A manufacturing process involving a series of discrete operations can be modified by adding, removing, or reordering operations, without design changes to the equipment. The manufacturing process uses a frame comprising one or more alignment tabs. Each alignment tab comprises an alignment element. The alignment element interacts with a corresponding alignment element at a manufacturing station to identify to the manufacturing station the position and orientation of the frame. The frame supports a material in a known position and orientation relative to the frame, allowing the manufacturing station to infer the position and orientation of the pliable material on the frame from the interaction of the alignment elements on the frame and the manufacturing station. The operations at any particular manufacturing station can therefore be positioned independent of what operations, if any, have come before, or in what order.

A manufacturing process involving a series of discrete operations can be modified by adding, removing, or reordering operations, without design changes to the equipment. The manufacturing process uses a frame comprising one or more alignment tabs. Each alignment tab comprises an alignment element. The alignment element interacts with a corresponding alignment element at a manufacturing station to identify to the manufacturing station the position and orientation of the frame. The frame supports a material in a known position and orientation relative to the frame, allowing the manufacturing station to infer the position and orientation of the pliable material on the frame from the interaction of the alignment elements on the frame and the manufacturing station. The operations at any particular manufacturing station can therefore be positioned independent of what operations, if any, have come before, or in what order.

A shoe may comprise an upper and a comfort sole attached to an outsole, the comfort sole having a radius of curvature at any point of a line from a heel to a toe and interfacing with outsole, wherein the lowest point of comfort sole and outsole, 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 defines a transition zone 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; and a rigid shell interposed between the upper and the comfort sole.

A shoe may comprise an upper and a comfort sole attached to an outsole, the comfort sole having a radius of curvature at any point of a line from a heel to a toe and interfacing with outsole, wherein the lowest point of comfort sole and outsole, 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 defines a transition zone 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; and a rigid shell interposed between the upper and the comfort sole.

An article of cleated footwear includes an outsole plate and an upper. The outsole plate includes a rigid first member and a second rigid member. The first rigid member extends substantially along the length of the outsole, and the rigid second member is attached to the first member. The first member and/or the second member has a ground-engaging profile. The upper is attached to the first member.

An article of cleated footwear includes an outsole plate and an upper. The outsole plate includes a rigid first member and a second rigid member. The first rigid member extends substantially along the length of the outsole, and the rigid second member is attached to the first member. The first member and/or the second member has a ground-engaging profile. The upper is attached to the first member.

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.

A shoe sole assembly having a hindfoot section and a forefoot section including an inner sole having a shock absorbing material, a load-bearing outer sole configured to receive the inner sole, and a heel piece including a recess configured to receive at least part of the hindfoot section of the load-bearing outer sole. The recess is upwardly open and open towards the forefoot section. A shoe includes an upper and the shoe sole assembly. A method of manufacturing a shoe includes the steps of forming the load-bearing outer sole based on a lower side of a last, fastening part of the hindfoot section of the load-bearing outer sole to the heel piece, which has a recess which is upwardly open and open towards the forefoot section, and fastening the upper to the upper surface of the load-bearing outer sole.

A shoe sole assembly having a hindfoot section and a forefoot section including an inner sole having a shock absorbing material, a load-bearing outer sole configured to receive the inner sole, and a heel piece including a recess configured to receive at least part of the hindfoot section of the load-bearing outer sole. The recess is upwardly open and open towards the forefoot section. A shoe includes an upper and the shoe sole assembly. A method of manufacturing a shoe includes the steps of forming the load-bearing outer sole based on a lower side of a last, fastening part of the hindfoot section of the load-bearing outer sole to the heel piece, which has a recess which is upwardly open and open towards the forefoot section, and fastening the upper to the upper surface of the load-bearing outer sole.