NIKE, Inc.
POST PRODUCTION LASER MODIFICATION OF AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR

Abstract:

A sole assembly for an article of footwear includes a midsole that is formed from at least a bladder and foam midsole component. The midsole has a ground facing surface and a sidewall, and the bladder meets the foam midsole at a component boundary on the sidewall. An etching extends into both the foam midsole and the bladder. The etched channel has a depth into the sidewall of between about 2 .mu.m and about 1000 .mu.m and continuously extends across the component boundary.