, manipulating the upper from the flat orientation into a three-dimensional shape and positioning the upper on a last with the two or more crossing portions below a bottom surface of the last;
- and
- applying tension to the gathering string to at least partially conform the upper to a shape of the last,
- wherein the first side is a medial side of the upper and the second side is a lateral side of the upper.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.