A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a midfoot region of the plate than at a forefoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.

A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

A multi-colored effect for a sole structure for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole structure comprises a sole member having a first color and an exterior layer having a second color that is different from the sole member. A plurality of slots are formed in the sole structure and the second color is visible on an outer surface of the sole structure through the plurality of slots.

A multi-colored effect for a sole structure for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole structure comprises a sole member having a first color and an exterior layer having a second color that is different from the sole member. A plurality of slots are formed in the sole structure and the second color is visible on an outer surface of the sole structure through the plurality of slots.

What is disclosed is a shoe (1), in particular a running shoe, comprising a shoe tip (2) and a heel edge (3) and a lacing system, wherein the lacing system comprises a lacing (4), wherein the lacing comprises two end regions (42, 42) along the lacing and a middle region adjoining between the end regions (41, 42) on respective branching points (43, 44) of the lacing, and wherein the lacing branches into a first strand (46) and a second strand (47) at the branching points (43, 44); and wherein the shoe has a holder comprising several holding structure pairs for fastening the lacing (4), wherein the holding structure pairs in each case consist of a medial-side and an opposite holding structure (54, 512, 522, 522) arranged on the lateral side, and wherein the holder has a from the shoe tip first holding region (51) comprising at least one holding structure pair, and an adjoining second holding region (52) arranged in the direction of the heel edge (3), comprising at least two holding structure pairs; and wherein exclusively the first strand (46) is fastened to the holding structure pairs in the first holding region (51), and exclusively the second strand (47) is fastened to the holding structure pairs in the second holding region (52).

What is disclosed is a shoe (1), in particular a running shoe, comprising a shoe tip (2) and a heel edge (3) and a lacing system, wherein the lacing system comprises a lacing (4), wherein the lacing comprises two end regions (42, 42) along the lacing and a middle region adjoining between the end regions (41, 42) on respective branching points (43, 44) of the lacing, and wherein the lacing branches into a first strand (46) and a second strand (47) at the branching points (43, 44); and wherein the shoe has a holder comprising several holding structure pairs for fastening the lacing (4), wherein the holding structure pairs in each case consist of a medial-side and an opposite holding structure (54, 512, 522, 522) arranged on the lateral side, and wherein the holder has a from the shoe tip first holding region (51) comprising at least one holding structure pair, and an adjoining second holding region (52) arranged in the direction of the heel edge (3), comprising at least two holding structure pairs; and wherein exclusively the first strand (46) is fastened to the holding structure pairs in the first holding region (51), and exclusively the second strand (47) is fastened to the holding structure pairs in the second holding region (52).

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.

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.