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Shoe With A Flat Formed Shoe Upper

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-09-22
NIKE INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention relates to a shoe specifically designed to facilitate production via efficient shoe manufacturing methods and systems. These shoe designs and / or manufacturing methods reduce the specialized individual labor required for shoe production, while avoiding high costs associated with highly automated manufacturing equipment. Shoes in accordance with the present invention may further permit a customer to select a particular model of shoe, select functional options for the shoe and / or select aesthetic options for the shoe.

Problems solved by technology

Both the large number and the three-dimensional nature of these components have required a great deal of labor to assemble a single shoe.
Decreasing the labor required to manufacture a shoe by a meaningful amount is not possible with standard shoe designs.

Method used

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  • Shoe With A Flat Formed Shoe Upper
  • Shoe With A Flat Formed Shoe Upper
  • Shoe With A Flat Formed Shoe Upper

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0018]Shoes, in accordance with the present invention, are designed to enable efficient manufacturing, and optionally, customization. Shoe model options in accordance with the present invention may include, for example, a running shoe model, a basketball shoe model, and a skate shoe model. In accordance with the present invention, upper forms of shoes may be manufactured by a flat forming construction process, whereby the upper pattern is kept in a two-dimensional shape for a substantial amount of the upper assembly and is then stitched or otherwise affixed into a three-dimensional form in the final stage of upper assembly. The flat forming process minimizes the amount of labor, such as labor intensive stitching traditionally needed to assemble a three-dimensional upper form. The upper forms are then coupled with midsole and / or outsole structures designed to permit efficient shoe production.

[0019]Referring now to FIG. 1A, the initial layering step 100 for upper creation, in accordan...

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PUM

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Abstract

Shoes specifically designed to facilitate production via efficient shoe manufacturing methods and systems are described. In embodiments, the shoe upper is designed by way of a flat forming process, whereby the upper pattern is kept in a two-dimensional shape for most of the upper assembly and then stitched or otherwise affixed into a three-dimensional form in the final stage of upper assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 194,403, filed Sep. 26, 2008, entitled “Shoe With a Flat Formed Shoe Upper.”TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to athletic footwear. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shoe with a flat formed shoe upper.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Shoes, especially shoe uppers, have traditionally been assembled from a relatively large number of three-dimensional components. Both the large number and the three-dimensional nature of these components have required a great deal of labor to assemble a single shoe. Decreasing the labor required to manufacture a shoe by a meaningful amount is not possible with standard shoe designs.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention relates to a shoe specifically designed to facilitate production via efficient shoe manufacturing methods and systems. These shoe designs and / or manufacturing met...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A43B3/00A43B23/00
CPCA43B3/0078A43B23/24A43D8/02A43D25/20A43D111/00A43B23/026A43B23/028A43B23/07B29D35/146A43B23/0235A43B23/042
Inventor DEAN, ANTHONYFUSCO, CIROBEREND, THOMAS
Owner NIKE INC