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US 9,802,343 B2Granted
Process for foaming thermoplastic elastomers
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Watkins, Hossein Baghdadi, Charles Edwards, Yihua Chang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foamed article is made by infusing the article of thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid, then removing the article from the supercritical fluid and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation.
Claims19
A midsole made by a method comprising:
- infusing a plurality of articles comprising a thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers, thermoplastic polyurea elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, and combinations thereof;
- removing the plurality of articles from the supercritical fluid and either
- (i) immersing the plurality of articles in a heated fluid or
- (ii) irradiating the plurality of articles with infrared or microwave radiation
- to make a plurality of foamed articles;
- then annealing the foamed articles;
- wherein the plurality of foamed articles are selected from pellets, beads, and particles and wherein the plurality of foamed articles are molded together to form the midsole.
4 more elements
A midsole made by a method comprising:
- infusing a plurality of articles comprising a thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid;
- removing the plurality of articles from the supercritical fluid and either
- (i) immersing the plurality of articles in a heated fluid or
- (ii) irradiating the plurality of articles with infrared or microwave radiation
- to make a plurality of foamed articles;
- wherein the plurality of foamed articles are selected from pellets, beads, and particles and wherein the plurality of foamed articles are molded together to form the midsole, wherein the method further comprises annealing the plurality of foamed articles at a temperature below the elastomer's Tm.
3 more elements
A midsole made by a method comprising:
- infusing a plurality of articles comprising a thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid;
- removing the plurality of articles from the supercritical fluid and either
- (i) immersing the plurality of articles in a heated fluid or
- (ii) irradiating the plurality of articles with infrared or microwave radiation
- to make a plurality of foamed articles;
- then annealing the foamed articles;
- wherein the plurality of foamed articles are selected from pellets, beads, and particles and wherein the plurality of foamed articles are molded together to form the midsole, wherein the plurality of foamed articles are molded together in a matrix of unfoamed thermoplastic elastomer.
4 more elements
A midsole made by a method comprising:
- infusing a plurality of articles comprising a thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid;
- removing the plurality of articles from the supercritical fluid and either
- (i) immersing the plurality of articles in a heated fluid or
- (ii) irradiating the plurality of articles with infrared or microwave radiation
- to make a plurality of foamed articles;
- then annealing the foamed articles;
- wherein the plurality of foamed articles are selected from pellets, beads, and particles and wherein the plurality of foamed articles are molded together to form the midsole, wherein the plurality of foamed articles are molded together in a matrix of foamed thermoplastic elastomer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.