Foam compositions and uses thereof
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorHossein A. Baghdadi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.
Claims18
An article of footwear comprising a component, wherein the component is made by a process comprising crosslinking and foaming a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises:
- a partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer, the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer comprising:
- one or more A blocks comprising aromatic repeat units;
- one or more B blocks comprising aliphatic repeat units;
- one or more first ethylenically unsaturated groups present on one or both of the aromatic repeat units and the aliphatic repeat units;
- and
- the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer has an elongation at break of greater than 650 percent when measured using ASTM D638;
- an olefinic block copolymer, wherein the olefinic block copolymer is a copolymer of a first alpha-olefin and a second alpha-olefin different from the first alpha-olefin, and wherein the olefinic block copolymer comprises one or more second ethylenically unsaturated groups;
- and
- an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer;
- wherein a ratio I is from about 0.65 to about 7.00;
- wherein the ratio I is a ratio of a total parts by weight of the olefinic block copolymer present in the composition to a total parts by weight of the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer present in the composition.
An article of footwear comprising a component, wherein the component is made by a process comprising crosslinking and foaming a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises:
- a partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer, the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer comprising:
- one or more A blocks comprising aromatic repeat units;
- one or more B blocks comprising aliphatic repeat units;
- and
- one or more first ethylenically unsaturated groups present on one or both of the aromatic repeat units and the aliphatic repeat units;
- and
- the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer is a PSq-X1n-X2m-X3p block copolymer,
- wherein PS represents polystyrene;
- X1 is a poly-C2-C8-alkylene;
- X2 is a poly-C2-C8-alkylene;
- and X3 is polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyketone or polysiloxane;
- and
- the subscripts q, n, m, and p represent mole fractions such that 1>q>0, n is 0 to 1, m is 0 to 1, and p is 0 to 1 so long as q+n+m+p=1;
- an olefinic block copolymer, wherein the olefinic block copolymer is a copolymer of a first alpha-olefin and a second alpha-olefin different from the first alpha-olefin, and wherein the olefinic block copolymer comprises one or more second ethylenically unsaturated groups;
- and
- an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer;
- wherein a ratio I is from about 0.65 to about 7.00;
- wherein the ratio I is a ratio of a total parts by weight of the olefinic block copolymer present in the composition to a total parts by weight of the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer present in the composition.
An article of footwear comprising a component, wherein the component is made by a process comprising crosslinking and foaming a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises:
- a partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer, the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer comprising:
- one or more A blocks comprising aromatic repeat units;
- one or more B blocks comprising aliphatic repeat units;
- and
- one or more first ethylenically unsaturated groups present on one or both of the aromatic repeat units and the aliphatic repeat units;
- and
- an olefinic block copolymer, wherein the olefinic block copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin having about 6 to 12 carbon atoms;
- and
- an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer;
- wherein a ratio I is from about 0.65 to about 7.00;
- wherein the ratio I is a ratio of a total parts by weight of the olefinic block copolymer present in the composition to a total parts by weight of the partially hydrogenated thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymer present in the composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.