A system for stretching a surface of a shoe for digitally printing onto the surface by an external device, the system comprising an apparatus and a controller in electrical communication, the system having: a main plate to receive and support the shoe; a side arm to traverse longitudinally along an edge of a medial portion of the main plate and to engage with at least a portion of the tongue of the shoe; and a driver causing the longitudinal traversal of the side arm, having: an end bearing and an end connector; a rotary band; an end bracket opposite the end bearing and beneath the main plate; a driving screw between the end bracket and the end bearing, and associated with the side arm; and a motor adapted to receive an electrical signal from the controller selectively causing a rotation of a rotary shaft of the motor.

A vamp with loop protection eyelets and a manufacture method thereof are disclosed. The vamp comprises a vamp body including a middle part having a notch which functions as a shoe tongue part. The vamp body is one-piece knitted fabric or a sheet-splice-vamp. Strings are projectively fixed on the upper surface of the vamp body. Threads embroider and fix the strings on the vamp body along a path of the length direction of the strings. The strings not only form a pattern on the vamp body but also leave loops on the shoe tongue part. Loops protrude inwards from both side edges of the shoe tongue part. The vamp has ventilation and has good supportability and straightness, is not only esthetic but also can protect feet. Protection eyelets are connected very firmly and do not come off easily. The pattern with a stereoscopic visual effect is formed on the vamp.

Methods and systems are disclosed for three-dimensional printing directly onto an article of apparel. Disclosed is a method and system for direct three-dimensional printing onto an article of apparel, including positioning at least a portion of the article on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray, printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the article using a three-dimensional pattern, curing the printed material, and removing the article from the three-dimensional printing system.

Methods and systems are disclosed for three-dimensional printing directly onto an article of apparel. Disclosed is a method and system for direct three-dimensional printing onto an article of apparel, including positioning at least a portion of the article on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray, printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the article using a three-dimensional pattern, curing the printed material, and removing the article from the three-dimensional printing system.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the heel cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the heel cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold for molding articles of footwear having sole regions of differing materials forming a desired outsole surface material pattern. The multi-part mold includes a carrier mold portion and a tray mold portion. The carrier mold portion provides definition to the lateral surfaces of a resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion cooperates with the carrier mold portion and provides definition to another (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion generally includes at least one pod or cavity for receiving a first material that when cured/catalyzed, defines a patterned other (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant product. A multi-part mold having the structure as described herein permits interchangeability of multiple tray mold portions with a single carrier mold portion.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold for molding articles of footwear having sole regions of differing materials forming a desired outsole surface material pattern. The multi-part mold includes a carrier mold portion and a tray mold portion. The carrier mold portion provides definition to the lateral surfaces of a resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion cooperates with the carrier mold portion and provides definition to another (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion generally includes at least one pod or cavity for receiving a first material that when cured/catalyzed, defines a patterned other (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant product. A multi-part mold having the structure as described herein permits interchangeability of multiple tray mold portions with a single carrier mold portion.

An apparatus for stretching a surface of a pair of shoes for digitally printing onto the surface by an external device, the apparatus comprising: a main plate configured to receive the pair of shoes, the main plate comprising a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a medial portion extending between the front and the rear ends, the medial portion being laterally offset from an outer edge of each of the front and the rear ends, a pair of curved grooves disposed at the rear end and being adapted to receive an interior of the heel of each shoe of the pair of shoes; a pair of side arms each being adapted to traverse longitudinally along an edge of the medial portion, and having a V-shaped groove; and a pair of motors each configured to independently cause a longitudinal movement of the pair of side arms.

Manufacturing of a shoe is enhanced by creating 3-D models of shoe parts. For example, a laser beam may be projected onto a shoe-part surface, such that a projected laser line appears on the shoe part. An image of the projected laser line may be analyzed to determine coordinate information, which may be converted into geometric coordinate values usable to create a 3-D model of the shoe part. Once a 3-D model is known and is converted to a coordinate system recognized by shoe-manufacturing tools, certain manufacturing steps may be automated.

Manufacturing of a shoe is enhanced by creating 3-D models of shoe parts. For example, a laser beam may be projected onto a shoe-part surface, such that a projected laser line appears on the shoe part. An image of the projected laser line may be analyzed to determine coordinate information, which may be converted into geometric coordinate values usable to create a 3-D model of the shoe part. Once a 3-D model is known and is converted to a coordinate system recognized by shoe-manufacturing tools, certain manufacturing steps may be automated.