US 12,005,664 B2
Systems and methods for manufacturing a portion of an article of footwear from a mold
Matthias Hartmann, Forchheim (DE); and Reinhold Sussmann, Scheinfeld (DE)
Assigned to PUMA SE, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by PUMA SE, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/694,914.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/161,634, filed on Mar. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0297401 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B29D 35/12 (2010.01); B29D 35/00 (2010.01)
CPC B29D 35/122 (2013.01) [B29D 35/0018 (2013.01); B29D 35/128 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a midsole of an article of footwear, the method comprising:
generating a positive model of a midsole, wherein the positive model includes a lattice structure defining a region of empty volume;
creating a negative model based on the region of empty volume of the positive model;
printing, layer by layer, a negative mold to form a physical representation of the negative model, wherein the negative mold includes a region of solid volume that corresponds with the region of empty volume in the positive model;
supplying a midsole material to the negative mold to form the midsole, wherein the midsole includes a midsole lattice structure formed therein by the region of solid volume in the negative mold; and
removing the negative mold from the midsole.