Method For Molding Tensile Strand Elements
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsFrederick J. Dojan, James Hwang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Articles of footwear and a variety of other products may incorporate tensile strand elements. In manufacturing an element, such as the tensile strand elements, a strand, a first layer, and a second layer may be located between a first surface and a second surface of a press. The first surface includes a first material and the second surface includes a second material, with the first material having greater hardness than the second material. The strand, the first layer, and the second layer are then compressed between the first surface and the second surface.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing an element, the method comprising:
- positioning a strand between a first layer and a second layer;
- locating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between a first surface and a second surface of a press, the first surface and the second surface each being a substantially flat surface prior to compression of the press, the first surface including a first material, and the second surface including a second material, the first material having lesser compressibility than the second material;
- compressing the strand, the first layer, and the second layer between the first surface and the second surface, and heating the strand, the first layer, and the second layer to bond the first layer to the second layer;
- and
- wherein upon compressing the strand, the first layer, and the second layer, the first surface is placed in contact with the first layer and the second surface is placed in contact with the second layer such that (a) the first layer extends into the first surface by an approximately uniform amount across the first layer and (b) portions of the second layer disposed over the strand extend into the second surface by a greater amount than remaining portions of the second layer that are not disposed over the strand.
A method of manufacturing an element, the method comprising:
- positioning a first set of strands between a first layer and a second layer;
- positioning a second set of strands between the second layer and a third layer, the third layer being disposed apart from the first layer;
- locating the first set of strands, the first layer, the second layer, the second set of strands, and the third layer between a first surface and a second surface of a press, the first surface having a substantially flat planar area adjacent to the first layer and the second surface having a substantially flat planar area adjacent to the third layer, and each of the first surface and the second surface being formed from different materials;
- compressing the first set of strands, the first layer, the second layer, the second set of strands, and the third layer between the first surface and the second surface such that (a) the first layer remains substantially planar along the first surface, (b) portions of the third layer are in contact with at least one of the first set of strands and the second set of strands protrude into the second surface to a first depth, and (c) portions of the third layer that are not in contact with either of the first set of strands and the second set of strands protrude into the second surface to a second depth, the first depth being larger than the second depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.