Method of manufacturing a bi-axial braided article of footwear

Abstract

A method of manufacturing is provided, with an initial step of providing an automated braiding machine having a braid ring assembly and a plurality of spools associated with the braid ring assembly, each of the plurality of spools containing a strand of braiding material. When initially braiding the article of footwear, the spools on the braid ring assembly are in a first set of positions. Continuing, the article of footwear is braided beginning with a first end of the article of footwear with the spools on the braid ring assembly in the first set of positions. Upon reaching a transition point of the article of footwear, the spools on the braid ring assembly are positioned in a second set of positions. Finally, the article of footwear is braided from the transition point to the second end, with the spools on the braid ring assembly in the second set of positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having a first end and an opposing second end, the method comprising:
 providing an automated braiding machine having a braid ring assembly and a plurality of spools associated with the braid ring assembly, each of the plurality of spools containing a strand of braiding material;   positioning the spools on the braid ring assembly in a first set of positions;   braiding the article of footwear, beginning with a first end of the article of footwear, with the spools on the braid ring assembly in the first set of positions;   upon reaching a transition point of the article of footwear, positioning the spools on the braid ring assembly in a second set of positions; and   braiding the article of footwear from the transition point to the second end the article of footwear, with the spools on the braid ring assembly in the second set of positions.   
     
     
         2 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of positions is obtained by rotating the first set of positions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 2 , wherein the rotating of the first set of positions is between 0 and 45 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 2 , wherein the rotating of the first set of positions is between 45 and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the article of footwear is a toe end. 
     
     
         6 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the article of footwear is an ankle end. 
     
     
         7 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the article of footwear is braided in a first braiding plane, and wherein the second end of the article of footwear is braided in a second braiding plane. 
     
     
         8 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 7 , wherein the first braiding plane is perpendicular to the second braiding plane. 
     
     
         9 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 7 , wherein the first braiding plane is offset 45 degrees from the second braiding plane. 
     
     
         10 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 1 , wherein the transition point is positioned between 2 to 6 inches from the first end of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear utilizing an automated braiding machine having a braid ring assembly, the method comprising:
 positioning the braid ring assembly in a first configuration;   braiding the article of footwear with the braid ring assembly in the first configuration;   positioning the braiding ring assembly in a second configuration;   braiding the article of footwear with the braid ring assembly in the second configuration.   
     
     
         12 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 11 , wherein braiding the article of footwear with the braid ring assembly in the first configuration results in a first end of the article of footwear being braided in a first braiding plane, and wherein braiding the article of footwear with the braid ring assembly in the second configuration results in the second end of the article of footwear being braided in a second braiding plane. 
     
     
         13 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 12 , wherein the article of footwear further comprises a transition section positioned between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         14 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 13 , wherein the transition section further comprises a beginning transition point and an ending transition point, the beginning transition point defined at an end of the first braiding plane, and the ending transition point defined at an end of the second braiding plane. 
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 11 , wherein the second configuration is achieved through rotating the braid ring assembly between 45 and 90 degrees from the first configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 11 , wherein the second configuration is achieved through rotating the braid ring assembly between 0 and 45 degrees from the first configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the article of footwear is a toe end. 
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the article of footwear is a heel end. 
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear having a toe end and an heel opening, the article of footwear comprising:
 a first section at the toe end, braided with a plurality of yarns in a first direction; and   a second section at the heel end, braided with the plurality of yarns in a second direction.   a transition section positioned between the first section and the second section, wherein the transition section further comprises a beginning transition point proximate the first section and an ending transition point proximate the second section, wherein the plurality of yarns of the transition section linearly transitions from the first direction to the second direction.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , further comprising a transition section positioned between the first section and the second section, wherein the transition section further comprises a beginning transition point proximate the first section and an ending transition point proximate the second section, wherein the plurality of yarns of the transition section linearly transitions from the first direction to the second direction. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.