Nike, Inc.

Avon Products, Inc.

Nike International Ltd.

Nike Innovate C.v.

Hossein A Baghdadi

Denis Schiller

Zachary C Wright

Caleb W Dyer

Jeremy D Walker

Myron Maurer

Bradley C Tutmark

Joseph Thomas Muth

Jay Constantinou

Richard L Watkins

Yihua Chang

Charles R Edwards

Sami Mohamad Fakhouri

Floyd Whitney Miles

Sui-Chieh Yu

Brian G Prevo

Paul Irving Archer

H Kenneth Hanson, Iii

Danny David Lumpkin

Robert L Ritchie

Shawn J Schnee

Gregory Paul Dufour

Eun Kyung Lee

Kato Killops

John Hurd

Thi N Do

David Alan Binder

Bing C Mei

Marc Adler

Michele Tosello

George Willms

Iii H Kenneth Hanson

Eloise E Mariotte

Sui-Chieh J Yu

David Allan Binder

Charles Edwards

Shi-Chieh Yu

The disclosure relates to articles of footwear () and components thereof, including outsoles (), which can be used in conditions normally conducive to the accumulation of soil on the outsoles (). In particular, the disclosure relates to articles of footwear () and components thereof including an outsole () with a material () including a polymeric network formed of a plurality of polymer chains, where the material () defines external ground-facing surface or side of the outsole (). The outsoles () can prevent or reduce the accumulation of soil on the footwear () during wear on unpaved surfaces such as sporting fields.

Article of footwear with soil-shedding performance

Physical foaming a footwear component with a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid is provided. The method include temperature conditioning a mold and then engaging the mold with a robot that conveys the mold to a press. At the press a gas counter pressure is applied to a cavity of the mold before injecting a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid into the cavity of the mold. The process continues with releasing the gas counter pressure from the cavity of the mold and then removing the footwear component from the cavity of the mold. The parameters of the method are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner.

Footwear component manufacturing methods

A molding system and a method for operation of the molding system are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material from an upstream device into an in-mold tuning chamber in a filling position where the in-mold tuning chamber is positioned at least partially within a mold cavity. The method also includes adjusting at least one of a temperature of and a pressure applied to the molten polymeric material in the in-mold tuning chamber to create a first tuned molten polymeric material and releasing the tuned molten polymeric material into the mold cavity from the in-mold tuning chamber.

Molding system and method

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.

Foam compositions and uses thereof

A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

Foam article with enhanced properties

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment including a foam are provided. The foam portion of the components and articles include a composition which includes a thermoplastic copolyester, the composition having a foam structure. A polymer layer is provided on at least on surface of the foam portion. The polymer layer can control or reduce the water uptake of the foam portion. Methods of making the compositions, foams, and components 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.

A system including an injector, a press, and a robotic conveyance is used to form a physically foamed article of footwear component from a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid. The parameters and features of the system are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner with enhanced throughput by the system.

Footwear component manufacturing system

Tooling and components of an injection-molding system may be used to mold a foam article. The tooling and components may include features that control parameters of the injection-molding and foaming process, such as temperature, pressure, shot size, shot placement, and the like.

Footwear mold system for injection-molding

Footwear mold assembly for injection-molding

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components are provided. The articles include a composition having a foam structure, wherein the composition includes an ionomeric polymer and a plurality of cations, wherein the ionomeric copolymer is crosslinked by the cations. The crosslinks are ionic, so in some aspects the composition is free or essentially free of any covalent crosslinks between the ionomers. 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.

Foam ionomer compositions and uses thereof

A molding system and a method for operation of the molding system are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a shot tuning chamber from an upstream device, adjusting a temperature of and/or pressure applied to the molten polymeric material in the shot tuning chamber, and flowing the molten polymeric material from the shot tuning chamber into a mold cavity.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Hossein A Baghdadi