A shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The sole has a lower sole member, a heel member, a shank member, a heel cushion, and a foot pad. The heel member extends downwardly from the lower sole member. The heel member includes a heel outer peripheral surface and an open top heel cavity. The lower sole member includes a top surface and a lower sole cavity extending downwardly from the top surface. The shank member has a shank midfoot portion and a shank heel portion. The shank midfoot portion is in the lower sole cavity and the shank heel portion is in the heel cavity. The heel cushion is in the heel cavity. The shank heel portion is sandwiched between the heel cushion and the heel member.

A shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The sole has a lower sole member, a heel member, a shank member, a heel cushion, and a foot pad. The heel member extends downwardly from the lower sole member. The heel member includes a heel outer peripheral surface and an open top heel cavity. The lower sole member includes a top surface and a lower sole cavity extending downwardly from the top surface. The shank member has a shank midfoot portion and a shank heel portion. The shank midfoot portion is in the lower sole cavity and the shank heel portion is in the heel cavity. The heel cushion is in the heel cavity. The shank heel portion is sandwiched between the heel cushion and the heel member.

An article of apparel or sporting equipment, such as garments and footwear incorporates a molded component formed of a UV radiation curable material. In the case of an article of footwear, the UV radiation curable material may be formed into an outsole. The method of manufacturing such articles include placing an ultraviolet radiation curable material in contact with a molding surface; conforming the UV radiation curable material to a shape of the molding surface, forming a molded component; and removing the molded component from the molding surface, such that the component maintains the shape of the molding surface. The molded component may be exposed to ultraviolet radiation in an amount and for a duration that is sufficient to partially cure or fully cure the UV radiation curable material.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a shoe by which an outsole, a midsole, and an upper part are integrally manufactured in first-through third-stage molds without liquid primer or adhesive processing.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a shoe by which an outsole, a midsole, and an upper part are integrally manufactured in first-through third-stage molds without liquid primer or adhesive processing.

A fluid-filled chamber is provided and includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer attached to the first barrier layer and cooperating with the first barrier layer to define an interior void, and a third layer attached to one of the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer including mineral mica that provides the one of the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer with an iridescent appearance caused by differential refraction of light waves.

A fluid-filled chamber is provided and includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer attached to the first barrier layer and cooperating with the first barrier layer to define an interior void, and a third layer attached to one of the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer including mineral mica that provides the one of the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer with an iridescent appearance caused by differential refraction of light waves.

The present disclosure describes molded footwear including a sole integrally connected to an upper. For example, a sole structure may include an insole and a strobel board. The insole may include a spacing structure that rests on a top surface of the strobel board to form a cavity between the insole and the strobel board. Further, the upper and/or strobel board may include perforations at least partially aligned with the cavity. Accordingly, the sole structure may be connected to the upper via injection molding material into the cavity formed between the insole, the strobel board, and the upper. The molding material may flow through the specifically located perforations in the shoe's upper and/or the shoe's strobel board such that the material bonds internally within the cavity, internally within the perforations, and externally to the shoe's upper and strobel board but within the mold cavity.

A system including an injector, a press, and a robotic conveyance is used to form a physically foamed article of footwear component from a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid. The parameters and features of the system are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner with enhanced throughput by the system.

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.