Methods and apparatus for manufacturing articles of footwear including different materials

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a base portion of the article of footwear and providing a sheet. A pneumatic pressure differential is applied to the sheet to displace the sheet toward the base portion and shape the sheet against the base portion. The sheet is coupled to the base portion. Excess material is removed from the sheet such that a remainder of the sheet defines a portion of the article of footwear.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a base portion; and   a sheet coupled to the base portion by applying a pneumatic pressure differential to the sheet, the pneumatic pressure differential displacing the sheet toward the base portion;   wherein the sheet defines a portion of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the base portion comprises a combined sole and inner layer of an upper of the article of footwear, and the sheet comprises an outer layer of the upper. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the upper comprises a hole. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet comprises a combination of layers. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the base portion comprises a copolymer resin foam. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is hermetic. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is a polymer film. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is a fabric. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is non-hermetic. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the non-hermetic sheet is coupled to the base portion by applying a pneumatic pressure differential to a hermetic sheet and the non-hermetic sheet, the pneumatic pressure differential displacing the non-hermetic sheet and hermetic sheet toward the base portion. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear of  claim 28 , wherein the hermetic sheet comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is coupled to the base portion by an adhesive. 
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear of  claim 30 , wherein the adhesive is set or cured. 
     
     
         32 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is coupled to the base portion by an adhesive and stitching . 
     
     
         33 . The article of footwear of  claim 32 , wherein the adhesive is set or cured. 
     
     
         34 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is coupled to the base portion by stitching. 
     
     
         35 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet is a first material, and the base portion is a second material. 
     
     
         36 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the base portion comprises ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         37 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the portion of the article of footwear is defined by removing excess material from the sheet. 
     
     
         38 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sheet comprises one or a combination of fabric, textile, leather, and polymer film.