US 11,998,080 B2
Textiles and articles and processes for making the same
Devon Frazier, Beaverton, OR (US); Walter M. Hancock, Taichung (TW); Dave Klinger, Beaverton, OR (US); Robert Mervar, Beaverton, OR (US); Brian G. Prevo, Portland, OR (US); and Hilary Walker, Hillsboro, OR (US)
Assigned to Nike, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/945,441.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/882,008, filed on Aug. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0030109 A1, Feb. 4, 2021
Prior Publication US 2022/0007782 A2, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/02 (2022.01); A43B 23/02 (2006.01); B29C 51/12 (2006.01); B29C 51/14 (2006.01); B32B 5/02 (2006.01); B32B 5/24 (2006.01); B32B 27/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/40 (2006.01); D02G 3/36 (2006.01); D04B 1/16 (2006.01); D06M 15/233 (2006.01); D06M 15/70 (2006.01); B29K 9/06 (2006.01); B29L 31/50 (2006.01); D06M 101/32 (2006.01); D06M 101/34 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/026 (2013.01) [A43B 23/0215 (2013.01); A43B 23/0225 (2013.01); A43B 23/0235 (2013.01); A43B 23/0255 (2013.01); A43B 23/026 (2013.01); B29C 51/12 (2013.01); B29C 51/145 (2013.01); B32B 5/026 (2013.01); B32B 5/245 (2013.01); B32B 27/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/40 (2013.01); D02G 3/36 (2013.01); D04B 1/16 (2013.01); D06M 15/233 (2013.01); D06M 15/70 (2013.01); B29K 2009/06 (2013.01); B29L 2031/504 (2013.01); B29L 2031/505 (2013.01); B32B 2307/536 (2013.01); B32B 2437/02 (2013.01); D06M 2101/32 (2013.01); D06M 2101/34 (2013.01); D06M 2200/35 (2013.01); D06M 2200/40 (2013.01); D10B 2331/02 (2013.01); D10B 2331/04 (2013.01); D10B 2331/10 (2013.01); D10B 2401/041 (2013.01); D10B 2401/06 (2013.01); D10B 2401/061 (2013.01); D10B 2401/063 (2013.01); D10B 2501/043 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An outsole for an article of footwear, comprising:
a textile comprising a thermoformed network of yarns comprising a first core yarn and a first polymeric composition, wherein the first polymeric composition consolidates the thermoformed network of yarns by surrounding at least a portion of the first core yarn and occupying at least a portion of spaces between yarns in the thermoformed network of yarns, and wherein the first polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane, wherein the thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane is a thermoplastic elastomeric polyester polyurethane, a thermoplastic elastomeric polyether polyurethane, or any combination thereof, wherein the first polymeric composition has a Durometer Hardness of from about 70 to about 80 Shore A, as determined using the Durometer Hardness Test;
wherein the thermoformed network of yarns is a thermoformed product of a first textile comprising a first network of yarns including a first coated yarn comprising the first core yarn and a first coating, the first coating comprising the first polymeric composition, the first core yarn comprising a second polymeric composition, wherein the first coating is axially centered surrounding the core yarn, the first coating has a nominal average outer diameter of the coated yarn is up to about 1.0 millimeter, the first coating has an average radial coating thickness of about 50 micrometers to about 200 micrometers, and wherein, in the thermoformed network of yarns, the first polymeric composition consolidating the thermoformed network of yarns is a re-flowed and re-solidified product of the first polymeric composition of the first coating of the first coated yarn;
wherein, in the first coated yarn, the first polymeric composition has a first melting temperature greater than about 110 degrees Celsius and less than about 190 degrees Celsius, the second polymeric composition of the first core yarn has a second deformation temperature, and the second deformation temperature is at least 50 degrees Celsius greater than the first melting temperature of the first polymeric composition;
wherein a first side of the thermoformed network defines at least a portion of a surface of the outsole configured to be externally-facing or ground-facing or ground-contacting when the outsole is part of a finished article of footwear, and
the first polymeric composition when thermoformed has a cold Ross flex of about 120,000 to about 180,000.