Efficient die cutting pattern for footwear manufacture
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsLuanne E. Jarman-Miller, N. Scott Hull, Hsueh-Fang Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cutting die for cutting a plurality of parts of an article of footwear from a bulk material. The cutting die includes a first cutting member that cuts a first part of the article of footwear from the bulk material. The cutting die also includes a second cutting member that cuts a second part of the article of footwear from the bulk material. The second cutting member is fixed to the first cutting member to cut the first and second parts together with a single stroke of the cutting die relative to the bulk material. The first and second parts are separate and distinct from each other and have different shapes.
Claims22
A cutting die for cutting a plurality of parts of an article of footwear from a bulk material, the cutting die comprising:
- a first cutting member that cuts a first part of the article of footwear from the bulk material;
- a second cutting member that cuts a second part of the article of footwear from the bulk material, the second cutting member being fixed to the first cutting member to cut the first and second parts together with a single stroke of the cutting die relative to the bulk material, the first and second parts being separate and distinct from each other and having different shapes.
A method of forming an article of footwear comprising:
- actuating a cutting die relative to a bulk material;
- cutting a first part of the article of footwear from the bulk material with the cutting die during the actuating of the cutting die;
- and
- cutting a second part of the article of footwear from the bulk material with the cutting die during the actuating of the cutting die, the first and second parts being separate and distinct from each other and having different shapes.
An article of footwear formed according to a method that comprises:
- actuating a cutting die relative to a bulk material;
- cutting a first part of the article of footwear from the bulk material with the cutting die during the actuating of the cutting die;
- and
- cutting a second part of the article of footwear from the bulk material with the cutting die during the actuating of the cutting die, the first and second parts being separate and distinct from each other and having different shapes.
A method of forming an article of footwear comprising:
- operatively coupling a cutting die to an articulating device, the cutting die including a first cutting member and a second cutting member, the first and second cutting members integrally coupled together;
- actuating the cutting die relative to a bulk material to cut a first group of parts of the article of footwear from the bulk material, the first group including a first part cut with the first cutting member and a second part cut with the second cutting member, the first and second parts being separate and distinct from each other and having different shapes, the first and second parts cut along a common internal cutting line that defines a first edge of the first part and a second edge of the second part, the first and second parts cut completely away from the bulk material;
- advancing the cutting die relative to the bulk material;
- actuating the cutting die relative to the bulk material to cut a second group of the first and second parts, the first and second groups cut along a common external cutting line that defines a first edge of the first group and a second edge of the second group;
- assembling at least one of the first part and at least one of the second parts into an upper for the article of footwear;
- and
- coupling the upper to a sole assembly of the article of footwear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.