# US 2016/0242510 A1 · Last With Retractable Pins > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0242510 A1 - Document ID: US20160242510A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/142,146 - Filed: 2016-04-29 - Published: 2016-08-25 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-14 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Sam Fisher; Jared M. Kilmer; Thomas Berend; Tony H. Le - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160242510A1 ## CPC - A43D 3/022: {comprising means, e.g. hooks, for holding, fixing or centering shoe parts on the last} - A43B 23/0255: {assembled by gluing or thermo bonding} - A43D 3/02: Lasts for making or repairing shoes (making of wooden lasts B27M3/20) - A43D 3/04: Pneumatic lasts; Elastic lasts - A43D 9/00: Devices for binding the uppers upon the lasts (for the toe ends A43D15/00) - A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract A last assembly includes a plurality of retractable pins and a plurality of vacuum holes, both acting to hold footwear segments to the last assembly to facilitate manufacturing of, or modification to, an article of footwear. A method of making or modifying an article of footwear includes placing footwear segments on the last assembly by associating an extension portion of at least one footwear segment with the retractable pins, modifying the footwear segments and then removing the extension portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A last assembly configured for use with an article of footwear, comprising: a last member having the approximate shape of an article of footwear; a base member associated with a bottom portion of the last member; and wherein the base member includes a plurality of vacuum holes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the last member includes at least one vacuum hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a flange-like geometry. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member is substantially longer than the last member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member is substantially wider than the last member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of vacuum holes are substantially evenly spread out over the outer surface of base member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a tapered geometry. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member and the last member are separable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lasting assembly according to claim 8, wherein the base member includes a slot and the last member includes an extended portion that fits into the slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lasting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the last member and the base member form a one-piece integral unit. ### Claim 11 A last assembly configured for use with an article of footwear, comprising: a last member having the approximate shape of an article of footwear; a base member associated with a bottom portion of the last member, wherein the base member is substantially longer than the last member and is substantially wider than the last member; and wherein the last member and the base member both include a plurality of vacuum holes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lasting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the base member includes a slot and the last member includes an extended portion that nests within the slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The lasting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the last member and the base member form a one-piece integral unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lasting assembly according to claim 13, wherein the base member extends from a lower periphery of the last member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The lasting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of vacuum holes of the last member are disposed on both the medial side and the lateral side in both a midfoot portion and a heel portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The lasting assembly according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of vacuum holes of the last member are spaced apart from each other in a uniform arrangement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The lasting assembly according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of vacuum holes of the base member are spaced apart from each other in a uniform arrangement. ### Claim 18 A last assembly configured for use with an article of footwear, comprising: a last member having the approximate shape of an article of footwear, wherein the last member includes: a plurality of vacuum holes disposed on an outer surface of the last member; and a plurality of retractable pins extending from the outer surface, wherein each pin of the plurality of retractable pins includes: an exterior terminal end and an interior terminal end opposite the exterior terminal end; and an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the exterior terminal end is closer to the outer surface of the last member in the retracted positioned than in the extended position; and a base member associated with a bottom portion of the last member, the base member including a plurality of vacuum holes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The lasting assembly according to claim 18, wherein the base member includes a slot and the last member includes an extended portion that nests within the slot. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The lasting assembly according to claim 18, wherein the last member and the base member form a one-piece integral unit.