Method of Manufacturing an Article of Footwear with Exterior Ribs

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes the steps of providing a sole assembly; forming an upper having a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface thereof, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon, the upper formed by insert molding a first material having a first color and a second material having a second color together; and securing the upper to the sole assembly.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising the following steps, in combination: 
 providing a sole assembly;    forming an upper having a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface thereof, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon, the upper formed by insert molding a first material having a first color and a second material having a second color together; and    securing the upper to the sole assembly.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein a first subset of the plurality of faces is formed of the first material and a second subset of the plurality of faces is formed of the second material.  
     
     
         30 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising the following steps, in combination: 
 providing a sole assembly;    forming an upper having a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface thereof, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon, the upper formed by the following steps: 
 molding a first layer of knit material such that it has a desired ribbed shape;  
 securing a second layer of a resin-impregnated non-woven material to the first layer;  
 molding the first and second layers such that they have the desired ribbed shape;  
 positioning a third layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the second layer; and  
 positioning a fourth layer of a knit material adjacent the third layer; and  
   securing the upper to the sole assembly.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising the steps of applying a first color to a first subset of the plurality of faces and applying a second color to a second subset of the plurality of faces.  
     
     
         32 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising the following steps, in combination: 
 providing a sole assembly;    forming an upper having a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface thereof, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon, the upper formed by the following steps: 
 molding a first layer of synthetic leather such that it has a desired ribbed shape;  
 positioning a second layer of a foam material adjacent an interior surface of the first layer;  
 positioning a third layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the second layer; and  
 positioning a fourth layer of a knit material adjacent the third layer; and  
   securing the upper to the sole assembly.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising the steps of applying a first color to a first subset of the plurality of faces and applying a second color to a second subset of the plurality of faces.