Patent ID: 9398784
Filing Date: 2016-07-26
CPC Classification: A43B,A43C,A43D,B29C,D04B,D10B

Claim Text:
1. A method for manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear, the method comprising: positioning a skin layer adjacent to a knitted component and in an overlapping configuration, the knitted component being formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component including a first tubular protrusion, a second tubular protrusion, and a third protrusion that protrude from an adjacent area of the knitted component, the third protrusion extending between and intersecting both the first tubular protrusion and the second tubular protrusion, a junction being defined where the third protrusion joins with one of the first and second tubular protrusions, the first and second tubular protrusions, the third protrusion, and the junction each protruding to a same height from the adjacent area; locating the skin layer and the knitted component between a first surface and a second surface of a press, the first surface including a first material, and the second surface including a second material, the first material having greater compressibility than the second material; and compressing the skin layer and the knitted component between the first surface and the second surface to join the skin layer to the knitted component; wherein compressing the skin layer and the knitted component includes protruding each of the first tubular protrusion, the second tubular protrusion, the third protrusion, the junction, and the skin layer together into the first surface; and wherein compressing the skin layer and the knitted component includes protruding the knitted component into the second surface.