A method of manufacturing an insole may include providing an electronic element on a support layer; connecting a connector to the support layer; providing the support layer to a lower mold frame; covering the lower mold frame with an upper mold frame; and applying a foam material between the lower mold frame and the upper mold frame.

A mould for producing footwear by direct injection onto an upper of a sole, including a tread and a midsole, wherein the midsole is composed of a first layer and a second layer. The mould includes a base, a pair of first half-rings, a lid, a pair of second half-rings and a mould last. The first half-rings are designed to be arranged close together such that they abut against the base and against the lid, so as to form a first mould cavity for moulding the first layer (6) of the midsole. While the first half-rings are abutting against the base, the second half-rings are designed to be arranged close together, such that they lie over the half-rings and abut against the upper, fitted onto the mould last, so as to form a second mould cavity for moulding the second layer of the midsole. The first half-rings are provided with guiding means so that they can be moved away from and towards each other and rotate about an axis of rotation. Also a method for producing footwear by direct injection onto an upper, which may be performed by means of the mould.

Tooling and components of an injection-molding system may be used to mold a foam article. The tooling and components may include features that control parameters of the injection-molding and foaming process, such as temperature, pressure, shot size, shot placement, and the like.

Tooling and components of an injection-molding system may be used to mold a foam article. The tooling and components may include features that control parameters of the injection-molding and foaming process, such as temperature, pressure, shot size, shot placement, and the like.

A method for forming a molded article having an insert includes temporarily protecting features of the insert during a molding process using a malleable plugging material. In one step, the method includes disposing a plug including the plugging material within a receptacle of the insert, where each receptacle includes an engagement feature. The insert and the plugging material are placed into a mold, and a liquid molding material is applied to an exterior surface of the insert. The liquid molding material is solidified, forming the molded article including the insert embedded in the solidified molding material. The molded article is removed from the mold, and the plugging material is removed from the receptacle of the insert that is embedded in the molded article to expose the engagement feature.

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.

A variable pressure injection mold, an injected shoe material, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The variable pressure injection mold for plastic injection molding includes a mold body and a variable pressure air discharge layer. The mold body has a foam molding space. The variable pressure air discharge layer is arranged on the mold body and is correspondingly exposed to the foam molding space. A plurality of variable pressure pores are provided in the variable pressure air discharge layer and the variable pressure pores connect the foam molding space.

A molding device includes a mold cavity defined by an upper mold, a lower mold and a middle mold being moveably attached to the lower mold; a position control mechanism configured to move the middle mold; and a gas discharging mechanism disposed adjacent to the mold cavity and including a gas conduit and a slit jointly defined by the upper mold and the lower mold when the molding device is closed, the slit is in communication with the mold cavity and the gas conduit. A molding method includes injecting a material into a mold cavity to form an article in the mold cavity; discharging at least a portion of a gas out of the mold cavity through a slit of a gas discharging mechanism adjacent to the mold cavity after the article is formed; disengaging a upper mold from a lower mold; and detaching the article from a middle mold.

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.

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.