Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Interconnected thermoplastic articles capable of being foamed
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Application No.: US16915325Application Date: 2020-06-29
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Publication No.: US11766813B2Publication Date: 2023-09-26
- Inventor: Bryan N. Farris , David Turner
- Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicant Address: US OR Beaverton
- Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
- Current Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US OR Beaverton
- Agency: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
- Main IPC: B29C44/34
- IPC: B29C44/34 ; B29C44/32 ; B29C35/02 ; B33Y10/00 ; B33Y80/00 ; B29C64/118 ; B29C64/00 ; B29C64/106

Abstract:
A method of making a foamed article, for example a foamed component for an article or footwear, comprises depositing an unfoamed, thermoplastic polymer onto a support surface in a three-dimensional printing process to form an unfoamed article; heating the article to soften the article and infusing the softened article with at least one inert gas at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure that is sufficient to cause the at least one inert gas to permeate into the softened article; and reducing the pressure to second pressure below the first pressure while the article is softened to at least partially foam the article, wherein a surface of a partial mold limits foam expansion in at least one direction but less than all directions. The article or a part of the article may be made by printing a thermoplastic polymeric material with a three-dimensional printer in a structure of interconnected, unfoamed, thermoplastic polymeric members spaced to define openings between the thermoplastic polymeric members.
Public/Granted literature
- US20200324444A1 Method of Making Foams Using Partial Molds Public/Granted day:2020-10-15
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