Yarns, threads, and textiles incorporating a thermoplastic polymer material
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsCarrie L. Davis, Bhupesh Dua
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.
Claims20
A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
- a midsole formed of a thermoplastic polymer material comprising thermoplastic polyurethane;
- and
- an outsole formed of a thermoplastic polymer material comprising thermoplastic polyurethane;
- wherein at least 60% of a combined mass of the sole structure is formed of the thermoplastic polymer material of the midsole and the thermoplastic polymer material of the outsole.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper formed of a thermoplastic polymer material comprising thermoplastic polyurethane;
- and
- a sole structure formed of a thermoplastic polymer material comprising thermoplastic polyurethane;
- wherein at least 60% of a combined mass of the article of footwear is formed of the thermoplastic polymer material of the upper and the thermoplastic polymer material of the sole structure.
A method of forming an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- forming an upper using knit construction;
- forming a sole structure;
- and
- treating the thermoplastic polymer material to form a thermal bond between the upper and the sole structure,
- wherein the upper comprises yarn formed of a thermoplastic polymer material comprising thermoplastic polyurethane, the sole structure is formed of a thermoplastic polymer material comprising thermoplastic polyurethane, and at least 60% of a combined mass of the upper and the sole structure is formed of the thermoplastic polymer material of the yarn and the thermoplastic polymer material of the sole structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.