US 12,377,627 B2
Systems and methods for manufacturing a portion of an article of footwear from a mold
Matthias Hartmann, Forchheim (DE); Reinhold Sussmann, Scheinfeld (DE); and Neil Jafar Narriman, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Assigned to PUMA SE, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by PUMA SE, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Nov. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/985,305.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/279,436, filed on Nov. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0150221 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. B29D 35/12 (2010.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); B29C 45/26 (2006.01); B29D 35/00 (2010.01); B29D 35/14 (2010.01); B29L 31/50 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 35/128 (2013.01) [A43B 13/188 (2013.01); B29C 45/26 (2013.01); B29C 45/2602 (2013.01); B29D 35/0009 (2013.01); B29D 35/0054 (2013.01); B29D 35/122 (2013.01); B29D 35/142 (2013.01); B29L 2031/50 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a sole assembly of an article of footwear, the method comprising:
injecting a first material into a first mold;
forming, from the first material, a first component in the first mold, the first component including a first plurality of channel elements;
injecting a second material into a second mold;
forming, from the second material, a second component in the second mold, the second component including a second plurality of channel elements;
aligning each of the first plurality of channel elements with a corresponding one of the second plurality of channel elements; and
securing the first component to the second component to form an initial sole assembly,
wherein each of the first plurality of channel elements is a first partial channel that extends laterally across the first component,
wherein forming the first component comprises inserting slider pins into the first mold to form the first plurality of channel elements.