Patent ID: 9731464
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A43B,B29C,B29D

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing a midsole for an article of footwear, method comprising: placing a first perform over and into contact with a second perform within a midsole recess of a mold, the midsole recess defined by a first recess in a first portion of the mold and a second recess in a second portion of the mold, a surface of the first portion and a surface of the second portion cooperating to define a first overflow chamber and a first channel connecting the first overflow chamber to the midsole recess, the first portion having a projection extending inwardly into the first recess about an upper peripheral edge thereof, and an uppermost surface of the projection defining a lowermost surface of the first channel; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature after the mold is closed such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form within the midsole recess a midsole having a separation line between material of the first and second performs, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing over the projection through the first channel and into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion, and with the projection forming the second perform a projection recess positioned just below the separation line; removing the midsole from the mold, whereby the midsole expands to a completely expanded state after said removing; and cutting away the first overflow portion of the midsole after the midsole has expanded to the completely expanded state so as to leave material of the first perform overhanging and forming an uppermost surface over the projection recess at the separation line.