Method for making a hollow object
Method for manufacturing a hollow object from a material comprising threads mechanically linked to one another to form a first shell. The method comprises a reference step that involves shaping the first shell on a support, a first step, subsequent to the reference step, that involves covering the first shell with a sealed membrane and obtaining a pressure difference on opposite sides of the membrane, the pressure on the side of a surface of the membrane in contact with the first shell being less than the pressure on the side of a free surface of the membrane, and a second step, simultaneous with and/or following the first subsequent step, that involves causing a change of state and/or the bonding of some or all of the threads forming the first shell.
1. A method for manufacturing a hollow object, from a material comprising threads mechanically bonded to one another to form a first shell, the method comprising:
shaping the first shell on a support;
subsequent to said shaping, covering the first shell with a sealed membrane, the membrane having opposite sides that include a first-shell-contacting surface and a free surface opposite the first-shell-contacting surface;
creating a pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane, pressure on the first-shell-contacting surface of the membrane being less than pressure on the free surface of the membrane; and
simultaneous with or following the covering of the first shell, causing a change of state and/or the bonding of a plurality or all of the threads of the first shell;
wherein:
the hollow object is an article of footwear; and
the first shell extends lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and height-wise from a base to an upper end.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the creating a pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane comprises reducing pressure on the first-shell-contacting surface side of the membrane.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the creating the pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane comprises increasing pressure on the side of the free surface side of the membrane.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the creating the pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane comprises both of the following:
reducing pressure on the first-shell-contacting surface side of the membrane; and
increasing pressure on the side of the free surface side of the membrane.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least a plurality of the threads comprises at least one hot-melt filament.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein:
the causing a change of state and/or the bonding of a plurality or all of the threads of the first shell is carried out by supplying energy.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the causing a change of state and/or the bonding of a plurality or all of the threads of the first shell is carried out by increasing temperature.
8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein:
the increasing temperature is carried out by radiation.
9. A method according to claim 7 , wherein:
the increasing temperature is carried out by convection.
10. A method according to claim 7 , wherein:
the increasing temperature is carried out by conduction.
11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the membrane has a shape substantially of the object.
12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the membrane comprises an elastically reversibly deformable synthetic material.
13. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
incorporating a reinforcement onto the article of footwear.
14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the article of footwear comprises the first shell and a second shell.
15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the reinforcement extends, in relation to the first shell, lengthwise from the rear end to the front end, widthwise between the lateral edge and the medial edge, and height-wise from the base to the upper end.
16. A method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the first shell has three zones with different mechanical properties.
17. A method according to claim 14 , wherein:
the second shell has three zones with different mechanical properties.
18. A method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the article of footwear comprises an outer sole assembly.
19. A method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the article of footwear comprises an inner sole assembly.
20. A method for manufacturing a hollow object, from a material comprising threads mechanically bonded to one another to form a first shell, the method comprising:
shaping the first shell on a support;
subsequent to said shaping, covering the first shell with a sealed membrane, the membrane having opposite sides that include a first-shell-contacting surface and a free surface opposite the first-shell-contacting surface;
creating a pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane, pressure on the first-shell-contacting surface of the membrane being less than pressure on the free surface of the membrane; and
simultaneous with or following the covering of the first shell, causing a change of state and/or the bonding of a plurality or all of the threads of the first shell;
wherein the hollow object is a helmet.
21. A method for manufacturing a hollow object, from a material comprising threads mechanically bonded to one another to form a first shell, the method comprising:
shaping the first shell on a support;
subsequent to said shaping, covering the first shell with a sealed membrane, the membrane having opposite sides that include a first-shell-contacting surface and a free surface opposite the first-shell-contacting surface;
creating a pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane, pressure on the first-shell-contacting surface of the membrane being less than pressure on the free surface of the membrane; and
simultaneous with or following the covering of the first shell, causing a change of state and/or the bonding of a plurality or all of the threads of the first shell;
wherein the hollow object is a bag.
22. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the support demarcates at least one passage configured for circulation of a fluid.
23. A product comprising the object manufactured according to the method of claim 1 .
24. A method for manufacturing a hollow object, from a material comprising threads mechanically bonded to one another to form a first shell, the method comprising:
shaping the first shell on a support;
subsequent to said shaping, covering the first shell with a sealed membrane, the membrane having opposite sides that include a first-shell-contacting surface and a free surface opposite the first-shell-contacting surface;
creating a pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane, pressure on the first-shell-contacting surface of the membrane being less than pressure on the free surface of the membrane;
simultaneous with or following the covering of the first shell, causing a change of state and/or the bonding of a plurality or all of the threads of the first shell; and
incorporating a reinforcement to the object.
25. A method for manufacturing a hollow object, from a material comprising threads mechanically bonded to one another to form a first shell, the method comprising:
shaping the first shell on a support;
subsequent to said shaping, covering the first shell with a sealed membrane, the membrane having opposite sides that include a first-shell-contacting surface and a free surface opposite the first-shell-contacting surface;
creating a pressure difference on the opposite sides of the membrane, pressure on the first-shell-contacting surface of the membrane being less than pressure on the free surface of the membrane;
simultaneous with or following the covering of the first shell, causing a change of state and/or the bonding of a plurality or all of the threads of the first shell; and
wherein the support is porous to facilitate circulation of a fluid to facilitate application of the first shell onto the support.