A last system and a method of making the last system are disclosed. The last system includes a last member and an exterior layer. The exterior layer becomes deformable when heated above a characteristic temperature. The method can include forming a braided footwear component on the last system. The exterior layer may be joined with the braided footwear component by heating the last system above the characteristic temperature.

The present invention provides a transfer molding mold for a vulcanized rubber boot, comprising: a combined tube mold, having an inner cavity corresponding to a tube of the rubber boot a last mold with partition elements, having a main body substantially corresponding to the tube of the rubber boot in shape, and two or more partition elements disposed on the main body, wherein the last mold is suitable for installation into the inner cavity of the tube mold to form a transfer molding cavity between the wall of the inner cavity of the tube mold and the outer surface of the last mold, and the transfer molding cavity is partitioned into two or more parts by the last mold and the tube mold; and a rubber injection guide plate suitable for installation to the top of the tube mold to guide injection of unvulcanized mixed rubber, comprising a plate body, wherein the plate body is provided with: a rubber injection port to be connected with an external injection head to inject the unvulcanized mixed rubber; and an annular rubber injection channel for introducing the externally injected unvulcanized mixed rubber into the transfer molding cavity in an annular distribution manner.

A method for manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear includes: forming a foam layer; forming a preliminary upper by laminating an outer layer, an inner layer, and the foam layer intermediate to the outer layer and the inner layer; and molding the preliminary upper to a shape having a contour to substantially fit at least a portion of a foot to provide at least a portion of an upper for an article of footwear.

A multi-layer decorating element includes a base and a plurality of plates forming decorative elements. The base has a length between the first and second ends thereof and an increased width from the first end to the second end. The first end of the base is curved. The second end of the base is divided by a gap into two segments. The gap has a closed end and an open end. The open end is disposed at the second end of the base. The closed end has a smaller width than the open end. The plurality of plates includes a side with a hot melt glue layer and is hot pressed on a side of the base. The plurality of plates is disposed within peripheral edges of the base and includes a plurality of overlapped sections. The plurality of plates has different shapes.

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.

The present disclosure encompasses three-dimensional articles comprising flexible-composite materials and methods of manufacturing said three-dimensional articles. More particularly, the present system relates to methods for manufacturing seamless three-dimensional-shaped articles usable for such finished products as airbags/inflatable structures, bags, shoes, and similar three-dimensional products. A preferred manufacturing process combines composite molding methods with specific precursor materials to form fiber-reinforced continuous shaped articles that are flexible and collapsible.

An article of footwear including a compression molded upper is disclosed. A composite structure including several layers is placed under heat and pressure to form a laminate. One layer of the composite is an optical effect layer possessing an aesthetic that differs from one or more of the other layers of the composite structure. A plurality of holes are cut through one or more of the layers of the laminate to expose the optical effect layer.

A method of manufacturing a portion of a boot shell for an ice skate that includes preparing a monolithic, two-dimensional pattern of the boot shell; positioning the monolithic, two-dimensional pattern into a three-dimensional preform of the boot shell; installing the three-dimensional preform in a mold; and consolidating the three-dimensional preform in the mold to produce the portion of the boot shell. An article of footwear for use in ice skating comprising a boot shell structured and arranged to accommodate a wearer's foot and having a medial forefoot portion, a lateral forefoot portion, a sole portion, a lateral ankle portion, a medial ankle portion, and a heel portion, the boot shell further comprising (i) a first thermoformable material having a softening point between 40? C. and 100? C., and (ii) a plurality of fibers, at least one of adjacent to or integrated within the first thermoformable material.

An upper may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element. Further, an article of footwear may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element.

Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.