A method of manufacturing an article that includes providing an element formed of an elastomeric material or composite; placing the surface of the element in contact with a substrate; and affixing the element to the substrate. The element includes an uncured, partially cured, or fully cured UV radiation curable elastomeric material and optionally one or more regions of an adhesive material. The element is affixed to the substrate while the surface of the element is in contact with a surface of the substrate by increasing a temperature of at least a portion of the element, applying pressure to at least a portion of the element, or exposing the uncured or partially cured UV radiation curable material to UV radiation in an amount and for a duration of time that is sufficient to partially cure the uncured material or to fully cure the partially cured material.

A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

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.

An article of apparel, sporting equipment, or footwear incorporates a 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 includes shaping one or more pieces of an ultraviolet (UV) radiation curable material; placing the shaped UV radiation curable material in direct contact with a surface of a textile; using heat or pressure or both to adhere the shaped UV radiation curable material to the surface of the textile, and curing at least a portion of the shaped UV radiation curable material adhered to the surface of the textile by exposing the shaped UV radiation curable material to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thereby forming an article comprising UV radiation cured material bonded to the surface of the textile.

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.

A method for manufacturing waterproof and breathable shoes includes manufacturing of a shoe sole, manufacturing of a shoe upper, and bonding of the shoe upper and the sole. The specific steps are as follows: S1: manufacturing of a shoe sole: subjecting shoe sole materials to plastication and mixing using an open mill, cutting into pieces according to set requirements, and compression molding to obtain the shoe sole; S2 manufacturing of a shoe upper: stacking a knitted fabric as an outer layer (1), a polyurethane (PUR) layer, and a knitted fabric as an inner layer (3) sequentially into a molding die in a nested fashion, and hot-pressing and shaping; and S3: bonding of the shoe upper and sole: bonding the shoe upper and sole for the waterproof and breathable shoes with an adhesive glue according to a size.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is a process for manufacturing a shoe comprising an outsole joined to the sole part of a first main liner comprising on its outer face at least two studs, and a first auxiliary liner, at least partially, in particular integrally, hot-melt, in a textile piece, covering at least part of the first main liner, the outsole, and the junction between the first main liner and the outsole, at least part or all of the first hot-melt auxiliary liner being melted and adhered to the first main liner and to the outsole.

A process for thermo-adhesive bonding of semi-finished products includes preparing an inner sock, an outer sock and an impermeable membrane provided with a thermo-adhesive disposed on an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the membrane; fitting the inner sock onto a rigid reference shape; fitting the membrane over the inner sock; fitting the outer sock over the membrane; heating the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock arranged on the rigid reference shape in an oven until at least partial melting of the thermo-adhesive; cooling the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock arranged on the rigid reference shape until cross-linking of the thermo-adhesive and stable bonding of the membrane to the outer sock and/or the inner sock. Also, exerting a substantially uniform pressure on the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock disposed on the rigid reference shape during cooling, so as to compact them.

A method of forming a shoe upper includes obtaining a mold defining a shoe component, spraying a polymer formulation onto the mold to form a sprayed polymer formulation layer, curing the sprayed polymer formulation layer to form a polymer film, removing the film from the mold, and incorporating the film into the shoe upper.

The present invention relates to an upper for a shoe, including an inner layer; an outer layer overlapping the inner layer at least partially; wherein the outer layer includes a plurality of cuts; wherein the inner layer includes a plurality of protrusions; wherein each cut at least partially overlaps at least one protrusion; wherein each protrusion causes an extension in width of its corresponding cut when the shoe is worn.