Patent ID: 9498927
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: A43B,B29C,B29D,B29K,B29L,C08J

Claim Text:
1. A method of foaming an article, comprising infusing the article with a supercritical fluid, wherein the article is a pellet, bead, or particle comprising a thermoplastic elastomer; removing the article from the supercritical fluid, and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation to foam the article, wherein the article is dyed during at least one of the infusing step and the immersing step, wherein dyeing the article during the infusing step comprises infusing the article with a supercritical fluid that has a dye dispersed or dissolved in the supercritical fluid and wherein dyeing the article during the immersing step comprises providing a heated fluid that contains a dye in solution and immersing the article in the heated fluid such that a dyed, foamed article is made.