Nike, Inc.

Nike Innovate C.v.

Stephan Hausmann

Denis Schiller

Bryan K Youngs

Robert C Williams, Jr

Laura C Parrett

Dylan Petrenka

Robert C Williams Jr

Articles of footwear having an upper that includes a tensile support structure are described. The tensile support structure is formed by a plurality of strands that are arranged in a chain-linked configuration. The chain-linked arrangement of the strands assists with distributing tensile forces over portions of the upper of the article of footwear and helps to conforms the upper to a foot of a wearer upon the application of tension.

Article of footwear having a chain-linked tensile support structure

A sole assembly is formed by preheating a mold assembly, placing a quantity of rubber in a first portion of a lower recess of a mold assembly; placing a middle plate in contact with a bottom plate, and an upper plate in contact with the middle plate; subjecting the top, middle, and bottom plates to heat to semi-cure the rubber in the lower recess to form an outsole member; separating the top plate, the middle plate, and the bottom plate; placing the top plate in contact with the bottom plate, with polyolefin forming a midsole above the semi-cured rubber; moving the movable insert upwardly with respect to the top plate; subjecting the top and bottom plates to heat such that the polyolefin expands within the sole recess and the polyolefin and rubber in the sole recess fully cure, cross-link, and bond to one another to form a sole assembly; cooling the top and bottom plates; and removing the sole assembly.

Method of manufacturing rubber and polyolefin sole assembly

A sole assembly is formed by preheating a mold assembly, placing a quantity of rubber in a first portion of a lower recess of a mold assembly; placing a middle plate in contact with a bottom plate, and an upper plate in contact with the middle plate; subjecting the top, middle, and bottom plates to heat to semi-cure the rubber in the lower recess to form an outsole member; separating the top plate, the middle plate, and the bottom plate; placing the top plate in contact with the bottom plate, with polyolefin forming a midsole above the semi-cured rubber; subjecting the top and bottom plates to heat such that the polyolefin expands within the sole recess and the polyolefin and rubber in the sole recess fully cure, cross-link, and bond to one another to form a sole assembly; cooling the top and bottom plates; and removing the sole assembly.

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Happy Valley, OR, United States of America

Stephan Hausmann