The invention relates to a mould (1) for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a body (2); a lid (4) configured to close said body (2); and incorporated closing and opening means (5) configured to keep the body (2) and the lid (4) joined during the movement thereof. A machine (M1) for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a receiving module (M2) configured to receive the mould (1); a conditioning module (M3) configured to receive the mould (1) from the receiving module (M2) and act on the incorporated closing and opening means (5) in order to separate the lid (4) from the body (2); and a handling module (M4) configured to receive the body (2) from the conditioning module (M3) and enable the placement of the components of the item to be manufactured. A method for manufacturing three-dimensional items and manufacturing plant associated with said machine (M1).

A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area.

A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear. The method includes providing a midsole element formed of a first polymeric material. The method also includes depositing an outsole material including an uncured second polymeric material upon an exterior surface of the midsole element and molding the midsole element and the outsole material to impart an outsole profile to the outsole material and curing the outsole material on the exterior surface of the midsole element.

A foot alignment tool is configured for aligning a foot bearing a load. The tool extends between a handle at one end and a support lever at an opposing end and is characterized in that the support lever is configured to be received under or substantially under the medial longitudinal arch or the cuboid of the foot and configured to be rotated so as translate and/or rotate the foot from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot or from the outside of the foot to the inside of the foot by a predetermined amount about a foot heel-toe axis wherein the support lever is configured to apply a predetermined torque.

Cleat structures, e.g., for golf shoes, may include a flat and flexible interior surface and/or a generally disk-shaped perimeter area that includes features to promote in-molding of the cleat to a footwear sole component (e.g., to permanently engage the cleat with an outsole member). Such cleats may provide a flexible and comfortable base, including a low profile, e.g., to enable formation relatively thin and/or flexible footwear sole components. Footwear sole components and articles of footwear that include one or more in-molded cleat structures of this type also are described. Molds used for in-molding procedures and methods of using the molds to make articles with in-molded components (e.g., for making footwear sole structures including one or more in-molded cleats) also are described.

A method for inflating a chamber in an article composed at least partially of polymer layers, such as thermoplastic layers. The method can allow for forming an aperture in a polymer layer, inflating a chamber or volume in fluid communication with the aperture, and then welding or sealing the chamber so that the inflation fluid is substantially retained in the chamber and/or does not escape via the aperture. In various aspects, the formation of the aperture, inflation of the chamber, and sealing of the chamber or aperture can be performed by a single tool and/or based on a single registration of the thermoplastic article with a tool. In some aspects, formation of the aperture is enabled in part by using a punch with a cupped surface that allows the top layer of a thermoplastic article to be breached without forming a hole in at least one lower layer.

A hot-molding method using a plastic elastomer to fabricate a vamp comprises steps: fabricating a hot-molding mold according to a pattern design of a vamp; fabricating blanks of different thicknesses, shapes, sizes, colors and materials; placing the blanks in the hot-molding mold; placing the hot-molding mold in a hot-molding machine to undertake a hot-molding process; and taking the hot-molding mold out of the hot-molding machine and then taking out the vamp from the mold after cooling. The method enables a single vamp to simultaneously use blanks of different thicknesses, shapes, colors and materials and diversifies vamp designs. The method fixes blanks securely in the mold and joins blanks of different colors to an identical vamp in a single process. The blanks are hard to peel off the vamp after molding. The method features a short fabrication cycle, high efficiency and high yield.

While taking notice how a dancer's pointe shoe keeps them from dancing on hardwood, as it is dangerous, I decided to create a rubber cap for the shoe. It is removable in order to keep the dancer from having to spend the money on a new pair of shoes and instead being able to put the cap over their current pair of shoes. The process of making this involves many molds and the final product is a silicone rubber cap the fits each unique shoe.

The problem I am trying to solve in this process is the finding of an easier way to gain safety while dancing on pointe on hard wood flooring. Many dancers travel to more places rather than just a stage, but also places like hotels, which don't have the correct flooring and instead have hardwood. It is not safe for dancers to dance on pointe on hardwood flooring. Dancers dance on Marley flooring because it creates enough friction so that it is not dangerous to dance on pointe. A dancer has two types of shoes: pointe shoes and flat shoes. It is safe to dance in flat shoes on hardwood. A ballet dancer's two options when having to dance on hardwood is to dance in flat shoes, or rubberize their pointe shoes so that it is safe to dance in them. When a dancer rubberizes their pointe shoes they cannot take off the rubber when they are done dancing. This means they must buy a new pair of pointe shoes. This costs a lot of money. This problem can be solved if the rubber was removable.

In order to do this project I used many molds and the final product was made out of silicone rubber. First I made a mold of the outside of the shoe with silicone putty. Then I made a plaster mold of the shoe by pouring the plaster inside of the silicone putty mold. This caught all the tiny details the shoes had. Then I poured silicone rubber over the plaster mold. When this dried I could cut it into the shape I wanted to get the final product.

This would make the rubberizing pointe shoes process easier because they can be removed or placed back on when needed. It takes away the struggle of having to buy a new pair of pointe shoes and then having two pairs. It still reaches the goals of its job, which is to keep the shoe from being slippery on hardwood. Overall this product is a lot more convenient. In the end this project was successful in being removable and keeping dancers from falling when they dance on pointe on hard wood flooring.

While taking notice how a dancer's pointe shoe keeps them from dancing on hardwood, as it is dangerous, I decided to create a rubber cap for the shoe. It is removable in order to keep the dancer from having to spend the money on a new pair of shoes and instead being able to put the cap over their current pair of shoes. The process of making this involves many molds and the final product is a silicone rubber cap the fits each unique shoe.

The problem I am trying to solve in this process is the finding of an easier way to gain safety while dancing on pointe on hard wood flooring. Many dancers travel to more places rather than just a stage, but also places like hotels, which don't have the correct flooring and instead have hardwood. It is not safe for dancers to dance on pointe on hardwood flooring. Dancers dance on Marley flooring because it creates enough friction so that it is not dangerous to dance on pointe. A dancer has two types of shoes: pointe shoes and flat shoes. It is safe to dance in flat shoes on hardwood. A ballet dancer's two options when having to dance on hardwood is to dance in flat shoes, or rubberize their pointe shoes so that it is safe to dance in them. When a dancer rubberizes their pointe shoes they cannot take off the rubber when they are done dancing. This means they must buy a new pair of pointe shoes. This costs a lot of money. This problem can be solved if the rubber was removable.

In order to do this project I used many molds and the final product was made out of silicone rubber. First I made a mold of the outside of the shoe with silicone putty. Then I made a plaster mold of the shoe by pouring the plaster inside of the silicone putty mold. This caught all the tiny details the shoes had. Then I poured silicone rubber over the plaster mold. When this dried I could cut it into the shape I wanted to get the final product.

This would make the rubberizing pointe shoes process easier because they can be removed or placed back on when needed. It takes away the struggle of having to buy a new pair of pointe shoes and then having two pairs. It still reaches the goals of its job, which is to keep the shoe from being slippery on hardwood. Overall this product is a lot more convenient. In the end this project was successful in being removable and keeping dancers from falling when they dance on pointe on hard wood flooring.