Systems and methods for providing heat to a three-dimensional article are disclosed. The method can include inserting at least a portion of the article over a form. The method can further include inserting the form and article at least partially within an article container and moving the form and article into engagement with a flexible membrane where the membrane and the article container form an airtight chamber. The method can further include exposing the airtight chamber to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to pull the membrane against at least a portion of the article and exposing the membrane to a heated deformable media.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a polymeric bladder element enclosing a fluid-filled interior cavity, a first outsole component secured to a bottom surface and to a side surface of the polymeric bladder element, and a second outsole component. The first outsole component includes a first base, and a wall integral with the first base. The second outsole component includes a second base secured to the first base, and a wall integral with the second base and secured to the outer surface of the wall of the first outsole component. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes thermoforming the bladder element and the first outsole component, and securing the second outsole component to the first outsole component.

The present invention relates to a mold for molding a component, in particular a piece of sports apparel, a method for manufacturing the component using such a mold and a shoe with such a component. In one embodiment, a mold for molding a component, in particular a piece of sports apparel, comprises (a.) a mixture of a polymer material and a filler material, (b.) wherein the filler material is adapted to allow a heating of the component inside the mold by means of an electromagnetic field.

Provided is a method for producing a shoe member that includes a plurality of portions including a first portion and a second portion, each of which is constituted by one or more of members, the method including: a step of preparing a collective body including a first member that constitutes the first portion and a second member that constitutes the second portion and formed of a material different from that of the first member; and a step of irradiating electromagnetic wave toward the collective body, wherein the electromagnetic wave irradiation step including partly shielding the electromagnetic wave irradiated toward the second member by a shielding member capable of shielding electromagnetic wave, thereby reducing the electromagnetic wave irradiated onto the second member. Also provided is a molding die having a molding space corresponding to a shoe member and capable of being used for producing the shoe member by performing the method.

The present invention relates to a mould (10) for producing footwear (1) by means of direct injection onto the 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 (14), a pair of second half-rings (16), a first cover (18), a second cover (20) and a mould last (22). In accordance with the invention the mould (10) comprises gripping means (24) designed to fix selectively the first half-rings (14) to the base (12) or to the second half-rings (16). The present invention also relates to a method for producing footwear (1) using said mould (10).

A footwear injection mould for Direct Injection moulding of footwear parts, where the mould comprises: a first mould cavity defining a first footwear part, a second mould cavity defining a second footwear part, a first side frame defining at least a part of a first side of the first and second mould cavities, a second side frame defining at least a part of a second side of the first and second mould cavities, and a bottom frame defining at least a part of the first and second mould cavities, where the first and/or the second side frame define(s) at least a part of a first injection channel which is in fluid communication with the first mould cavity and the second mould cavity.

Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.

A bladder includes a first polymeric film, a second polymeric film attached to the first polymeric film to form a chamber, and one or more grooves formed in an exterior surface of the chamber. In one configuration, the grooves are formed in the exterior surface of the chamber by subjecting the chamber to a laser-etching process.

A system for manufacturing equipment for a direct injection production of footwear. The equipment includes molds for direct injection production of footwear. The system includes a design facility that provides a footwear design. A mold manufacturing facility located manufactures a mold corresponding to the footwear design. The mold is for direct injection molding of a sole part of the footwear. At least one footwear manufacturing facility manufactures footwear according to the footwear design, utilizing a last corresponding to the footwear design and the mold corresponding to the footwear design. Last descriptive data relating to said last corresponding to said footwear design is provided. The last descriptive data is communicated to the footwear manufacturing facility for manufacturing the last at the footwear manufacturing location or the last is manufactured at a last manufacturing facility, based on last descriptive data, and transported to the footwear manufacturing facility.

A molding system for direct injection manufacturing of footwear. The molding system includes a mold cavity for receiving injection material for molding a sole part of the footwear. The system further includes a plurality of basic direct injection molds, each of which is attachable to injection molding equipment, and a plurality of sets of direct injection mold inserts, each set of direct injection mold inserts being configured to define at least part of an inner surface of the mold cavity when inserted in one of the plurality of basic direct injection molds. At least two of the plurality of basic direct injection molds differ from each other in size, corresponding to different ranges of sole part sizes.