A method includes: (a.) providing a fabric comprising a first surface and a second surface; (b.) placing the fabric on a support structure adapted to permit gas circulation through at least a portion of a surface of the support structure, wherein the fabric is placed such that the first surface of the fabric faces the surface of the support structure and such that the fabric is arranged at least in part over a raised or embossed portion of the support structure; (c.) providing at least one coating comprising a first coating surface and a second coating surface opposite the first coating surface; (d.) placing the coating at least partially on the second surface of the fabric, such that the first coating surface faces the fabric; and (e.) applying a gas pressure differential between the second coating surface and the first surface of the fabric.

Methods for manufacturing uppers for articles footwear that include thermo-forming an upper composed of one or more low melting point thermoplastic polymers. The methods may include disposing a skin for forming an upper over and inflatable bladder. The skin may include at least one of a base layer composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer and a grid layer including a yarn composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer. The skin and inflatable bladder may be placed into a mold cavity and the mold may be heated to a predetermined temperature. The inflatable bladder may be inflated such that the skin is pressed against an interior surface of the heated mold cavity to cause the skin to take on the shape of the internal surface of the mold cavity, thereby forming an upper for an article of footwear.

Disclosed are a method for preparing a shoe shell and a twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold. The twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold comprises a machine table (1), a bottom mold (2) arranged on the machine table (1), an oil cylinder (3) arranged in the machine table (1) and connected to the bottom mold (2), and a mold main body (4) arranged above the bottom mold (2), wherein a mold cavity (21) is formed in an upper surface of the bottom mold (2). The twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold further comprises a mold inner core arranged in the mold main body (4), a mold inner edge (6) arranged below the mold inner core, an upper heating plate (7) arranged above the mold main body (4), a lower heating plate (8) arranged under the bottom mold (2), and a lifting mechanism (9) connected between the bottom mold (2) and the mold main body (4), wherein the mold inner edge (6) extends downwards from the interior of the mold main body (4) to a position below the mold main body (4) and is directly located above the bottom mold (2). A technology in the whole process is greatly simplified, thereby improving the working efficiency. Moreover, the shoe shell prepared by means of the twice-opening-mold shoe-making mold and obtained by using an integral forming technology is stronger and more durable compared with those obtained by means of a traditional shoe making technology.

A method of forming and shaping a waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper includes disposing a shoe upper and a waterproof and moisture permeable film on a shoe last, wherein at least one of the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film includes microwave treatable material, and heating the shoe last with the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film thereon by microwave, so that the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film are combined by the microwave treatable material and shaped to form the waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper after cooling.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a foam molded body, including: inputting a foam matrix material including a plurality of half-foamed granules of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) into a mold that is not affected by microwave; and heating the mold by microwave, wherein the half-foamed granules in the mold are affected by microwave such that the temperature thereof are raised to conduct foaming and are squeezed with each other, so as to form the foam molded body after cooling and demolding. The half-foamed granules include a plurality of first granules within a first grain size range, and a plurality of second granules within a second grain size range, and the median of the first grain size range is substantially larger than the median of the second grain size range. The first granules and the second granules are respectively disposed in different regions in the mold.

Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.

An upper for an article of footwear, the upper including a base layer defining a least a portion of the upper and polymer threads stitched to the base layer. The polymer threads may include a core composed of a first material and a coating composed of a second material, where the melting point of the first material is higher than the melting point of the second material. The polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer by the coating of the polymer threads. The polymer threads may include one or more polymer thread sets stitched in pattern(s) on area(s) of an outer surface of the base layer to provide targeted characteristics to area(s) on the upper. In some embodiments, the polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer with heat and/or pressure.

An upper for an article of footwear, the upper including a base layer defining a least a portion of the upper and polymer threads stitched to the base layer. The polymer threads may include a core composed of a first material and a coating composed of a second material, where the melting point of the first material is higher than the melting point of the second material. The polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer by the coating of the polymer threads. The polymer threads may include one or more polymer thread sets stitched in pattern(s) on area(s) of an outer surface of the base layer to provide targeted characteristics to area(s) on the upper. In some embodiments, the polymer threads may be bonded to the base layer with heat and/or pressure.

A die-casting forming mold for vulcanized rubber boots, comprising: a combined shaft mold provided with an inner cavity corresponding to a shaft of a rubber boot; a last mold 21 provided with partition elements, comprising a body substantially corresponding to the shaft of the rubber boot in shape, and two or more partition elements disposed on the body, the last mold 21 being adapted to be mounted in the inner cavity of the shaft mold to form a die-casting forming cavity between the wall of the inner cavity of the shaft mold and the outer surface of the last mold 21, and the die-casting forming cavity being divided into two or more portions by the last mold 21 and the shaft mold, wherein the last mold 21 further comprises: a longitudinally extending rubber injection channel extending longitudinally downward from the upper surface of the last mold 21, and a transversely extending rubber injection channel extending transversely from the longitudinally extending rubber injection channel to a rubber outlet in the surface of the last mold 21; and a rubber injection plate 5 adapted to be mounted to the top of the shaft mold to guide the injection of an unvulcanized mixed rubber material, the rubber injection plate 5 being provided with: a rubber injection hole 11 adapted to be connected to an external injection head to inject the unvulcanized mixed rubber material, and a rubber injection channel for communicating the rubber injection hole 11 with the longitudinally extending rubber injection channel.

A method of forming and shaping a waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper includes disposing a shoe upper and a waterproof and moisture permeable film on a shoe last, wherein at least one of the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film includes microwave treatable material, and heating the shoe last with the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film thereon by microwave, so that the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film are combined by the microwave treatable material and shaped to form the waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper after cooling.