An upper for a shoe and a shoe including an upper and a sole that is connected to the upper may be provided. In one implementation, an upper for a shoe may be provided, the shoe including the upper and a sole connected to a lower edge of the upper via injection molding. The upper may include a first knitted area having a first stitch density, wherein a portion of the first knitted area may be located at the lower edge of the upper and may include a first meltable material having a first melting temperature. The first meltable material may be melted prior to or during the connection of the sole to the upper and may limit the flow of molding material through a melted area of the upper.

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 foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

Methods for preparing a footwear article are disclosed herein. An example method may comprise disposing resin adjacent a mold, disposing a lattice structure in at least a portion of the resin disposed adjacent the mold, closing the mold using a lasted upper, injecting foam into the closed mold such that the foam operates to couple the lasted upper and the lattice structure together.

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 last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes an exterior surface, where the exterior surface includes a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

An article of footwear comprising an upper (2) provided with an inner sole (3) and the upper (2) and inner sole (3) delimiting a cavity (4) for receiving a foot. A first sole (5) covering at least parts of the inner sole (3), said first sole (5) being made in one continuous piece and comprising through-going sole holes (8). The inner sole (3) comprises a mesh directly attached to the upper (2) and comprises a first inner sole surface turning towards the cavity (4) defining the bottom of the cavity. The through-going sole holes (8) are covered at least partly by the mesh and provide a fluid communication between the cavity (4) and the outside of the second sole surface, thereby allowing liquid such as water to run through the sole holes (8) between the cavity (4) and the outside of the footwear.

An upper for a shoe, where said shoe comprises said upper and a sole connected to the lower edge of the upper via injection molding, the upper including knitted areas with a low stitch density providing ventilation through the upper, where the lower edge is knitted with a high stitch density, thereby limiting the flow of molding material through the edge of the knitted upper.