A bladder includes a first polymeric film, a second polymeric film attached to the first polymeric film to form a chamber, and one or more grooves formed in an exterior surface of the chamber. In one configuration, the grooves are formed in the exterior surface of the chamber by subjecting the chamber to a laser-etching process.

A mould for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a body; a lid configured to close the body; and incorporated closing and openings configured to keep the body and the lid joined during the movement thereof is disclosed. A machine for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a receiving module configured to receive the mould; a conditioning module configured to receive the mould from the receiving module and act on the incorporated closing and openings in order to separate the lid from the body; and a handling module configured to receive the body from the conditioning module and enable the placement of the components of the item to be manufactured. A method for manufacturing three-dimensional items and manufacturing plant associated with the machine.

A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

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 skate boot shell including a tridimensional outer sub-shell made of a first material, the outer sub-shell including a first sole portion connected to first heel, ankle and side portions; a tridimensional inner sub-shell received within and connected to the outer sub-shell, an outer surface of the inner sub-shell being complementary to an inner surface of the outer sub-shell, the inner sub-shell being made of a second material different from the first material; and a tridimensional reinforcement sub-shell made of a third material different from the first and second materials and bonded inside at least one of the inner and outer sub-shells.

Described are soles for a shoe having a region with a plurality of pellets, each pellet having a hollow core structure. The plurality of pellets are formed of a composite material comprising a base layer and an outer layer. The base layer is formed of a material having a first melting temperature, and the outer layer is formed of a material having a second melting temperature. The first melting temperature is greater than the second melting temperature, and the plurality of pellets are bonded through melting of the outer layers while the inner layers retain the hollow core structure without melting.

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.

A method of preparing shoe components includes the steps of: providing a first shoe component and a second shoe component, forming an adhesive member on one of the first and second shoe components, stacking the first and second shoe components such that the adhesive member is disposed therebetween, heating to melt the adhesive member so as to adhere the first and second shoe components to each other, and suctioning air to adhere the first and second shoe components closely to each other.

Embodiments relate generally to a traction surface and methods for forming the traction surface. The traction surface may comprise a compound material comprising glass fibers oriented orthogonal to the surface of the compound material extending from the compound material, wherein when the traction surface contacts an icy surface, the glass fibers are operable to penetrate a liquid-like top layer of the icy surface to provide grip with an ice layer below the liquid-like top layer. The method for forming the traction surface may comprise integrating glass fibers into a compound material; orienting the glass fibers within the compound material such that the glass fibers are oriented approximately orthogonal to the surface of the compound material; splitting the compound material to expose the glass fibers, wherein the glass fibers extend from the surface of the compound material; and forming the split compound material into a traction surface.

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.