A heat-press system for use in the production of footwear or apparel can include at least a hollow first roll comprising an external surface and an internal surface. The internal surface can define a core. The core can include a first heating element.

A sole structure includes a compressible elastomer and a knitting texture wrapped around the compressible elastomer and fused with a surface of the compressible elastomer. The compressible elastomer is formed from the thermoplastic filling material after being melted and cooled. The knitting texture is formed from the knitted fabric and is capable of being directly observed from an appearance of the sole structure.

A method for manufacturing a midsole of an article of footwear includes generating a positive model of a midsole. The positive model includes a region of empty volume that defines an aperture or channel. The method further includes creating a negative model based on the positive model, and printing, layer by layer, a negative mold to form a physical representation of the negative model. The negative mold includes a region of solid volume that corresponds with the region of empty volume in the positive model. The method further includes supplying a midsole material to the negative mold to form the midsole. The midsole includes a midsole aperture or channel formed therein by the region of solid volume in the negative mold.

Embodiments are directed to manufacturing footwear. A first outer mold shell and a second outer mold shell may be provided. A first inner mold body and a second inner mold body may be manufactured. The first and second inner mold bodies may have respective first and second inner mold surfaces. The second inner mold surface, together with the first inner mold surface, may define an internal mold volume. The first and second inner mold bodies may be removably coupled to the respective first and second outer mold shells to form first and second hybrid side rings. The first hybrid side ring and the second hybrid side ring may be installed in an automated injection molding machine. The installed first hybrid side ring may be moved toward the installed second hybrid side ring to provide the internal mold volume. One or more liquids may be injected into the internal mold volume.

Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole structure having a fluid-filled element in the heel region. The fluid-filled element includes: (a) an upper surface, (b) a lower surface, and (c) an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper surface and lower surface. The fluid-filled element also includes a pair of spaced apart, substantially U-shaped voids that extend through a central region of the fluid-filled element. A first void of the pair of voids is located closer to a forward end of the fluid-filled element than a second void of the pair. Both the first void and the second void have an open portion of its U-shape oriented toward the forward end of the fluid-filled element.

Embodiments are directed to manufacturing footwear. A first outer mold shell and a second outer mold shell may be provided. A first inner mold body and a second inner mold body may be manufactured. The first and second inner mold bodies may have respective first and second inner mold surfaces. The second inner mold surface, together with the first inner mold surface, may define an internal mold volume. The first and second inner mold bodies may be removably coupled to the respective first and second outer mold shells to form first and second hybrid side rings. The first hybrid side ring and the second hybrid side ring may be installed in an automated injection molding machine. The installed first hybrid side ring may be moved toward the installed second hybrid side ring to provide the internal mold volume. One or more liquids may be injected into the internal mold volume.

Physical foaming a footwear component with a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid is provided. The method include temperature conditioning a mold and then engaging the mold with a robot that conveys the mold to a press. At the press a gas counter pressure is applied to a cavity of the mold before injecting a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid into the cavity of the mold. The process continues with releasing the gas counter pressure from the cavity of the mold and then removing the footwear component from the cavity of the mold. The parameters of the method are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner.

The invention relates to a method for producing a sole (1) of a shoe. According to the invention, to produce a sole with cavities in a process-stable manner, the method comprises the following steps: a) producing a first sole part (2) in a first mould or mould part (3) by injecting the sole material into a mould cavity (4) of the first mould (3), wherein a number of volume elements (5) protrude into the mould cavity (4) and create cavities (6) in the first sole part (2); b) producing a second sole part (7) in a second mould (8) by injecting the sole material into a mould cavity (9) of the second mould (8), wherein a number of volume elements (10) protrude into the mould cavity (9) and create cavities (6) in the second sole part (7); c) after the first and second sole parts (2, 7) have solidified: removing the first and second sole parts (2, 7) from the first and second mould (3, 8) and placing the first and second sole parts (2, 7) into a third mould (11); d) pouring a joining material (14) over at least one section (12, 13) of the first and second sole parts (2, 7), the sections (12, 13) of the first and second sole part (2, 7) over which the material is poured adjoining each other, in order to join the first and second sole parts (2, 7) to each other.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment including a foam are provided. The foam portion of the components and articles include a composition which includes a thermoplastic copolyester, the composition having a foam structure. A polymer layer is provided on at least on surface of the foam portion. The polymer layer can control or reduce the water uptake of the foam portion. Methods of making the compositions, foams, and components are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding, or injection molding followed by compression molding.

A manufacturing method of an injection molded composite shoe sole and the sole thereof are provided. The method includes facial modifying, cleaning a combination face of an additional component formed of a material different from the sole material, and coating a facial process layer on the combination face, and drying to modify the combination face; gumming, placing a gum layer on the facial process layer on the modified combination face; in-mold positioning, placing additional component into a mold; and injection molding, injecting the sole material into the mold, thereby gumming the sole material and the gum layer of the combination face to form a composite shoe sole. Therefore, the manufacturing method effectively reduces the sole manufacturing time.