Article of footwear with extruded components

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to portions of an article of footwear formed from an extruded member. In certain embodiments, a sole or portion of a sole can be formed from one or more extruded members. In certain embodiments, the extruded member can be a single, continuous piece of solid material. In certain embodiments, a sole for an article of footwear can be fashioned from an extruded member formed in a controlled geometric pattern. In certain embodiments, the sole can include one or more layers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
 providing an upper; and   extruding an extruded member directly onto a surface of the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member is extruded directly onto a bottom surface of the upper to form a sole. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member is extruded directly onto a quarter panel portion of the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member is extruded directly onto a heel portion of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member is extruded directly onto a collar portion of the upper. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a woven fabric. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a synthetic material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member comprises a physical property that varies. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the physical property is selected from the group consisting of: thickness, color, density, material, shape, geometry, and elasticity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the physical property varies throughout the extruded member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member comprises a first portion having a first density and a second portion having a second density, and wherein the first density is higher than the second density. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the extruded member comprises a first portion having a first density and a second portion having a second density, and wherein the first density is higher than the second density. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion is disposed in a rearfoot area of the sole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member comprises a first portion having a first color and a second portion having a second color, and wherein the first color is different than the second color. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the extruded member comprises a first portion having a first color and a second portion having a second color, wherein the first color is different than the second color, and wherein the first portion is disposed in a rearfoot area of the sole. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member comprises a single, continuous piece of extruded material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member is solid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extruding a second extruded member onto a surface of the upper. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded member is extruded in a controlled geometric pattern.