Provided are a shoe component pretreatment solution and a pretreatment method using the solution, wherein the shoe component pretreatment solution comprises an acidic compound, a salt compound, an surfactant and water. The present invention involves applying the shoe component pretreatment solution to a rubber sole, thereby shortening the process of the pretreatment step, and avoids the use of any MEK organic solvents and also avoids the generation of suspended particulates caused by grinding, thus eliminating harm to the human body and the environment, and reducing the costs in terms of time and money.

Sole structures including a plate including a first polyolefin resin, and an edge portion comprising a second resin are disclosed herein. The edge portion is more flexible or less rigid than the plate. Articles of footwear formed from the sole structures are also provided. Methods of making the polyolefin resin compositions, plates, edge portions, sole structures, and articles of footwear are also provided. In some aspects, the first polyolefin resin composition includes an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier.

A method for manufacturing a light-weight waterproof shoe/boot includes steps of cutting waterproof leather, arranging and stacking vamp section, forming through hot pressing, sewing heel section, hot-pressing heel section, combining midsole, and injecting sole to accompany fabrication of a waterproof shoe/boot, in which fabrication of a vamp section and a shaft section is accomplished through hot pressing the waterproof leather that is coated with a hot-melt adhesive; a sewing line of a heel section is covered by a heel water-resistant plate that is attached thereto through hot pressing to provide an effect of waterproofness; and a sewing line between a midsole and the vamp section is covered by an upper rim of a sole to achieve an effect of waterproofness. The vamp section and the shaft section are made with the waterproof leather that is light and thin so that the weight of the waterproof shoe/boot is greatly reduced.

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 method for manufacturing a light-weight waterproof shoe/boot includes steps of cutting waterproof leather, arranging and stacking vamp section, forming through hot pressing, sewing heel section, hot-pressing heel section, combining midsole, and injecting sole to accompany fabrication of a waterproof shoe/boot, in which fabrication of a vamp section and a shaft section is accomplished through hot pressing the waterproof leather that is coated with a hot-melt adhesive; a sewing line of a heel section is covered by a heel water-resistant plate that is attached thereto through hot pressing to provide an effect of waterproofness; and a sewing line between a midsole and the vamp section is covered by an upper rim of a sole to achieve an effect of waterproofness. The vamp section and the shaft section are made with the waterproof leather that is light and thin so that the weight of the waterproof shoe/boot is greatly reduced.

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.

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.

Systems and methods for automatically producing a cord structure are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises automatically forming, with at least one robotic arm, a first plurality of loops in a first plane, and automatically forming, with the at least one robotic arm, a second plurality of loops in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, the second plurality of loops slippably engaged with the first plurality of loops. In this way, cord structures may be quickly constructed, thereby reducing labor input and expense.

Systems and methods for automatically producing a cord structure are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises automatically forming, with at least one robotic arm, a first plurality of loops in a first plane, and automatically forming, with the at least one robotic arm, a second plurality of loops in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, the second plurality of loops slippably engaged with the first plurality of loops. In this way, cord structures may be quickly constructed, thereby reducing labor input and expense.