241 |
Method for applying hot melt adhesive powder onto a shoe or sole part |
US14014143 |
2013-08-29 |
US08808809B2 |
2014-08-19 |
Jakov Makover; Bar Cochva Mardix; Yaacov Sadeh |
A method for applying hot melt adhesive powder onto a sole or shoe part includes the steps of applying a cleaning agent, irradiating, applying a conductive liquid which has a conductivity at least 100 times higher than purified water which has a conductivity of 5.5·10−6 S/m, spraying hot melt adhesive powder; and heating. The method can save energy, reduce the working space, reduce the labor intensity and improve the working environment by continuously carrying out the spraying and the melting operation of the hot melt adhesive. |
242 |
System for designing a customized article of footwear |
US13616762 |
2012-09-14 |
US08731696B2 |
2014-05-20 |
David P. Jones; Bruce J. Kilgore; Elizabeth Langvin; James C. Meschter |
A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of designing an article of footwear via a website, converting a footwear representation into a set of two-dimensional portions, printing the two dimensional portions onto a sheet material, cutting and assembling the two dimensional portions into a finalized article of footwear. The method further includes a step of shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address. Systems for receiving an order for a customized article of footwear are also disclosed. |
243 |
Method for Applying Hot Melt Adhesive Powder onto a Shoe or Sole Part |
US14014143 |
2013-08-29 |
US20140093655A1 |
2014-04-03 |
Jakov Makover; Bar Cochva Mardix; Yaacov Sadeh |
A method for applying hot melt adhesive powder onto a sole or shoe part includes the steps of applying a cleaning agent, irradiating, applying a conductive liquid which has a conductivity at least 100 times higher than purified water which has a conductivity of 5.5.10−6 S/m, spraying hot melt adhesive powder; and heating. The method can save energy, reduce the working space, reduce the labor intensity and improve the working environment by making the spraying and the melting operation of the hot melt adhesive carry out automatically. |
244 |
Automated Strobel Printing |
US13610207 |
2012-09-11 |
US20140068878A1 |
2014-03-13 |
Yong-Joo Chon; Doo Young Kim; Young Gwan Kim |
A machine moves shoe strobels to a camera or scanner where images of the strobels are captured. Using the images, a computing device instructs a printer how to mark guidelines on the strobels that signify one or more strobel sewing lines for different shoes models and shoe sizes. Cross-sectional lines may also be printed on the strobels to aid in error-checking guideline marking. Unmarked strobels are stacked in a loading compartment, sometimes in pairs—e.g., right and left shoe strobels. The unmarked strobels are transferred to a conveyor that brings the strobels to the camera or scanner and the printer. After guidelines and/or cross-sectional lines are added to the strobels, the marked strobels are stacked in a compartments housing other marked strobels. |
245 |
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INFLATABLE BLADDERS FOR USE IN FOOTWEAR AND OTHER ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE |
US14033129 |
2013-09-20 |
US20140059890A1 |
2014-03-06 |
Paul M. DAVIS; Frank Millette; Paul E. Litchfield |
The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable bladders for use in articles of manufacture. The method includes the steps of providing a first polymer film, applying a curable release coating to the polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of the inflatable bladder, curing the release coating to the first polymer film, providing a second polymer film with the first polymer film to form a layered element such that the release coating is disposed between the polymer films, positioning the layered element between two plies of material, applying heat and pressure to adhere the polymer films together except in the area where the release coating has been applied to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter, and removing the plies of material from the adhered first and second polymer films. |
246 |
Article of Footwear with Integral Upper and Sole |
US13857581 |
2013-04-05 |
US20130291403A1 |
2013-11-07 |
Thomas G. Bell; Michael R. Friton |
An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed. |
247 |
Article of Footwear with Integral Upper and Sole |
US13857553 |
2013-04-05 |
US20130291402A1 |
2013-11-07 |
Thomas G. Bell; Michael R. Friton |
An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed. |
248 |
Article Of Footwear Having An Upper Incorporating A Tensile Strand With A Cover Layer |
US13766071 |
2013-02-13 |
US20130212811A1 |
2013-08-22 |
Frederick J. Dojan; Chin-Chen Huang; James C. Meschter |
An article of footwear may have a sole structure and an upper that includes a foundation element, a strand, and a cover layer. The strand is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the foundation element and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The cover layer extends along the strand for the distance of at least five centimeters, and the strand is positioned between the cover layer and the foundation element. In some configurations, the cover layer has a pair of edges on opposite sides of the strand, the strand is substantially centered between the edges of the cover layer for the distance of at least five centimeters, and areas of the exterior surface are exposed beyond the edges of the cover layer. |
249 |
Composite element with a polymer connecting layer |
US13355832 |
2012-01-23 |
US08464441B2 |
2013-06-18 |
James C. Meschter; Jeffrey L. Johnson; Lia M. Uesato; Tina M. Casillas |
A composite element includes a base or textile layer, a thermoplastic polymer material, a thread, and a cover layer. The base layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The polymer material is separate from the base layer, extends into the base layer, and is at least partially located at the first surface. The thread has a section lying adjacent to the first surface layer and substantially parallel to the first surface throughout a distance of at least five centimeters, and the thread is bonded to the base layer with the polymer material. The cover layer is located adjacent to the first surface and bonded to the base layer with the polymer material, and the section of the thread is located between the cover layer and the base layer. |
250 |
Article of footwear with integral upper and sole |
US12615111 |
2009-11-09 |
US08434245B2 |
2013-05-07 |
Thomas G. Bell; Michael R. Friton |
An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed. |
251 |
Article of footwear having an upper incorporating a tensile strand with a cover layer |
US12546019 |
2009-08-24 |
US08418380B2 |
2013-04-16 |
Frederick J. Dojan; James Hwang; James C. Meschter |
An article of footwear may have a sole structure and an upper that includes a foundation element, a strand, and a cover layer. The strand is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the foundation element and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The cover layer extends along the strand for the distance of at least five centimeters, and the strand is positioned between the cover layer and the foundation element. In some configurations, the cover layer has a pair of edges on opposite sides of the strand, the strand is substantially centered between the edges of the cover layer for the distance of at least five centimeters, and areas of the exterior surface are exposed beyond the edges of the cover layer. |
252 |
Method For Applying Hot Melt Adhesive Powder Onto A Shoe Or Sole Part |
US13632949 |
2012-10-01 |
US20130089677A1 |
2013-04-11 |
Jakov Makover; Bar Cochva Mardix; Yaacov Sadeh |
A method for applying hot melt adhesive powder onto a sole or shoe part includes the steps of applying a cleaning agent, irradiating, applying a conductive liquid which has a conductivity at least 100 times higher than water, spraying hot melt adhesive powder; and heating. The method can save energy, reduce the working space, reduce the labor intensity and improve the working environment by making the spraying and the melting operation of the hot melt adhesive carry out automatically. |
253 |
ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR |
US13238165 |
2011-09-21 |
US20130047471A1 |
2013-02-28 |
Changming LIANG |
The present disclosure provides an article of footwear including: a footwear upper formed of one or more pieces, each piece comprising one or more layers; and a footwear lower attached to the footwear upper to provide a sole supporting member to the article of footwear; wherein the one or more pieces used to form the footwear upper are molded into a three dimensional configuration. Also provided is a method for forming the same and an inner lining for an article of footwear. |
254 |
Utilizing a printer to customize apparel in a retail facility |
US12615834 |
2009-11-10 |
US08348371B2 |
2013-01-08 |
Sean McDowell; Steve Horn; Dave Powers; Brandon Avery; Bryan Cioffi |
Customized articles of footwear are produced by providing options and graphics that are selected by a customer when submitting a custom order at a retail facility. The graphics are selected from a catalog while the options, such as a shoe model or a shoe size, are selected at an order interface rendered at a computing device. The computing device processes the order by uploading printing instructions associated with the customer-selected graphic or by converting specifications of the order into the printing instructions. The printing instructions are passed to a printer that is configured to move inkjet nozzles in a pattern and, concurrently, control a timed release of coloring agent from the inkjet nozzles based on the printing instructions. Releasing the coloring agent over the article of footwear physically applies a design thereto, which substantially resembles the customer-selected graphic. An oven typically cures the design via infrared heat over a timeframe. |
255 |
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURING, LOADING AND UNLOADING PARTS USING LOCKING DUNNAGE |
US13203790 |
2010-03-01 |
US20130004289A1 |
2013-01-03 |
Jeffrey Douglas Gaudette |
A system for and method of unloading parts includes a rack and at least a first part held in a first position within the rack. At least one rack robot picks up the rack and moves the rack to a first orientation so as to position and orient the first part in a removal locus for removal from the rack. At least one line side robot removes the first part from the rack at the removal locus. The rack robot may move the rack to a second orientation so as to position and orient a second part in the removal locus for removal by the line side robot. The rack may include a plurality of clips moveable between a locked position in which the clip can securely hold a part, and an open position in which a part can be inserted or removed from the clip. |
256 |
Method of making an article of footwear |
US13053445 |
2011-03-22 |
US08295962B2 |
2012-10-23 |
David P. Jones; Bruce J. Kilgore; Elizabeth Langvin; James C. Meschter |
A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of designing an article of footwear via a website, converting a footwear representation into a set of two-dimensional portions, printing the two dimensional portions onto a sheet material, cutting and assembling the two dimensional portions into a finalized article of footwear. The method further includes a step of shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address. Systems for receiving an order for a customized article of footwear are also disclosed. |
257 |
SEAMLESS UPPER FOR FOOTWEAR AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME |
US13442239 |
2012-04-09 |
US20120255201A1 |
2012-10-11 |
Carol Little |
This invention relates generally to footwear and methods for making the same, more particularly to a seamless upper for footwear and methods for making a seamless upper. In one aspect of the invention, the upper is seamless and/or is of unitary construction that defines an interior void for comfortably receiving a foot. |
258 |
Method of Making An Article of Footwear |
US13053445 |
2011-03-22 |
US20110172797A1 |
2011-07-14 |
David P. Jones; Bruce J. Kilgore; Elizabeth Langvin; James C. Meschter |
A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of designing an article of footwear via a website, converting a footwear representation into a set of two-dimensional portions, printing the two dimensional portions onto a sheet material, cutting and assembling the two dimensional portions into a finalized article of footwear. The method further includes a step of shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address. Systems for receiving an order for a customized article of footwear are also disclosed. |
259 |
ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR INCLUDING A COMPOSITE UPPER |
US13018596 |
2011-02-01 |
US20110119957A1 |
2011-05-26 |
Paul Hooper; Peter A. Hudson; Fabio Marniga |
An upper made of a composite material is disclosed. The composite material comprises a layer of carbon fiber material and a flexible substrate. The composite material also includes a thin outer coating of TPU. The upper is generally flexible and lightweight. |
260 |
Article of Footwear with Integral Upper and Sole |
US12615111 |
2009-11-09 |
US20110107620A1 |
2011-05-12 |
Thomas G. Bell; MIchael R. Friton |
An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed. |