A system is provided for selectively applying a coating to portions of an article having at least one area that is not be coated. The system comprises a jig, with a platform for supporting article. The jig also has a bar that is moveable with respect to the platform and at least one masking element that is coupled to the bar and is configured to cover the at least one surface of the article that is not to be coated. The jig also has a first connection mechanism that defines a first mating element. The system also comprises at least one carrier that comprises a base and at least one second connection mechanism that defines a second mating element. The second mating element is mateable with the first mating element such that the jig is releasably coupled to the carrier upon mating the first and second mating elements.

An apparatus and method are provided for applying a surface treatment such as impregnation agent or water repellency agent to shoes, boots, bags, gloves or the like, where the apparatus includes a closed treatment chamber provided with an openable access to the treatment chamber from outside the treatment chamber, and where the bottom of the treatment chamber a turntable is provided, having a flat surface in an x-y plane, and an axis Z, and where one or more nozzles are arranged for spraying a mist towards the turntable where the nozzles is/are connected to a control unit, and where a plurality of markers are provided on the periphery of the turntable, and that inside the treatment chamber a scanner used, such that the nozzles are activated to issue a mist of treatment according to a preprogrammed sequence and/or count of markers registered by the scanner.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.

A device for coating footwear including a frame and a coating compartment engaged to the frame, wherein the coating compartment includes a cavity therein. A hingedly connected access door is engaged to the coating compartment for providing access to the cavity and closing off the cavity. A reservoir contains a coating agent and a supply line is engaged to the reservoir and facilitates the flow of coating agent from the reservoir to at least one nozzle disposed within the cavity of the coating compartment for expelling the coating agent within the cavity of the coating compartment. A turntable is positioned within the cavity of the coating compartment for placement of the footwear that is rotatable.

There is provided an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article. The apparatus includes: a magnetic pattern mold having nonmagnetic pattern grooves engraved in a predetermined pattern and providing predetermined magnetic field lines on a pattern-forming object surface of an article by generating magnetism in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves; and a spray unit spraying an adhesive resin composite containing a ferromagnetic pigment onto the pattern-forming object surface of the article. A predetermined magnetic pigment pattern is formed while the magnetic pigment of the adhesive resin composite that is applied to the pattern-forming object surface of the article is rearranged along magnetic field lines generated by the magnetic pattern mold.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating the articles are provided. One exemplary method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable material and carbon dioxide in a vessel, the foamable material; maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material; optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure; and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating the articles are provided. One exemplary method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable material and carbon dioxide in a vessel, the foamable material; maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material; optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure; and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

Automated painting of a shoe sole portion of a shoe is enhanced by use of a jig. The shoe sole portion may be secured between top and bottom plates of the jig such that a side surface of the shoe sole portion is left exposed. Additionally, the jig is adapted to create configurable masking lines along the side surface of the shoe sole portion using multi-layer deforming layers.

Automated painting of a shoe sole portion of a shoe is enhanced by use of a jig. The shoe sole portion may be secured between top and bottom plates of the jig such that a side surface of the shoe sole portion is left exposed. Additionally, the jig is adapted to create configurable masking lines along the side surface of the shoe sole portion using multi-layer deforming layers.