Patent ID: 9241531
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: A43B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of manufacturing a material element forming a portion of an upper of an article of footwear, the method comprising: placing at least one preformed strand adjacent to a surface of a polymer sheet that incorporates a thermoplastic polymer material, the strand being substantially parallel to the surface for a distance of at least five centimeters; positioning a first layer adjacent to the surface, the strand being located between the polymer sheet and the first layer; heating the first layer, the strand, and the polymer sheet, the thermoplastic polymer material from the polymer sheet infiltrating at least one of the first layer and the strand to form a bond between the polymer sheet and each of the first layer and the strand; and incorporating the material element into the upper of the article of footwear; wherein the polymer sheet is positioned closer toward an interior of the upper of the article of footwear than the first layer; and wherein the first layer forms a portion of an exterior surface of the article of footwear.