GUIDES AND COMPONENTS FOR CLOSURE SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREFOR

摘要

According to an embodiment, a component for attachment to an article includes an upper component that is made of a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature and a flange member that is molded onto the upper component and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a second melting temperature that is lower than the first melting temperature of the upper component. The flange member extends laterally from a bottom end of the upper component so that a bottom surface of the flange member is flush with or positioned axially below a bottom surface of the upper component. The melting temperature of the thermoplastic elastomer material enables the flange member to be directly coupled to the article via heat welding and the like without substantially affecting the upper component.

主权项

1. An insert molded component for attachment to a shoe, the insert molded component comprising:
a housing member of a tightening mechanism, the housing being made of a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature, the housing member having a top end and a bottom end with a bottom surface and having an interior cavity within which one or more components of the tightening mechanism are positioned, the housing member also having entry and exits ports through which a tension member is disposed such that the tension member passes from an interior portion of the housing member to an exterior portion of the housing member, wherein the tightening mechanism is operable to tension the tension member and thereby tighten the shoe; and a flange member that is insert molded onto the housing member so as to extend laterally from at least a portion of an outer periphery of the bottom end of the housing member such that a bottom surface of the flange member is flush with or axially below the bottom surface of the housing member, the flange member comprising a thermoplastic elastomer having a second melting temperature that is lower than the first melting temperature of the housing member to enable direct coupling of the flange member to an upper of the shoe.