An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.

A midsole for an article of footwear including a three dimensional mesh including interconnected unit cells and methods of making the same. The interconnected unit cells each include a plurality of struts defining a three dimensional shape. The interconnected unit cells are connected at nodes having a valence number defined by the number of struts connected at that node. The valence number of the nodes may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The plurality of interconnected unit cells may be organized in a warped cubic lattice structure. The warped cubic lattice structure and the size/shape of interconnected unit cells may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The three dimensional mesh may be customized based on a biometric data profile for an individual, or group of individuals. The midsole may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process.

A method for optimizing individually tailored garments includes measuring at least one body part and generating a first data set for manufacturing the garment, including measured data, manufacturing the first garment based on the data, the garment including a passive indicator element via which properties and/or changes of the garment due to wear is determined, and use of the first garment. The method includes examining the first garment regarding changes due to wear for producing a second similar garment, thereby generating a second data set containing measured data of the first garment, comparing the second and first data sets, and checking the passive indicator element with regard to information relevant to producing the second garment. Then, a third data set based on the first and second data sets, and the result from the passive indicator element check is generated, and the second garment is manufactured based on the third data set.

An ink composition for use as a support ink in three dimensional (3D) printing processes comprises a dispersion of solid particles in liquid carder, compatible with an inkjet print head, wherein after removing the liquid carder, the solid particles serve as support material for a Three Dimensional (3D) printed object, wherein the support material is separable from the 3D printed object.

Systems and methods for monitoring the quality of a surface treatment applied to an article in a manufacturing process are provided. A surface treatment may be applied to at least a portion of an article. A thermal profile of the article may be obtained and used to determine temperature indications of different regions of the article to which the surface treatment has been applied. A standard model of the article may be obtained that includes model regions having model temperature ranges. The temperature indications of the article can be compared with the model temperature ranges to determine if any temperature indications are outside of a corresponding model temperature range. The article may be a shoe part. The surface treatments may include the application of heat, plasma, dye, paint, primer, and/or the application of other materials, substances, and/or processes.

A last is provided for shaping a shoe upper, such as a custom-made last tailored to a user's foot. Embodiments include a last for shaping a shoe upper including at least an outer peripheral portion comprising an aggregate of a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks being joinable together to form a portion of the last and shape the shoe upper, and separable from each other after being joined together. The plurality of blocks includes a first plurality of blocks which are identical to each other. Embodiments also include a method for producing a last for shaping a shoe upper, the method including forming the last by joining a plurality of blocks together to form an aggregate, the plurality of blocks including a first plurality of blocks which are identical to each other.

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.

In a markerless foot size estimation device 100, a shape data input unit 10 acquires three-dimensional shape data of a foot of a subject and stores the three-dimensional shape data in a shape data storage unit 20. A characteristic extraction unit 30 extracts foot shape characteristics from the three-dimensional shape data of a subject's foot stored in the shape data storage unit 20, and stores the foot shape characteristics in a shape characteristic storage unit 40. A machine learning unit 50 uses, as teacher data, foot shape characteristics and arch height stored in the shape characteristic storage unit 40 to create, through machine learning, an estimation model used to estimate arch height based on foot shape characteristics, and stores the estimation model in an estimation model storage unit 60. An estimation output unit 70 uses the estimation model stored in the estimation model storage unit 60 to estimate arch height based on extracted shape characteristics and outputs the arch height.

An article of footwear has a tubular structure. The tubular structure may include tab portions that extend away from a tunnel portion of the tubular structure. The tab portions may engage parts of the article of footwear. The tab portions may engage an upper or sole structure along a bite line. The tab portions may be attached to a heel counter, eyestay, or other structure on the article of footwear.

This disclosure concerns a master model for the production of a mold, comprising: (a) a first part, a second part comprising a textured surface; wherein the first part and the second part are connected.