Method Of Manufacturing A Fluid-Filled Bladder With A Reinforcing Structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsFrederick Dojan, Thomas Foxen, John Swigart, Eric Schindler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure and a method of manufacturing the bladder and reinforcing structure are disclosed. In general, the reinforcing structure extends around the bladder, and the reinforcing structure is bonded to an exterior of the bladder. In some embodiments, the reinforcing structure is recessed into the bladder and extends along side surfaces of the bladder and between upper and lower surfaces of bladder. In manufacturing, the reinforcing structure may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing structure during the molding process.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure, the method comprising steps of:
- locating the reinforcing structure within a mold;
- heating the reinforcing structure while located within the mold;
- heating sheets of polymer material;
- bonding at least one of the sheets to the reinforcing structure;
- and
- shaping the sheets with the mold to form the bladder.
A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure, the method comprising steps of:
- locating the reinforcing structure within a first portion of a mold;
- heating the reinforcing structure while located within the first portion of the mold;
- heating a first sheet and a second sheet of polymer material;
- positioning the first sheet and the second sheet between the first portion and a second portion of the mold;
- drawing the first sheet against a surface of the first portion of the mold and against a surface of the reinforcing structure to recess the reinforcing structure into the first sheet and bond the reinforcing structure to the first sheet;
- drawing the second sheet against a surface of the second portion of the mold;
- and
- forming a peripheral bond between the first sheet and the second sheet by compressing the first sheet and the second sheet between the first portion and the second portion of the mold.
A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled component, the method comprising steps of:
- locating a reinforcing structure of the component within a mold, the reinforcing structure being formed of a first polymer material;
- heating the reinforcing structure while located within the mold;
- heating sheets of a second polymer material that is different than the first polymer material;
- recessing the reinforcing structure into the second polymer material to form a bond between the reinforcing structure and at least one of the sheets;
- and
- shaping the sheets with the mold to form a bladder portion of the component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.