Footwear uppers and articles of footwear including such uppers include: (a) a first lateral lace-engaging component; (b) a first medial lace-engaging component; and (c) a bladder. The bladder includes: (i) a tongue and/or instep chamber having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, (ii) a first heel and/or ankle support chamber, and (iii) a first fluid line placing the first heel and/or ankle support chamber in fluid communication with the tongue and/or instep chamber. A lace engages the first lateral lace-engaging component and the first medial lace-engaging component such that a first portion of the lace extends across the first surface. The lace may apply a force to the tongue and/or instep chamber, and this force may move fluid from the tongue and/or instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber to provide additional support for the heel and/or ankle.

Described are methods of two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally forming an article of wear using vacuum forming in an automated process. In the two-dimensional method, the article of wear comprises a generally flat shape with three-dimensional features molded into the first material layer.

A bladder for an article of footwear includes a first chamber having a first segment extending along a first side of the bladder and a second segment formed on an opposite side of the bladder from the first segment. The bladder further includes a second chamber at least partially surrounded by the first chamber and disposed between the first segment and the second segment. A manifold is in direct fluid communication with each of the first segment of the first chamber, the second segment of the first chamber, and the second chamber. A web area connects each of the first chamber, the second chamber, and the manifold. The bladder may include a first series of ports formed in the first segment of the first chamber and a second series of ports formed in the second segment of the first chamber.

The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable bladders for use in articles of manufacture. The method includes the steps of providing a first polymer film, applying a curable release coating to the polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of the inflatable bladder, curing the release coating to the first polymer film, providing a second polymer film with the first polymer film to form a layered element such that the release coating is disposed between the polymer films, positioning the layered element between two plies of material, applying heat and pressure to adhere the polymer films together except in the area where the release coating has been applied to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter, and removing the plies of material from the adhered first and second polymer films.

An article of footwear may include an upper with an outer layer, an inner layer, and a chamber element positioned at least partially between the outer layer and the upper layer. The chamber element may be formed of two layers of a transparent colored polymer material and may be sealed to enclose a fluid. The chamber element may also have a plurality of subchambers. The outer layer may have a plurality of apertures. Each subchamber may protrude at least partially through a corresponding one of the apertures.

A selectively actuated textile includes one or more pieces of fabric having one or more circumferentially constrained channels and one or more hollow elastic tubes located within the circumferentially constrained channels and configured to receive a working fluid. Selectively providing or removing working fluid from the hollow elastic tubes provides for selective actuation of the textile.

A portable inflatable foldable shoe, including an inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag and solid bearing blocks, where the inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag is of a hollow cavity structure and includes a sole and a vamp; more than two solid bearing blocks are arranged, the sole is divided into a middle supporting cavity and a supporting folding cavity by the solid bearing blocks, the region connected with the two regions of a front sole region and a heel region is the middle supporting cavity, the region connected with the adjacent bearing blocks is the supporting folding cavity, each solid bearing block has upper, lower, left and right surfaces, and is tightly adhered to the corresponding inner wall of the shoe-shaped cavity of the sole, and each solid bearing block is provided with more than one air passage that run through the entire block.

A massaging shoe and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The massaging shoe comprises a shoe body formed by a shoe sole (10) and a shoe vamp (20) connected together, and further comprises a sock sleeve (50) detachably arranged in the shoe body, the sock sleeve (50) is provided with at least one massaging air bag (30), the shoe sole includes a shoe sole body (11) having a containing cavity and a shoe board (12) covering on the containing cavity, and the containing cavity is provided therein with an air pump (41) communicating with the massaging air bag (30) and electronic components (40) controlling the air pump (41). In the present invention, the massaging air bag (30) is arranged in the sock sleeve (50), the sock sleeve (50) is arranged in the shoe body, and the massaging air bag (30) is communicated with the air pump (41) to form a massaging shoe. Since the sock sleeve (50) is detachable, it is convenient to detach and clean the sock sleeve (50) after use; if the massaging air bag (30) is damaged, the massaging air bag (30) and the sock sleeve (50) can be replaced directly, and the shoe body does not need to be disassembled, such that it is convenient to repair; moreover, this massaging shoe is simple in manufacture, has a high machining efficiency, and has low cost.

Described are methods of two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally forming an article of wear using vacuum forming in an automated process. In the two-dimensional method, the article of wear comprises a generally flat shape with three-dimensional features molded into the first material layer.

A ski boot adjustment system includes an adjustment mechanism which tightens and loosens a portion of a ski boot, a triggering device that selectively actuates the adjustment mechanism, and a controller that monitors pressure in the portion of the ski boot during operation of the adjustment mechanism. A user can use the triggering device and adjustment mechanism to customize the fit of the ski boot in different regions thereof. The adjustment mechanism can include air bladders, automated motorized straps, or other tightening features. The triggering device can be a manually operated trigger on the ski boot or a remote computing device in wireless communication with the controller, such as a smartphone operable by the user, a transmitter within a ski mat onto which the user steps, or another form of transmitting device.