A method for manufacturing three-dimensional items with flexible walls is provided, by method of a mold and counter-mold between which a volume corresponding to that of the item to be obtained is delimited. The item is made up of laminar parts which are mounted on a template that is fixed to the inner surface of the mold. The laminar parts are joined to one another by means of a material which is injected in molten state through a network of conduits delimited between the counter-mold, template and the facing edges of adjacent laminar parts. The template is made of an elastically deformable material and has a three-dimensional configuration.

A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

A method for producing a shoe, in particular a sports shoe. In order to provide an optimally fitting shoe in a simple manner, the method comprises the following steps according to the invention: a) Measuring at least one individual characteristic of the foot of a person and/or one walking characteristic of the person by means of a measuring device; b) Determining the progression of a material characteristic and/or mechanical characteristic of at least one sole or one sole part of the shoe along at least one direction of extend of the sole or of the sole part in accordance with the values measured according to step a) using a specified algorithm or a specified rule; c) Producing the sole or a sole part of the shoe, wherein the material characteristics and/or mechanical characteristics are varied along the at least one direction of extend of the sole or of the sole part such that the material characteristic and/or mechanical characteristics at least approximately correspond to the progression determined according to step b); d) Connecting the sole produced according to step c) or the sole part to an upper in order to complete the shoe.

An article of footwear including a compression molded upper is disclosed. A composite structure including several layers is placed under heat and pressure to form a laminate. One layer of the composite is an optical effect layer possessing an aesthetic that differs from one or more of the other layers of the composite structure. A plurality of holes are cut through one or more of the layers of the laminate to expose the optical effect layer.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes positioning an upper on a last that defines openings connected by one or more channels in the last, injecting a material through the one or more channels in the last, and forming a structure on the upper with the material.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes positioning an upper on a last that defines openings connected by one or more channels in the last, injecting a material through the one or more channels in the last, and forming a structure on the upper with the material.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes positioning an upper on a last that defines openings connected by one or more channels in the last, injecting a material through the one or more channels in the last, and forming a structure on the upper with the material.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes positioning an upper on a last that defines openings connected by one or more channels in the last, injecting a material through the one or more channels in the last, and forming a structure on the upper with the material.

A sole structure with an integrated cleat member includes a plate member with a protruding portion that forms a first portion of the cleat member. A second portion of the cleat member is attached to the first portion and may be made of a less rigid material than the first portion. A supporting structure can be disposed inside the protruding portion. A method of forming the sole structure can include reshaping a portion of a plate member to form a protruding portion, molding a cleat tip portion onto the protruding portion and molding a supporting structure into a concave inner portion of the protruding portion.