A shoe includes: an upper member containing a knit fabric, a knit-like fabric, and/or a woven fabric as a primary member and forming a part of a medial side surface, a part of a lateral side surface, and a part of a back surface; an outsole member made of thermoplastic resin and forming a bottom portion including a contact surface, and a peripheral portion attached at least partially to respective lower parts of the medial and lateral side surfaces and a lower part of the back surface and connected to the bottom portion; and a sock liner inserted in interior space defined by the upper member and the outsole member. The upper member defines an opening at which at least a part of the lateral side surface is cut. The outsole member includes a window portion covering the opening. The window portion is made of a semi-transparent material that makes at least a part of a lateral side surface of the sock liner in the interior space visible through the window portion covering the opening.

An item of footwear for magnetotherapy comprises a lower sole in which there is defined a tread surface, an intermediate container which can be received in an opening which is defined in the lower sole, a magnetic field generator, a control unit, a battery, an inner sole which is or can be placed over the intermediate container and a vamp structure which is connected to the lower sole. The intermediate container is produced from material having greater rigidity with respect to the lower sole and comprises respective recesses which are intended to receive the magnetic field generator, the control unit and the battery, respectively.

An upper for a shoe and a shoe including an upper and a sole that is connected to the upper may be provided. In one implementation, an upper for a shoe may be provided, the shoe including the upper and a sole connected to a lower edge of the upper via injection molding. The upper may include a first knitted area having a first stitch density, wherein a portion of the first knitted area may be located at the lower edge of the upper and may include a first meltable material having a first melting temperature. The first meltable material may be melted prior to or during the connection of the sole to the upper and may limit the flow of molding material through a melted area of the upper.

A sports shoe includes an upper wherein a majority by weight of the upper is made from a thermoplastic base material and a sole wherein a majority by weight of the sole is made from the same thermoplastic base material. The sole and the upper are individually fabricated and joined to each other. The thermoplastic base material includes at least one of the following materials: thermoplastic polyurethane TPU, polyamide PA, polyethylene terephthalate PET, or polybutylene terephthalate PBT.

An algae-elastomer composite including an elastomer matrix; algae; and a mixing additive sufficient to achieve a desired property. The algae can be present in a milled condition having a particle size value of between about 10 and 120 microns. The algae is mixed with the elastomer matrix in a dry condition having a moisture content of below about 10%. A method of preparing the algae-based elastomer composite is provided that includes the steps of: premixing an elastomer matrix; adding an algae filler; adding a mixing additive that includes a plasticizer; forming an elastomer-algae blend by blending the algae and elastomer to a temperature sufficient to be further mixed, wherein the temperature is about 10° C. higher than the temperature sufficient for the elastomer alone; adding and mixing a curing or vulcanizing agent for the elastomer dispersing the elastomer-algae blend; and heating and curing the elastomer-algae blend into a final form.

Methods for preparing a footwear article are disclosed herein. An example method may comprise disposing resin adjacent a mold, disposing a lattice structure in at least a portion of the resin disposed adjacent the mold, closing the mold using a lasted upper, injecting foam into the closed mold such that the foam operates to couple the lasted upper and the lattice structure together.

Systems and processes for reinforcing components of articles of wear are disclosed. The processes can include applying a thermoplastic powder to a component of an article of wear and levelling at least a portion of the thermoplastic powder. The processes can also include applying thermal energy to the component and the thermoplastic powder. Further, the processes can include compressing the thermoplastic powder and the component.

A fiber bound engineered material is provided that imparts an intended characteristic at an intended relative location. A fiber layer is entangled with additional fibers in a manner to create a non-uniform engineered material. The lack of uniformity of a fiber bound engineered material may be accomplished through manipulation of the fibers and/or through fiber binding a scrim. The fiber layer binds with additional fibers through entanglement such that a mechanical connection between the entangled fibers is provided. This entanglement allows the fibers to bind without supplemental adhesives, interlacing, or connections. Variations in the fibers and/or inclusion of scrim materials prior to entanglement allows for an intended characteristic (e.g., a functional characteristic) at an intended relative location (e.g., a position determined by an article to be formed therefrom).

Articles of footwear and methods of making articles of footwear including one or more continuous threads wound around anchor points. The winding of the one or more continuous threads forms a thread pattern that imparts desired characteristics to components of the article of footwear. Thread lines of the thread pattern may be bonded together. In some embodiments, thread lines may be bonded with a bonding layer.

Articles of footwear and methods of making articles of footwear including one or more continuous threads wound around anchor points. The winding of the one or more continuous threads forms a thread pattern that imparts desired characteristics to components of the article of footwear. Thread lines of the thread pattern may be bonded together. In some embodiments, thread lines may be bonded with a bonding layer.