Described is a mold for generating a pattern of indentations in a surface of a thermoplastic textile, including at least one subunit adapted to create at least one subpattern of the pattern, wherein the at least one subunit is at least one of exchangeable or reconfigurable. A spatial arrangement of the at least one subunit is reconfigurable within the mold.

A footwear article forming process, and a device for the same are disclosed. The process includes: providing a forming mold set including an outer modular mold, an inner formation mold, and a footwear-forming space therebetween. The footwear-forming space comprises a footwear lower portion forming space and a footwear main portion forming space. Footwear article forming steps are as follows: injecting a pre-determined amount of a footwear main portion rubber material into a footwear main portion sprue channel, the footwear main portion rubber material being injected from a footwear main portion rubber injection opening into the footwear main portion forming space via a transfer injection channel; and placing a footwear lower portion rubber material into the footwear lower portion forming space.

A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface configured to engage a first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface configured to engage a second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. The driving cam member moves between a first position, in which the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface, and a second position, in which the first arm and the second arm are separated to enable removal of a molded element having an undercut mold surface contour.

Described are methods for manufacturing a sole, in particular, a sole for a sports shoe, comprising providing at least one first sole element and at least one second sole element; and injecting at least one second sole element through the at least one first sole element. Also described are methods for manufacturing a shoe, in particular a sport shoe, wherein the method comprising: providing a flexible sock element and at least one sole element; injecting the at least one sole element on the flexible sock element, such that the at least one sole element comprises a stiffening element below the arch of the foot.

An article of footwear includes a sole assembly with a midsole and an outsole. The midsole includes a fluid-filled bladder element including a first polymeric sheet that has a surface with an impression. The fluid-filled bladder element has a sealable internal cavity that retains fluid. A first portion of the bladder element with the impression is exposed to view through one of the midsole, the outsole, or an upper. A second portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by said one of the midsole, the outsole, or the upper.

Described are methods for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such a method, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, is provided which includes loading a mold with a first material which includes particles of an expanded material, and, during loading the mold, pre-heating the particles by supplying energy, wherein the energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a textile and applying heat and/or pressure to the textile using a texturing device to form a textured area of the textile. The textured area is spaced apart from a substantially smooth area of the textile. The method further includes forming at least part of an upper from the textile after applying the heat and/or pressure to the textile. The upper includes a cavity configured to receive a foot. The substantially smooth area is configured to define a reference boundary of the upper. The substantially smooth area and the textured area are each configured to be disposed at predetermined regions of the upper. Furthermore, forming the textured area includes forming a plurality of projection structures that project outward from the reference boundary at varying distances.

Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.

The present invention relates to a mould (10) for producing footwear (1) by direct injection onto an 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 (16), a lid (18), a pair of second half-rings (20) and a mould last (22). The first half-rings (16) are designed to be arranged close together such that they abut against the base (12) and against the lid (18), so as to form a first mould cavity for moulding the first layer (6) of the midsole (4). While the first half-rings (16) are abutting against the base (12), the second half-rings (20) are designed to be arranged close together, such that they lie over the half-rings (16) and abut against the upper (2), fitted onto the mould last (22), so as to form a second mould cavity for moulding the second layer (7) of the midsole (4). In accordance with the invention the first half-rings (16) are provided with guiding means (24) so that they can be moved away from and towards each other and rotate about an axis of rotation (C). The invention also relates to a method for producing footwear by direct injection onto an upper, which may be performed by means of the mould according to the invention.

A bonded mesh composite panel can be used to form a three-dimensional upper shell that includes extensions used for double-lasting and/or to otherwise provide a shelf to support foam padding. The foam padding may be, e.g., a foam midsole. The extensions of the upper shell may be located in a lower portion of the shell and may be bonded to the foam midsole in a heel, midfoot and/or forefoot regions.