The present invention relates to an insole containing one or more cavities, wherein said one or more cavities contain a component capable of a physiochemical reaction, as well as articles of footwear containing the insole and methods of making the insole. The invention also relates to methods of heat transfer between an article of footwear and a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear, the method including priming the insole, wherein the priming initiates the physiochemical reaction.

Compositions may include a polymer composition prepared from an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a rubber, and a plasticizer. Compositions may further comprise other components, such as a curing agent and a blowing agent. Articles may include a polymer composition prepared from an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a rubber, and a plasticizer. Methods may include mixing an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a rubber, and a plasticizer; and extruding the mixture thereof.

An article of footwear includes an outsole that has a bottom portion and a medial arch portion extending upward from the bottom portion. The medial arch portion of the outsole has a base and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the base. The plurality of protrusions are arranged in vertical alignments. In each one of the vertical alignments, at least one protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is closer to the bottom portion and has a larger effective diameter than at least one other protrusion of the plurality of protrusions that is further from the bottom portion.

The resin composition to be cross-linked and foamed contains a thermoplastic resin, a cross-linking agent, and a foaming agent, and further contains a fatty acid and a fatty acid ester.

A sole board for an article of footwear includes a plate that has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The sole board includes a channel disposed in a top surface of the plate in the forefoot region. The channel extends from a lateral edge of the plate to a medial edge of the plate. A characteristic of the channel at the lateral and medial edges of the plate is different than the characteristic of the channel at a middle of the channel.

The present invention provides a granular material for a fused deposition three-dimensional printer that enables a flexible molded object to be manufactured with high precision. According to the present invention, provided is a granular material for a fused deposition three-dimensional printer. The granular material is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomer has a Shore A hardness of 0 to 10 and a melt flow rate of 10 to 200 g/10 min at least one of measurement temperatures of 120 to 230° C.

Articles comprising one or more additively-manufactured components are provided, as are method of additively manufacturing such components. The additively-manufactured components are designed to enhance performance and use of the article, such as, but not limited to: impact protection, including for managing different types of impacts; fit and comfort; adjustability; and/or other aspects of the article. The provided methods of additive manufacturing include methods involving expandable materials and the expansion of post-additively manufactured expandable components.

A copolymer may include ethylene and vinyl acetate, in which the ethylene is at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon. Embodiments may also be directed to curable polymer compositions, expandable polymer compositions, articles, cured articles, and expanded articles formed from or including such copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, in which the ethylene is at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon. A process for producing an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer may include polymerizing ethylene at least partially obtained from a renewable source of carbon with vinyl acetate to produce the ethylene vinyl actate copolymer.

The present disclosure is related to three-dimensionally printed articles for use in footwear and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a three-dimensionally printed article may comprise a closed-cell foam. The closed-cell foam may have a gradient in and/or may be a single integrated material. In some embodiments, a three-dimensionally printed article may comprise a sensor. The use of such arrangements can, according to certain embodiments, allow for the production of improved articles of footwear and/or customized articles of footwear.

Disclosed are shoes, soles, and insoles with foam extending through the insole board, and processes for manufacturing them. In one embodiment, the insole includes a board having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface; and a foam pad adhered to the upper surface of the board, the foam pad extending into the hole.