This invention relates to moisture curable polyurethane adhesive compositions and more particularly to moisture curable polyurethane adhesive compositions having improved initial tack and moisture permeability when cured. In one embodiment the disclosed moisture curable polyurethane adhesive compositions are suited for use as hot melt adhesives for use in manufacturing textile, clothing and/or footwear articles.

Articles and insulating systems include a wicking layer, an incompressible insulation layer, and a water scavenging system comprising a superhydrophobic layer in operative communication with one or more water collecting components.

The present invention relates to a fiber-containing structure comprising an interwoven and welded base material and a welded elastomer layer, and at least one part of the base material and the welded elastomer layer are welded to each other. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the fiber-containing structure and a shoe structure containing the fiber-containing structure.

This document discloses a process for manufacturing recyclable injection molded microcellular foams for use in, footwear components, seating components, protective gear components, and watersport accessories. The process includes the steps of providing a thermoplastic polymer which comprises at least one monomer derived from depolymerized post-consumer plastic, inserting a fluid into a barrel of a molding apparatus. The fluid is introduced under temperature and pressure conditions to produce a super critical fluid. The process further includes mixing the thermoplastic polymer and super critical fluid so as to create a single phase solution, and injecting the single phase solution into a mold of an injection molding machine under gas counter pressure. The process further includes foaming the single phase solution by controlling the head and temperature conditions within the mold.

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.

The pressing of an article is achieved with a closed-loop feedback press. The closed-loop feedback press is effective to measure an amount of pressure applied and adjust the pressure to achieve a prescribed amount of compression on the article. Further, the press may leverage a closed-loop feedback system to maintain a consistent temperature of one or more platens. The press is able to adjust a pressure applied one or more times during a pressing operation to accelerate a temperature change in the pressed article while reducing the pressure applied as the temperature approaches a target temperature to limit unintentional deformation and bleeding of the pressed material of the article.

An anisotropic composite material assembly comprising a first layer with a tensile modulus different from its compressive modulus and that exhibits variable modulus behavior. The first layer elastically buckle under compressions. A second layer has a tensile modulus substantially the same as its compressive modulus. The first and second layers are joined together, and the assembly is bendable in a first direction with an outer surface of the first layer being in compression and the assembly has a first bending stiffness during bending in the first direction. The assembly is bendable in a second direction opposite the first direction with the outer surface of the first layer being in tension, and the assembly has a second bending stiffness greater than the first bending stiffness during bending in the second direction.

The present disclosure is directed to articles such as bladders comprising mechano-luminescent materials which emit light when the mechano-luminescent materials are placed under stress. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including these bladders, methods of forming these bladders, and methods of making articles including these bladders.

Upper components for footwear include: (a) a first upper component that includes a first layer having a first material as a first filament including first plural, non-intersecting, spaced apart path segments (wherein the first filament has a width dimension of less than 3 mm wide (and in some examples, less than 2 mm wide, less than 1.5 mm wide, less than 1 mm wide, or even less than 0.75 mm wide)); and (b) a second upper component including a fabric element formed at least in part of a fusible material, wherein the fusible material of the second upper component is fused to the first material of the first upper component (e.g., in an adhesive-free manner). Additional layers of material, including additional layers including filament and/or fabric elements, e.g., of the types described above, may be included in the upper.

An impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, comprises a fabric layer, and (i) at least five non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments upon an outer surface of the fabric layer, wherein at least two of the non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments has a depth of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, and wherein at least five of the plurality of non-interconnected segments have dimensions smaller than 1.75 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm; or (ii) at least one non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segment, wherein the at least one segment has a depth of at least 3 mm at its deepest part, and wherein the at least one segment is a hollow segment comprising one or more regions defined by an outer polyurethane perimeter, surrounding a region of fabric that is not covered by polyurethane.