An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a plurality of support elements, and each of the support elements include a shell and a core. The shell defines an interior void and is formed from a polymer material that extends around substantially all of the void. The core has a shape of the void and is located within the void, with at least a portion of the core being a polymer foam material. The polymer foam material of at least two of the support elements may have different densities.

An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a plurality of support elements, and each of the support elements include a shell and a core. The shell defines an interior void and is formed from a polymer material that extends around substantially all of the void. The core has a shape of the void and is located within the void, with at least a portion of the core being a polymer foam material. The polymer foam material of at least two of the support elements may have different densities.

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

Described are methods of manufacturing at least part of a sports article. The method includes determining a set of physical parameters of the sports article, wherein the set including a first group and a second group. The method further includes determining a set of constraints for the first group of physical parameters, wherein the set of constraints is intended to achieve at least one objective function. Moreover, method further includes determining an optimum for the at least one objective function, which is determined by optimizing the second group of physical parameters and manufacturing the part of the sports article according to the set of constraints and the second group of optimal physical parameters.

Described are methods of manufacturing at least part of a sports article. The method includes determining a set of physical parameters of the sports article, wherein the set including a first group and a second group. The method further includes determining a set of constraints for the first group of physical parameters, wherein the set of constraints is intended to achieve at least one objective function. Moreover, method further includes determining an optimum for the at least one objective function, which is determined by optimizing the second group of physical parameters and manufacturing the part of the sports article according to the set of constraints and the second group of optimal physical parameters.

A rubber member for laser bonding of the present invention containing a rubber ingredient and silica, wherein the silica has an average particle size of more than 50 nm and 120 nm or less, and the amount of the silica is 10 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber ingredient, the rubber member has a laser light transmittance of 30% or more, provided that the laser light transmittance is a transmittance when the rubber member has a thickness of 2 mm and is irradiated with laser light having a wavelength of 808 nm. The silica preferably includes silica having an average particle size of more than 50 nm and 120 nm or less and silica having an average particle size of 5 nm to 50 nm, and the amount of the silica having an average particle size of more than 50 nm and 120 nm or less is 10 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber ingredient and the amount of the silica having an average particle size of 5 nm to 50 nm is 10 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber ingredient.

A rubber member for laser bonding of the present invention containing a rubber ingredient and silica, wherein the silica has an average particle size of more than 50 nm and 120 nm or less, and the amount of the silica is 10 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber ingredient, the rubber member has a laser light transmittance of 30% or more, provided that the laser light transmittance is a transmittance when the rubber member has a thickness of 2 mm and is irradiated with laser light having a wavelength of 808 nm. The silica preferably includes silica having an average particle size of more than 50 nm and 120 nm or less and silica having an average particle size of 5 nm to 50 nm, and the amount of the silica having an average particle size of more than 50 nm and 120 nm or less is 10 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber ingredient and the amount of the silica having an average particle size of 5 nm to 50 nm is 10 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber ingredient.

A clamping system for a component, especially for an article of footwear or a sports article, may include: (a) a first member; (b) a second member, (c) a pivot about which the first member and the second member are rotatable relative to each other; (d) a first bracket slidably movable along a first path on the first member and a second path, by a first distance, on the second member, when the first member and the second member are rotated relative to each other from a first angle to a second angle; and (e) at least a second bracket slidably movable along a third path on the first member and a fourth path, by a second distance, on the second member, when the first member and the second member are rotated relative to each other from the first angle to the second angle.

A clamping system for a component, especially for an article of footwear or a sports article, may include: (a) a first member; (b) a second member, (c) a pivot about which the first member and the second member are rotatable relative to each other; (d) a first bracket slidably movable along a first path on the first member and a second path, by a first distance, on the second member, when the first member and the second member are rotated relative to each other from a first angle to a second angle; and (e) at least a second bracket slidably movable along a third path on the first member and a fourth path, by a second distance, on the second member, when the first member and the second member are rotated relative to each other from the first angle to the second angle.