A coloring system includes an assembly for retaining articles to be colored and an actuator for moving the assembly. The assembly can be translated horizontally, raised and lowered and rotated by the actuator. The coloring system may include a fluid control system that allows gas to be removed from a container of the assembly while the container is immersed in a liquid coloring agent.

A coloring system includes an assembly for retaining articles to be colored and an actuator for moving the assembly. The assembly can be translated horizontally, raised and lowered and rotated by the actuator. The coloring system may include a fluid control system that allows gas to be removed from a container of the assembly while the container is immersed in a liquid coloring agent.

Systems and methods of manufacturing a shoe outsole are provided wherein at least a portion of the resulting shoe outsole includes embedded particles. An example method includes applying adhesive to at least one region of the shoe outsole, depositing selected particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a first coat of particles, and at least partially curing the adhesive. The method continues by applying additional adhesive over the first coat of particles, depositing additional particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a second coat of particles, and at least partially curing the subsequent application of adhesive.

Systems and methods of manufacturing a shoe outsole are provided wherein at least a portion of the resulting shoe outsole includes embedded particles. An example method includes applying adhesive to at least one region of the shoe outsole, depositing selected particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a first coat of particles, and at least partially curing the adhesive. The method continues by applying additional adhesive over the first coat of particles, depositing additional particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a second coat of particles, and at least partially curing the subsequent application of adhesive.

The present invention concerns a method for coating outer, internal and inner surfaces of an item of footwear with a water- and/or oil-repellent coating by a low-pressure plasma polymerization coating process, by degassing the item of footwear prior to said coating process.

The present invention concerns a method for coating outer, internal and inner surfaces of an item of footwear with a water- and/or oil-repellent coating by a low-pressure plasma polymerization coating process, by degassing the item of footwear prior to said coating process.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material for articles of footwear. In one aspect, a method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable material and carbon dioxide in a vessel, 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 for articles of footwear. In one aspect, a method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable material and carbon dioxide in a vessel, 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.

Systems and methods of manufacturing a shoe outsole are provided wherein at least a portion of the resulting shoe outsole includes embedded particles. An example method includes applying adhesive to at least one region of the shoe outsole, depositing selected particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a first coat of particles, and at least partially curing the adhesive. The method continues by applying additional adhesive over the first coat of particles, depositing additional particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a second coat of particles, and at least partially curing the subsequent application of adhesive.

Systems and methods of manufacturing a shoe outsole are provided wherein at least a portion of the resulting shoe outsole includes embedded particles. An example method includes applying adhesive to at least one region of the shoe outsole, depositing selected particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a first coat of particles, and at least partially curing the adhesive. The method continues by applying additional adhesive over the first coat of particles, depositing additional particles onto the adhesive to provide the shoe outsole with a second coat of particles, and at least partially curing the subsequent application of adhesive.