A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface configured to engage a first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface configured to engage a second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. The driving cam member moves between a first position, in which the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface, and a second position, in which the first arm and the second arm are separated to enable removal of a molded element having an undercut mold surface contour.

Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.

The present invention relates to a mould (10) for producing footwear (1) by direct injection onto an upper (2) of a sole (3), comprising a tread (5) and a midsole (4), wherein the midsole (4) is composed of a first layer (6) and a second layer (7). The mould (10) comprises a base (12), a pair of first half-rings (16), a lid (18), a pair of second half-rings (20) and a mould last (22). The first half-rings (16) are designed to be arranged close together such that they abut against the base (12) and against the lid (18), so as to form a first mould cavity for moulding the first layer (6) of the midsole (4). While the first half-rings (16) are abutting against the base (12), the second half-rings (20) are designed to be arranged close together, such that they lie over the half-rings (16) and abut against the upper (2), fitted onto the mould last (22), so as to form a second mould cavity for moulding the second layer (7) of the midsole (4). In accordance with the invention the first half-rings (16) are provided with guiding means (24) so that they can be moved away from and towards each other and rotate about an axis of rotation (C). The invention also relates to a method for producing footwear by direct injection onto an upper, which may be performed by means of the mould according to the invention.

Disclosed are a method for preparing a shoe shell and a twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold. The twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold comprises a machine table (1), a bottom mold (2) arranged on the machine table (1), an oil cylinder (3) arranged in the machine table (1) and connected to the bottom mold (2), and a mold main body (4) arranged above the bottom mold (2), wherein a mold cavity (21) is formed in an upper surface of the bottom mold (2). The twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold further comprises a mold inner core arranged in the mold main body (4), a mold inner edge (6) arranged below the mold inner core, an upper heating plate (7) arranged above the mold main body (4), a lower heating plate (8) arranged under the bottom mold (2), and a lifting mechanism (9) connected between the bottom mold (2) and the mold main body (4), wherein the mold inner edge (6) extends downwards from the interior of the mold main body (4) to a position below the mold main body (4) and is directly located above the bottom mold (2). A technology in the whole process is greatly simplified, thereby improving the working efficiency. Moreover, the shoe shell prepared by means of the twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold and obtained by using an integral forming technology is stronger and more durable compared with those obtained by means of a traditional shoe making technology.

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.

A sandal construction configured to provide high performance in athletic, sporting and other activities not typically associated with sandals. The sandal includes a sole with an integrated sole plate and an upper with a heel cradle configured to assist in maintaining close contact between the sole and the heel of the wearer's foot during use. The heel cradle may be molded with a three-dimensional shape that is anatomically correct and is inwardly angled to extend into and assist in holding the heel down against the upper surface of the sole. The sole may include a dual-density midsole with a softer upper layer and firmer lower layer. The sole plate may be embedded in the lower layer. The sole plate may include a heel cup defining a central opening. The upper surface of the midsole may include a heel recess aligned with the heel cup and the central opening.

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.

Methods and systems are provided for forming an article of footwear. In one example, forming the article of footwear includes using a perforated last during molding of a midsole of the article of footwear. The midsole may be attached to a seam of the upper of the article footwear to secure the midsole to the upper.

A method of manufacturing a shoe structure includes: a setting step of setting an upper on a shoe last, and distributing a foam matrix material comprising a plurality of semi-foamed granules of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) along a bottom of the shoe last to position the foam matrix material between the shoe last and the upper, and a foaming step of heating the shoe last with the upper and the foam matrix material thereon by microwave, so that the semi-foamed granules are foamed to form an insole bonded to the upper, and the upper is shaped along a contour of the shoe last after cooling and removing the shoe last.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a foam molded body, including: a setting step of inputting a foam matrix material into a mold that is not affected by microwaves, wherein the foam matrix material includes a plurality of half-foamed granules of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and at least an embedded component, and the embedded component is of a material or its product that is not affected by microwaves; and a foaming step of heating the mold by microwaves, wherein the half-foamed granules in the mold are affected by microwaves such that the temperature thereof are raised to effect foaming and the granules are squeezed with each other, and the embedded component is therefore squeezed and fixed, so as to form a foam molded body embedded with an embedded component after cooling and demolding.