초록 ▼

A method for making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method can include a number of steps where various molds are used to attach or mold a tread element onto a substrate or matrix lining. The tread element can be formed by compressing a rubber block between various molding members to cause t

A method for making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method can include a number of steps where various molds are used to attach or mold a tread element onto a substrate or matrix lining. The tread element can be formed by compressing a rubber block between various molding members to cause the resulting rubber material to flow through at least one injection cavity, which penetrates through holes in the matrix lining, into at least one lug cavity disposed on the side of the matrix lining opposite to the injection cavity. The rubber material eventually enters the lug cavity and becomes attached to the matrix lining.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of: associating a matrix lining with a first side of a central mold, a first surface of the matrix lining confronting the first side of the central mold, the matrix lining also including a second surface disposed opposite t

We claim: 1. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of: associating a matrix lining with a first side of a central mold, a first surface of the matrix lining confronting the first side of the central mold, the matrix lining also including a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, the matrix lining defining at least one hole; associating a lug cavity with the second surface of the matrix lining, a rim of the lug cavity surrounding the lug cavity and pressing the matrix lining against the first side of the central mold; placing a rubber forming block proximate a second side of the central mold; compressing the rubber forming block and causing a portion of the rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through at least one injection cavity disposed in the central mold and through at least one injection tip aligned with and inserted into the at least one hole in the matrix lining; the portion of the rubber forming block continuing to flow through the at least one hole disposed in the matrix lining and flowing into the lug cavity; and wherein the portion of the rubber forming block fills the lug cavity and contacts the second surface of the matrix lining. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of compressing the rubber forming block includes a step of moving a molding press towards the central mold. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of separating the matrix lining from the mold, any excess rubber forming block being removed such that the rubber forming block does not extend beyond the first surface of the matrix lining. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lug cavity is disposed on a molding base. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the rubber forming block becomes a tread element and the rim of the lug cavity forms a tread element base on the matrix lining surrounding the tread element. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the matrix lining is attached to an outsole of the article of footwear. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first associating step comprises removably fixing the matrix lining to the central mold before compressing the rubber block. 8. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of: associating a matrix lining with a first side of a central mold, a first surface of the matrix lining confronting the first side of the central mold, the matrix lining also including a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, the matrix lining defining at least two holes; associating a molding base with the second surface of the matrix lining, the molding base defining a first lug cavity having a first lug cavity rim surrounding the first lug cavity and a second lug cavity having a second lug cavity rim surrounding the second lug cavity, each lug cavity rim pressing against the matrix lining against the first side of the central mold; placing a first rubber forming block proximate a second side of the central mold; placing a second rubber forming block proximate the second side of the central mold, wherein the second rubber forming block is different than the first rubber forming block; compressing the first rubber forming block and causing a first portion of the first rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through a first injection cavity disposed in the central mold and through at least one injection tip aligned with and inserted into one of the at least two holes in the matrix lining; compressing the second rubber forming block and causing a second portion of the second rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through a second injection cavity disposed in the central mold and through a second at least one injection tip aligned with and inserted into a second one of the at least two holes in the matrix lining; wherein the first portion of the first rubber forming block fills the first lug cavity and contacts the second surface of the matrix lining, and wherein the second portion of the second rubber forming block fills the second lug cavity and contacts the second surface of the matrix lining. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of compressing the rubber forming block includes a step of moving a molding press towards the central mold. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first rubber forming block is placed in a first central cavity indent and wherein the second rubber forming block is placed in a second cavity indent. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a first pressing surface disposed on molding press is configured to engage the first central cavity indent and wherein a second pressing surface disposed on the molding press is configured to engage the second central cavity indent. 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first lug cavity is laterally spaced from the second lug cavity. 13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first lug cavity rim presses the matrix lining to form a first tread element base and the second lug cavity rim presses the matrix lining to form a second tread element base. 14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the matrix lining is attached to an outsole of the article of footwear. 15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first associating step comprises removably fixing the matrix lining to the central mold before compressing the rubber block. 16. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of: positioning a molding base adjacent a first side of a central mold, a matrix lining being positioned between the central mold and the molding base, the mold in base defining at least one cavity having a rim surrounding the cavity, the rim pressing the matrix lining against the central mold; placing a first rubber forming block proximate a second side of the central mold and placing a second rubber forming block proximate the second side of the central mold, wherein the second rubber forming block is different than the first rubber forming block; compressing both the first rubber forming block and the second rubber forming block simultaneously; thereby causing a first portion of the first rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through an injection tip aligned with and positioned in a corresponding hole in the matrix lining and also causing a second portion of the second rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through a second injection tip aligned with and positioned in a second corresponding hole in the matrix lining. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first portion of the first rubber forming block flows through a first injection cavity after the compression step. 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second portion of the second rubber forming block flows through a second injection cavity after the compression step. 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first rubber forming block is harder than the second rubber forming block. 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first rubber forming block has a different color than the second rubber forming block. 21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first rubber forming block has a different composition than the second rubber forming block. 22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the matrix lining is attached to an outsole of an article of footwear. 23. The method according to claim 16, further comprising gathering at least a first excess material from one of the first and second rubber forming blocks in a first molding recess. 24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising further comprising gathering a second excess material from the other of the first and second rubber forming blocks in a second molding recess. 25. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of: associating a matrix lining with a first side of a central mold, a first surface of the matrix lining confronting the first side of the central mold, the matrix lining also including a second surface disposed opposite the first surface; associating a molding base with the second surface of the matrix lining, the molding base including at least one lug cavity and at least one lug cavity rim surrounding the at least one lug cavity, the at least one lug cavity rim pressing against the second surface of the matrix lining; placing a rubber forming block proximate a second side of the central mold; compressing the rubber forming block and causing a portion of the rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through at least one injection cavity disposed in the central mold; the portion of the rubber forming block continuing to flow through a hole disposed in the matrix lining and flowing into the at least one lug cavity; wherein the portion of the rubber forming block fills the lug cavity and contacts the second surface of the matrix lining, the matrix lining extending beyond the rim of the at least one lug cavity; and wherein an edge of the matrix lining remains exposed. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the matrix lining is attached to an outsole of an article of footwear and only a portion of the second surface of the matrix lining remains exposed. 27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising forming a recessed base in the matrix lining by pressing the rim of the at least one lug cavity against the matrix lining. 28. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of: associating a matrix lining with a first side of a central mold, a first surface of the matrix lining confronting the first side of the central mold, the matrix lining also including a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, the matrix lining defining at least one hole; associating a lug cavity with the second surface of the matrix lining, the lug cavity having a lug cavity rim surrounding the lug cavity and pressing the matrix lining against the central mold; placing a rubber forming block proximate a second side of the central mold; compressing the rubber forming block and causing a portion of the rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through at least one injection cavity disposed in the central mold and through at least one injection tip aligned with and inserted into the at least one hole in the matrix lining; the portion of the rubber forming block continuing to flow through the at least one hole disposed in the matrix lining and flowing into the lug cavity; and wherein the portion of the rubber forming block fills the lug cavity and contacts the second surface of the matrix lining, the matrix lining extending beyond the rim of the lug cavity. 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the matrix lining is attached to an outsole of an article of footwear and only a portion of the second surface of the matrix lining remains exposed. 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the exposed portion of the second surface of the matrix lining includes an edge of the matrix lining. 31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the step of pressing the matrix lining against the central mold forms a base in the matrix lining adjacent the at least one hole. 32. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of: associating a matrix lining with a first side of a plurality of injection cavities, a first surface of the matrix lining confronting the first side of each injection cavity, the matrix lining also including a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, the matrix lining defining at least one hole; associating a lug cavity with the second surface of the matrix lining, the lug cavity having a lug cavity rim surrounding the lug cavity and pressing against the matrix lining; placing a corresponding plurality of rubber forming blocks proximate a second side of each injection cavity; compressing the rubber forming blocks and causing a portion of each rubber forming block to become viscous and flow through at least one injection cavity and through at least one injection tip aligned with and inserted into a corresponding at least one hole in the matrix lining; and the portion of the corresponding rubber forming block continuing to flowing through the at least one hole disposed in the matrix lining and flowing into the lug cavity. 33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising gathering at least a first excess material from one of the plurality of rubber forming blocks in a first molding recess. 34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising further comprising gathering a second excess material from another of the plurality of rubber forming blocks in a second molding recess. 35. The method according to claim 32, further comprising preventing an excess material from flowing past the lug cavity by pressing the rim against the matrix lining, thereby creating a tread element base surrounding a tread element.