A sports shoe includes a shell formed of a first shell portion and of a second shell portion, distinct from each other and adapted to be assembled together. The first shell portion includes a first peripheral rim edge and the second shell portion includes a second peripheral rim edge including, respectively, a first joining rim portion and a second joining rim portion adapted to be coupled together. Specifically, the first joining rim portion includes at least a joining channel adapted to cooperate with a corresponding at least a joining projection included in the second joining rim portion. The joining channel and the corresponding joining projection are fixable to each other by means of heat welding.

Described are methods, systems, and devices for at least partly manufacturing a piece of apparel (e.g., a shoe), which incorporate manipulating at least one component of the piece of apparel with a particle jamming device.

A sole for a shoe, the sole comprising reinforcing members extending in a front half of the sole, wherein at least a first one of the reinforcing members further extends rearwardly beyond a midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole and wraps up to a posterior portion of an ankle region. A shoe, in particular a running shoe, comprising such a sole. A method for the manufacture of such items.

A molding assembly having a top mold member and a base mold member. The top mold member can include a first top mold portion and a second top mold portion that shift between a top mold open configuration and a top mold closed configuration by rotating about a top mold hinge axis. The molding assembly can shift between a molding assembly open configuration and a molding assembly closed configuration by rotating at least the top mold member about a molding assembly hinge axis.

There is provided a shoe upper member. The shoe upper member includes: a coating layer protecting the printing layer on the upper part of the printing layer; a protective film layer located above the coating layer to protect the coating layer; a microprism layer formed on the lower side of the printing layer and formed by a plurality of projections protruding downward; and an adhesive layer formed below the microprism layer and formed so that it can be attached to the fabric. The microprism layer is a patterned shoe shell skin material characterized in that the printing layer is imprinted in a microprism shape and then fixed by UV curing.

There is provided a shoe upper member. The shoe upper member includes: a coating layer protecting the printing layer on the upper part of the printing layer; a protective film layer located above the coating layer to protect the coating layer; a microprism layer formed on the lower side of the printing layer and formed by a plurality of projections protruding downward; and an adhesive layer formed below the microprism layer and formed so that it can be attached to the fabric. The microprism layer is a patterned shoe shell skin material characterized in that the printing layer is imprinted in a microprism shape and then fixed by UV curing.

Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.

A method for forming a plate includes attaching a first strand portion to a flexible substrate to form a first layer on the substrate and positioning a second strand portion on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a plurality of discrete regions on the substrate. The method also includes positioning a plurality of traction elements into corresponding cavities formed into a first mold surface and positioning the substrate on the first mold surface to change a shape of the substrate. At least one of heat and pressure is applied to the first strand portion, the second strand portion, the substrate, and the traction elements to conform the substrate to the shape of the first mold surface and form the traction elements into the substrate at each of the discrete regions. The method also includes incorporating the substrate into an article of footwear.

An article of footwear flat pattern upper (126, 300, 302) portion (216) is provided. The upper portion (302) has a midline reference line (415, 416) extending between the toe end apex (316) and a midpoint on the heel end (314). The upper portion (302) also is comprised of an origin (344) aperture that is located within 10 millimeters of the midline reference line (415, 416) between the toe end (306) and the heel end (314) of the upper portion (302). The upper portion (302) is also formed with an overlay (500) that is coupled with the upper portion (302) between the toe end (306) and the heel end (314) and between the medial side (315) and the lateral side (317). The overlay (500) has an alignment aperture (345) that is aligned with the origin (344) aperture.

An article of footwear flat pattern upper (126, 300, 302) portion (216) is provided. The upper portion (302) has a midline reference line (415, 416) extending between the toe end apex (316) and a midpoint on the heel end (314). The upper portion (302) also is comprised of an origin (344) aperture that is located within 10 millimeters of the midline reference line (415, 416) between the toe end (306) and the heel end (314) of the upper portion (302). The upper portion (302) is also formed with an overlay (500) that is coupled with the upper portion (302) between the toe end (306) and the heel end (314) and between the medial side (315) and the lateral side (317). The overlay (500) has an alignment aperture (345) that is aligned with the origin (344) aperture.