A method for manufacturing waterproof and breathable shoes is provided. The method includes subjecting shoe sole materials to plastication and mixing, followed by cutting into pieces to be mold to form a shoe sole; stacking a knitted fabric as an outer layer, a polyurethane layer as a middle layer, and a knitted fabric as an inner layer sequentially into a mold for hot-pressing and shaping to form a shoe upper; and bonding the shoe upper to the shoe sole with an adhesive glue so as to form a shoe. The shoe is made flexible and light as the shoe upper is made up of two layers of knitted fabric bonded to a polyurethane layer. Moreover, the middle layer of the shoe upper includes a wavy structure, which is stretchable and helps improve waterproofness and breathability of the shoe upper.

An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. The tensile component is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The groove serves as a guide path for an operator or for a machine to follow when stitching or otherwise securing the strobel to the upper. A method of manufacturing footwear is included.

A sole for an article of footwear includes a continuous dispensed component forming a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is disposed directly on top of the second layer. The continuous dispensed component forms a medial sidewall and a lateral sidewall. The first layer includes a starting point where the continuous dispensed component is first dispensed. The continuous dispensed component continuously transitions from the first layer to the second layer at the starting point.

An article of footwear can include a midsole with a lower surface having a first recessed portion and an outsole coupled to the lower surface of the midsole, with the outsole having an upper surface with a second recessed portion. A first bladder element and a second bladder element can be provided in a stacked arrangement between the midsole and outsole, with an upper portion of the first bladder element that contacts the lower surface of the midsole and extends at least partially into the first recessed portion and a lower portion of the second bladder element that contacts the upper surface of the outsole and extends at least partially into the second recessed portion.

A thermoforming system for forming a cushioning pod structure that includes a first and a second thermoforming station with each comprised of a film holder and a thermoforming mold holder. The system implements a thermal source that is moveable between the first thermoforming station and the second thermoforming station such that the film holders are between the thermal source and the respective thermoforming mold holder. The system also relies on intentional application of a vacuum source fluidly coupled to thermoforming stations and a movement mechanism configured to move the thermal source between the first thermoforming station and the second thermoforming station. Additional aspects contemplate the implementation of a positive pressure source to aid in the dislodgment of the formed portion, a cooling system to adjust mold temperatures, and/or a fan to efficiently thermoform the component.

The invention relates to an insole for a footwear including a non-moldable base layer (310) having an arch supporting portion (312) adapted to support an arch of a foot; and a moldable layer (330) overlaying the non-moldable base layer (310), such that the moldable layer (330) is adapted to be molded to conform to the arch of the foot. The invention also relates to a footwear comprising the insole.

A method includes positioning a first polymer sheet on a substantially first flat surface of a tool, positioning a second polymer sheet on the first polymer sheet, and moving a second substantially flat surface of the tool into contact with the second polymer sheet. The method also includes maintaining a gap between the first polymer sheet and the second polymer sheet at a predetermined area and heating one of the two substantially flat surfaces of the tool to heat one of the first polymer sheet and the second polymer sheet. The method further includes joining the first polymer sheet and the second polymer sheet together at locations outside of the predetermined area to define a peripheral bond of the chamber.

A footwear sole structure having a fluid-filled chamber including a tensile member is provided. The fluid-filled chamber includes a first barrier sheet, a second barrier sheet and the tensile member. The first barrier sheet is formed from a first thermoplastic material. The second barrier sheet is attached to the first barrier sheet and is formed from a second thermoplastic material. The first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet cooperate to define an internal cavity. The tensile member is disposed within the internal cavity and is formed from a third thermoplastic material. A first weld attaches the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together by melding the first thermoplastic material of the first barrier sheet, the second thermoplastic material of second barrier sheet, and the third thermoplastic material of the tensile member.

The manufacturing processes for making lightweight composite soles include a supercritical foaming step that adds a water dispersant and TPU particles sequentially into an autoclave, introduces carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas into the autoclave, and blends the mixture in the autoclave to produce TPU foamed particles; a mixing step that mixes the TPU foamed particles with a PU glue, and a portion of the PU glue covers the TPU foamed particles, the surfaces of the TPU foamed particles do not touch one another; a clamping step that spreads a TPU film in a cavity of a shoe mold, fills a foaming shoe material into the cavity; a baking step that places the clamped shoe mold into an oven; and a finished-product step that removes the shoe mold from the oven to get a composite sole covered with PU and having the TPU foamed particles and combined with the TPU film.

An EVA sole having an upper face and a bottom, comprising an inscribed channel and a plurality of recesses positioned on the upper face, a TPU material disposed of within the inscribed channel, and a nylon stabilizer, which is bonded to the upper face inside of the inscribed channel.