A shoe may comprise an upper (5) and a comfort sole (9) attached to an outsole (7), the comfort sole having a radius of curvature at any point of a line from a heel (C) to a toe (D) and interfacing with outsole (7), wherein the lowest point of comfort sole (9) and outsole (7), called the center of mass or balance point of the sole or natural balance point of the shoe, when placed on a substantially horizontal reference plane (H) defines a transition zone (Z1) of the roll of the foot having the highest radius of the comfort sole and the outsole, and in that the center of mass is behind point (B) of the metatarsals.

A shoe may comprise an upper (5) and a comfort sole (9) attached to an outsole (7), the comfort sole having a radius of curvature at any point of a line from a heel (C) to a toe (D) and interfacing with outsole (7), wherein the lowest point of comfort sole (9) and outsole (7), called the center of mass or balance point of the sole or natural balance point of the shoe, when placed on a substantially horizontal reference plane (H) defines a transition zone (Z1) of the roll of the foot having the highest radius of the comfort sole and the outsole, and in that the center of mass is behind point (B) of the metatarsals.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a strobel stitched to the upper at a series of stitches disposed in stitch holes that extend through the strobel. The strobel and the upper define a foot-receiving cavity with an inner surface of the strobel disposed at the foot-receiving cavity. A midsole is secured to the upper and an outer surface of the strobel is disposed at the midsole. The stitch holes are obstructed such that the stitch holes are not exposed to both the midsole and the foot-receiving cavity. Accordingly, when a flowable polymeric material is injected in a mold cavity to form the midsole with the lower portion of the upper and the strobel in the mold cavity, the stitch holes will not provide a path for entry of the flowable polymeric material into the foot-receiving cavity. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a strobel stitched to the upper at a series of stitches disposed in stitch holes that extend through the strobel. The strobel and the upper define a foot-receiving cavity with an inner surface of the strobel disposed at the foot-receiving cavity. A midsole is secured to the upper and an outer surface of the strobel is disposed at the midsole. The stitch holes are obstructed such that the stitch holes are not exposed to both the midsole and the foot-receiving cavity. Accordingly, when a flowable polymeric material is injected in a mold cavity to form the midsole with the lower portion of the upper and the strobel in the mold cavity, the stitch holes will not provide a path for entry of the flowable polymeric material into the foot-receiving cavity. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed.

A shoe or apparel, including a first material layer with a first plurality of protrusions, a flexible layer with a plurality of apertures, and a second material layer. The flexible layer is positioned between the first material layer and the second material layer. Each protrusion of the first plurality of protrusions of the first material layer extends through at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures of the flexible layer and is connected to the second material layer. The flexible layer is not connected to the first material layer and the second material layer, and thereby can freely move between the first material layer and the second material layer.

A shoe comprises an upper and a sole. The sole includes: a midsole covering a lower surface of the upper, the midsole having an external surface having a facing region facing the upper and a non-facing region excluding the facing region; and an additional sole material covering a portion of the non-facing region. The midsole is provided with a notch reaching both the facing region and the non-facing region. The additional sole material has a body portion stuck to the non-facing region, a bonding portion stuck to both the upper and the midsole to bond them together, and an embedded portion embedded in the notch of the midsole. The body portion and the bonding portion are connected together via the embedded portion and thus integrated together such that the body portion and the bonding portion are spaced from each other in a thickness-wise direction of the midsole.

A shoe comprises an upper and a sole. The sole includes: a midsole covering a lower surface of the upper, the midsole having an external surface having a facing region facing the upper and a non-facing region excluding the facing region; and an additional sole material covering a portion of the non-facing region. The midsole is provided with a notch reaching both the facing region and the non-facing region. The additional sole material has a body portion stuck to the non-facing region, a bonding portion stuck to both the upper and the midsole to bond them together, and an embedded portion embedded in the notch of the midsole. The body portion and the bonding portion are connected together via the embedded portion and thus integrated together such that the body portion and the bonding portion are spaced from each other in a thickness-wise direction of the midsole.

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.

A shoe comprises an upper and a sole. The sole includes: a midsole covering a lower surface of the upper, the midsole having an external surface having a facing region facing the upper and a non-facing region excluding the facing region; and an additional sole material covering a portion of the non-facing region. The midsole is provided with a notch reaching both the facing region and the non-facing region. The additional sole material has a body portion stuck to the non-facing region, a bonding portion stuck to both the upper and the midsole to bond them together, and an embedded portion embedded in the notch of the midsole. The body portion and the bonding portion are connected together via the embedded portion and thus integrated together such that the body portion and the bonding portion are spaced from each other in a thickness-wise direction of the midsole.