A method for automated manufacturing of shoe soles comprises the steps of: loading a transfer device with at least one outsole element and at least one supporting element, positioning the loaded transfer device adjacent a first part and a second part of a sole mold, transferring the at least one outsole element from the transfer device to the first part and transferring the at least one supporting element from the transfer device to the second part of the sole mold, filling the sole mold with a plurality of individual particles, and applying a medium to bond and/or fuse the particles with each other and with the at least one outsole element.

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.

A strobel for an article of footwear includes a base layer and an upper layer formed of a polymer material covering a portion of the top surface of the base layer, leaving a portion of the top surface of the base layer exposed about an entire periphery of the base layer. The upper layer is directly bonded to the base layer without any fastening members. A method of forming the strobel is also disclosed.

Tooling and components of an injection-molding system may be used to mold a foam article. The tooling and components may include features that control parameters of the injection-molding and foaming process, such as temperature, pressure, shot size, shot placement, and the like.

Tooling and components of an injection-molding system may be used to mold a foam article. The tooling and components may include features that control parameters of the injection-molding and foaming process, such as temperature, pressure, shot size, shot placement, and the like.

Mold including a first shell having a cavity, a second shell having a projection, and an intermediate shell having a projection suitable for being coupled in the cavity of the first shell and a cavity suitable for being coupled with the projection of the second shell. The second shell includes a first injection channel extending from an inlet hole in a side wall of the second shell to an outlet hole in the projection of the second shell. The intermediate shell has a second injection channel extending from an inlet hole in a side wall of the intermediate shell to an outlet hole in the projection of the intermediate shell.

A method of manufacturing a shoe structure includes: a setting step of setting an upper on a shoe last, and distributing a foam matrix material comprising a plurality of semi-foamed granules of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) along a bottom of the shoe last to position the foam matrix material between the shoe last and the upper, and a foaming step of heating the shoe last with the upper and the foam matrix material thereon by microwave, so that the semi-foamed granules are foamed to form an insole bonded to the upper, and the upper is shaped along a contour of the shoe last after cooling and removing the shoe last.

Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.

The present application discloses a method for fabricating a composite structure for use as a resilient cushion, including: (a) placing a sheet of first resilient material on a surface; (b) cutting the sheet of first resilient material by pressing a cutter on to the first resilient material to produce a cut sheet of first resilient material displaying a cutting pattern of discrete first resilient elements of defined widths and lengths, wherein at least one of the first resilient elements touches adjacent resilient elements along its side; and (c) mounting a first expanse of material on at least one of the first resilient elements of the cut sheet of first resilient material to form a first composite structure.

An article of footwear may include an upper forming a void within the footwear, a sole structure secured to the upper, and a chamber that encloses a pressurized fluid. The sole structure includes a depression. The chamber is located within the void of the upper and located on the depression of the sole structure. The chamber may include a plurality of fluid-filled subchambers, a manifold, and a connection fluidically-connected at least one of the subchambers to the manifold. The subchambers may enclose the pressurized fluid at different pressures. The subchambers may be separated from one another by a bonded area in the direction extending between the heel and toe of the chamber.