Article having a plurality of sub-regions

• Main Authors: FOLGAR, LUIS, YETMAN, KRISSY, KVAMME, BRANDON, DOREMUS, HARLEIGH, SCHILLER, DENIS, CONSTANTINOU, JAY
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 11.12.2023
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; FOOTWEAR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

Provided herein is an article comprising:a structure formed of a plurality of affixed foam particles;wherein each individual foam particle of the plurality of affixed foam particles is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material and includes a binding material in a binding region,and wherein each individual foam particle includes one or more binding regions on an outer surface of the individual foam particle affixing the individual foam particle to one or more adjacent foam particles; wherein the one or more adjacent foam particles comprise the thermoplastic elastomer material; wherein the binding regions include a portion of binding material from the individual foam particle and/or a portion of binding material from at least one of the one or more adjacent foam particles;wherein the structure formed of the plurality of affixed foam particles includes a plurality of gaps between particles, with the gaps occupying at least 10 percent of a total volume of the structure; andwherein, prior to affixing, the plura