US 11,987,684 B2
Foam compositions and uses thereof
Hossein A. Baghdadi, Portland, OR (US); Jay Constantinou, Beaverton, OR (US); Joseph Thomas Muth, North Plains, OR (US); Brian G. Prevo, Portland, OR (US); and Bradley C. Tutmark, Aloha, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, INC., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Aug. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/883,039.
Application 17/883,039 is a continuation of application No. 17/018,843, filed on Sep. 11, 2020, granted, now 11,447,615.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/899,688, filed on Sep. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/899,742, filed on Sep. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/899,696, filed on Sep. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0002577 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C08J 9/12 (2006.01)
CPC C08J 9/122 (2013.01) [C08J 2203/06 (2013.01); C08J 2369/00 (2013.01); C08J 2469/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for making a thermoplastic elastomeric foam midsole for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
forming a single phase solution of a blowing agent dissolved in a molten polymeric material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer does not include a thermoplastic polyurethane, and the molten polymeric material does not include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer;
injecting the single phase solution into a mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity is configured to mold a midsole for an article of footwear;
physically foaming the single phase solution in the mold cavity, thereby forming a foamed molten polymeric material;
solidifying the foamed molten polymeric material in the mold cavity, thereby forming a foam midsole having a multicellular foam structure, wherein the foam is a thermoplastic elastomeric foam; and
removing the foam midsole from the mold cavity.