Patent ID: 9713361
Date: 2017-07-25
CPC Classifications: A43B,A43D

Claim:
1. A last assembly for use with making an upper for an article of footwear, the last assembly comprising: a last member having the approximate shape of a foot, wherein the last member further includes a bottom surface corresponding to a foot sole; wherein the last member includes a plurality of vacuum holes positioned on an outer surface of the last member along a lateral side of the last member and along a medial side of the last member, and further wherein the plurality of vacuum holes are in fluid communication with a vacuum pump; a base member configured to receive a portion of the last member and hold the last member in a substantially fixed position; wherein the base member having an outer peripheral edge and a receiving slot; wherein a length of the outer peripheral edge is greater than a length of the bottom surface of the last member and a width of the outer peripheral edge is greater than a width of the bottom surface of the last member; wherein the last member is mounted to the base member such that the bottom surface of the last member is oriented away from the base member; wherein the last member includes an interior hollow cavity that is in fluid communication with the plurality of vacuum holes on the outer surface of the last member; wherein the interior hollow cavity is in fluid communication with a central hollow cavity of the base member thereby allowing the plurality of vacuum holes on the last member to be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum pump applied to the base member; and wherein the base member includes a plurality of vacuum holes on an outer surface of the base member that are in fluid communication with the central hollow cavity of the base member.