A boot that includes a rubber sole, and an upper portion attached to the rubber sole. The upper portion is made from rubber. The rubber sole includes a layer of aerogel material for an interior section of the boot. The layer of aerogel material covers the interior portion of the rubber sole along with a front part of the boot such that the layer of aerogel material contacts a sole of a foot of a wearer while also surrounding the toes of the wearer. In certain embodiments, the layer of aerogel material has a thickness ranging from 0.1 millimeters to 20 millimeters.

A footwear item that includes a rubber sole, and an upper portion attached to the rubber sole. The upper portion is made from rubber. The rubber sole includes a layer of aerogel thermal retention material for an interior section of the footwear item. The layer of aerogel thermal retention material covers the interior portion of the rubber sole along with a front part of the footwear item such that the layer of aerogel thermal retention material contacts a sole of a foot of a wearer while also surrounding the toes of the wearer. In certain embodiments, the layer of aerogel thermal retention material has a thickness ranging from 0.1 millimeters to 20 millimeters.

A modular article of footwear comprises a sole structure having a foot-facing surface, a ground-engaging surface, and a peripheral side surface extending between the foot-facing surface and the ground-engaging surface. The peripheral side surface has at least one recess. The modular article of footwear includes an upper component, and a flange secured to the upper component and projecting therefrom. An inner surface of the flange fits against and is securable to the peripheral side surface of the sole structure with the flange in the at least one recess, and the upper component at least partially defining a foot-receiving cavity over the foot-facing surface. A method of manufacturing a customized article of footwear comprises receiving a request for an upper with a specified characteristic, and assembling the modular article of footwear having an upper in accordance with the request.

A modular article of footwear comprises a sole structure having a foot-facing surface, a ground-engaging surface, and a peripheral side surface extending between the foot-facing surface and the ground-engaging surface. The peripheral side surface has at least one recess. The modular article of footwear includes an upper component, and a flange secured to the upper component and projecting therefrom. An inner surface of the flange fits against and is securable to the peripheral side surface of the sole structure with the flange in the at least one recess, and the upper component at least partially defining a foot-receiving cavity over the foot-facing surface. A method of manufacturing a customized article of footwear comprises receiving a request for an upper with a specified characteristic, and assembling the modular article of footwear having an upper in accordance with the request.

The invention provides a method for assisting a joining of a vamp and a sole by vacuum positioning. Initially, the method is that placing a shoe last in a vamp to be joined, coating a liquid medium to a side of the vamp to be joined with a sole or a side of the sole to be joined with the vamp, and combining the vamp with the sole. Afterward, placing the vamp and the sole in a bag, performing a vacuum operation on the bag to press the vamp and the sole, performing a microwave heating operation on the bag to heat the liquid medium to make the vamp join with the sole, and finally taking out the joined vamp and sole from the bag to obtain a finished product.

A method providing for making and using a soft-shelled foot covering, by placing a foot within a covering such as a sock, placing the foot with the foot covering within an outline pattern, and manipulating various straps of the outline pattern, such as an inside heel strap, an outside heel strap, an inside ball-of-the-foot strap, an outside ball-of-the-foot strap, a center toes strap, an inside big toe strap, and an outside little toe strap around the foot and other straps, thereby keeping the straps in place and securing the pattern to the foot.

A method providing for making and using a soft-shelled foot covering, by placing a foot within a covering such as a sock, placing the foot with the foot covering within an outline pattern, and manipulating various straps of the outline pattern, such as an inside heel strap, an outside heel strap, an inside ball-of-the-foot strap, an outside ball-of-the-foot strap, a center toes strap, an inside big toe strap, and an outside little toe strap around the foot and other straps, thereby keeping the straps in place and securing the pattern to the foot.

A pre-tensioned article and method of making an article of footwear involving pre-tensioning a sole structure during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a plurality of apertures that provide an auxetic effect. In further embodiments, the upper may also be pre-tensioned in a similar manner as the sole structure.

A pre-tensioned article and method of making an article of footwear involving pre-tensioning a sole structure during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a plurality of apertures that provide an auxetic effect. In further embodiments, the upper may also be pre-tensioned in a similar manner as the sole structure.

A cushioning article includes a bladder enclosing an interior cavity and retaining a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and includes tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers. The tensile layers are connected to an inner surface of the bladder such that the tethers span across the interior cavity. The bladder has an inwardly-protruding bond that joins an inner surface of the bladder to the tensile component, protrudes inward into the interior cavity, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers such that the bladder is narrowed at the inwardly protruding bond and the gas in the interior cavity fluidly communicates across the inwardly-protruding bond. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.