Nike has been awarded a patent for a new chemical bonding material. Be careful Nike. If the shoes last forever, people won't need to replace them as frequently.
Chemical bonding of rubber to plastic in articles of footwear (Assignee
-- Nike, Inc. Nike International Ltd.)
January 28, 1998
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MicroPatent : Abstract: An article of footwear
comprising relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials
chemically bonded together is disclosed. In one embodiment, the
relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials are arranged in
such a fashion to impart flexibility to the article of footwear. In
particular, plastic and rubber materials are bonded together to improve
the flexibility of an outsole of an article of footwear. The invention
also is directed to the fabrication of new or improved devices and
elements for use in articles of footwear and their associated methods of
construction such as closure mechanisms comprising relatively elastic
straps bonded to relatively inelastic anchor portions and vice versa,
articulating inelastic and elastic exoskeleton constructions useful in
skates and ski boots, and elastic or inelastic eyelets surrounded by
inelastic or elastic materials. The invention also is directed to
chemically bonding relatively elastic to relatively inelastic materials
for contemplated use in protective athletic equipment such as helmets
and protective padding, and for use in prosthetic devices.
Ex Claim Text: An article of footwear comprising an outsole having heel,
medial, forefoot and lateral areas, said outsole being a bonded
composite of relatively inelastic and relatively elastic materials
wherein the relatively inelastic material comprises an outsole plate and
the relatively elastic material comprises a plurality of substantially
separate, independent segments underlying and chemically bonded to only
a portion of said outsole plate, and at least one of said substantially
separate, independent segments being positioned along at least a portion
of an outer perimeter of the outsole. the outsole.
Assignee: Nike, Inc. Nike International Ltd.
Patent Number: 5709954
Issue Date: 1998 01 20
Inventor(s): Lyden, Robert M.{#buMcLaughlin, Ross A.#}
Chriss, Henry T.
Buck, IV, Calvin M.
Potter, Daniel R.
Vincent, Steven M.
If you would like to purchase a copy of this patent, please call
MicroPatent at 800-648-6787.
[Copyright 1998, MicroPatent Publications]
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