Nike, Inc.

Bret P Liebeno

Shaun Jeffrey Hensley

Sean Stam

Geoff A Weston

Deni Mei

Sean Conway

Anthony Carl Dean

Gregory P Ponitz

Thomas Berend

Greg Ponitz

Jeff Rask

A footwear sole structure having a fluid-filled chamber including a tensile member is provided. The fluid-filled chamber includes a first barrier sheet, a second barrier sheet and the tensile member. The first barrier sheet is formed from a first thermoplastic material. The second barrier sheet is attached to the first barrier sheet and is formed from a second thermoplastic material. The first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet cooperate to define an internal cavity. The tensile member is disposed within the internal cavity and is formed from a third thermoplastic material. A first weld attaches the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together by melding the first thermoplastic material of the first barrier sheet, the second thermoplastic material of second barrier sheet, and the third thermoplastic material of the tensile member.

Footwear sole structure having a fluid-filled chamber including a tensile member

A manufacturing method, within a modularized manufacturing environment for stabilizing a phylon article that is produced utilizing a heat press, is provided. Initially, the method includes immersing a phylon article in a first tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawing the phylon article from exposure with the fluid. Typically, the midsole is heated from its production with the heat press when it is placed into the first tank. The immersion in the first tank acts to cool the phylon article, thereby stabilizing the heated phylon. The phylon article may be next placed in a second tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawn from exposure with the fluid. The fluid of the first tank may reside at a temperature comparable to or higher than the temperature of the fluid of the second tank. Recursively exposing the heated phylon article to the fluid of the tanks incrementally decreases the volume of the article.

Systems and methods for stabilization of a phylon article

A method for producing a regionalized-firmness midsole utilizing a heat press, and a description of the resultant product, are provided. Initially, the method involves providing a plurality of pre-formed phylon biscuits. Typically, the plurality of biscuits includes at least a first biscuit that has a first density and a second biscuit that has a second density. The method may further include the steps of arranging the biscuits into a receiving area of the heat press, and integrating the plurality of biscuits to form the midsole by activating the heat press. Integrating the biscuits includes raising the biscuits above a threshold temperature, and causing the biscuits to expand such that each of the plurality of biscuits couples with another of the biscuits to form a midsole with two or more degrees of firmness located at distributed regions thereon.

Systems and methods for utilizing phylon biscuits to produce a regionalized-firmness midsole

A stock fit assembly fixture is provided for aligning and holding into place various portions of a shoe, such as an upper portion, an outsole, and a midsole, while the shoe portions are being assembled. The upper portion of a shoe may be secured to a shoe last, which in turn, may be secured to a top portion of the stock fit assembly fixture. The top portion may be movable such that the upper portion of the shoe can be moved toward the outsole and midsole portions, thus allowing for a securement of the upper portion to the outsole and midsole portions. The movement of the top portion may be by way of a compression mechanism allowing the top portion to be forced to be moved toward a bottom portion of the stock fit assembly fixture.

Stockfit assembly fixture for shoe production

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West Linn, OR, United States of America

Bret P Liebeno