Unitary multi-use alignment fixture for shoe production
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTricia Kamakeeaina, Jeremy Petty, Eric Graham, Melody Crisp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for manufacturing shoes is provided that includes two or more pieces of equipment used in the customization and manufacturing of shoes and an alignment fixture that may engage with each piece of equipment by way of an alignment mounting member. The alignment fixture may secure to it a portion of a shoe, such as an upper portion, wherein the shoe portion remains in a flat position, and in a fixed relationship to the alignment fixture, throughout the various processes performed by the pieces of equipment. These processes may include, for example, printing, laser, embroidery, forming, cutting, or the like.
Claims9
An alignment fixture for use during a shoe manufacturing process, the alignment fixture comprising:
- a first portion;
- a second portion;
- and
- a securing mechanism comprising an alignment mating member configured to secure the alignment fixture to an alignment mounting member located at a piece of manufacturing equipment;
- wherein the alignment fixture is configured to secure a portion of a shoe between the first portion and the second portion of the alignment fixture so that the shoe portion remains flat and fixed in place in relation to the first portion and the second portion of the alignment fixture, while various processes are performed on the shoe portion to thereby reduce manufacturing variation from shoe to shoe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.