초록 ▼

The present invention includes a method for forming a resilient bladder structure for use in the sole of footwear. The method comprises the steps of forming a shell from a flexible material to have a floor and a perimeter sidewall extending from the floor; placing a core, having spaced apart outer s

The present invention includes a method for forming a resilient bladder structure for use in the sole of footwear. The method comprises the steps of forming a shell from a flexible material to have a floor and a perimeter sidewall extending from the floor; placing a core, having spaced apart outer surfaces connected together by a plurality of connecting members, into the shell within the area bounded by the sidewalls; enclosing the shell and core with a covering sheet; bonding the floor of the shell to one outer surface of the core and the covering sheet to the other outer surface of the core by applying pressure and heat to the shell-core-covering sheet assembly to compress the core during the bonding step; preventing bonding of the sidewall to the covering sheet during the compression of the core; and bonding the covering sheet to an outer edge of the perimeter sidewall of the shell to form a sealed bladder structure; and placing fluid into the interior of the bladder so that the plurality of connecting members are placed under tension.

대표청구항 ▼

[ That which is claimed is:] [17.] A method for forming a resilient bladder structure comprising the steps of:forming a shell from a flexible material to have a floor and a perimeter sidewall and a perimeter edge along the distal end of the perimeter sidewall extending from the floor to define an op

[ That which is claimed is:] [17.] A method for forming a resilient bladder structure comprising the steps of:forming a shell from a flexible material to have a floor and a perimeter sidewall and a perimeter edge along the distal end of the perimeter sidewall extending from the floor to define an opening to the shell;placing a core, having spaced apart outer surfaces connected together by a plurality of connecting members, into the shell within the area bounded by the sidewalls;enclosing the shell and core with a covering sheet sized to extend to at least the perimeter sidewall of the shell and cover the perimeter sidewall and the core placed in the shell;bonding the floor of the shell to one outer surface of the core and the covering sheet to the other outer surface of the core by applying pressure and heat to the shell-core-covering sheet assembly to compress the core during the bonding step;preventing bonding of the sidewall to the covering sheet during the compression of the core;bonding the covering sheet to an outer edge of the perimeter edge of the shell by applying pressure and heat to the covering sheet and a rim extending outward of the perimeter wall of the shell to connect the covering sheet to the rim of the shell to form a sealed bladder structure; andplacing fluid into the interior of the bladder so that the plurality of connecting members are placed under tension.