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.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles. Disclosed is an apparatus for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles, wherein the apparatus comprises: a.) a molding tool which is formed from at least two molding halves and which defines a molding cavity, and b.) at least two capacitor plates which are arranged adjacent to the molding cavity, wherein c.) at least one of the capacitor plates is connected to a radiation source, and wherein d.) at least one of the capacitor plates comprises several segments that have an adaptable distance to the molding cavity. Also disclosed is method for using such an apparatus in the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles.

A method of forming a polymeric foam material is provided and includes providing a precursor material having a first thickness, the precursor material being an open-cell foam material and applying a uniaxial compressive force to the precursor material to compress the precursor material to a second thickness, the compressive force causing a cell structure of the precursor material to collapse. The method also includes heating the precursor material at a molding temperature for a first time period while the compressive force is applied, the first time period being sufficient to heat the precursor material to a softening temperature, removing the compressive force from the precursor material, and maintaining the cell structure of the precursor material in a collapsed state.

Methods of creating additive manufactured parts from expanding foam material include printing a part made of an expandable foam, using an additive manufacturing system. The foam is printed in an unexpanded state and has a closed layer at an external surface of the part. Expansion of the part is controlled, using the additive manufacturing system, wherein the expansion is performed after the printing. Methods also include modeling an expansion of a part made of an expandable foam, and printing the part made of the expandable foam, using an automated additive manufacturing system and according to the modeling. The foam is printed in an unexpanded state and has a closed layer at an external surface of the part.

A composition including: (A) from 29 to 74% by weight of at least one semi-crystalline aliphatic polyamide, the semi-crystalline aliphatic polyamide obtained from the polycondensation: of at least one C.sub.6 to C.sub.18 amino acid; or at least one C.sub.6 to C.sub.18 lactam; or at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.36 diamine Ca with at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.3 diacid Cb; (B) from 25 to 70% by weight of glass fibers mainly of silica dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and magnesium oxide (MgO); the glass fibers (B) having from 62 to 66% by weight of SiO2; (C) from 1 to 20% by weight of at least one impact modifier; and (D) from 0 to 2% by weight of at least one additive, excluding copper chromite, zinc sulfide, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate and a polyolefin-based colored masterbatch; the sum of the various constituents (A) to (D) being 100% by weight.

Films, fibers, filaments, yarns and textiles including thermoplastic elastomeric compositions are described, as are methods of making the films, fibers, filaments, yarns and textiles. These films, fibers, filaments, yarns and textiles can be used to make articles of apparel, footwear, and sporting equipment. When thermoformed, the thermoplastic elastomeric compositions can impart abrasion resistance, traction, and other advantageous properties to the articles. 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.

Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.

Disclosed is a microwave-transmitting mould structure, comprising a first template, a second template and a mould combining unit. The mould combining unit has a first snap fit, a second snap fit and an engagement member. The first snap fit is arranged on the first template; the second snap fit is arranged on the second template; and the engagement member is snap-fit engaged between the first snap fit and the second snap fit, so that when the first template and the second template are subjected to an outward pressure, corresponding faces thereof which the engagement member can pass through respectively abut against abutting faces of the first snap fit and of the second snap fit, and thus, the first template and the second template cannot be separated from each other due to an increased pressure inside the mould.

The present disclosure provides for making annealed additive manufacturing powder, where the powder can be used to make structures using additive manufacturing processes. The additive manufacturing powder can be annealed to improve the flowability of the powder. Once annealed, the powder can be used in the additive manufacturing process and structures can be formed by affixing the powder particles to one another (e.g., by reflowing and re-solidifying a material present in the powder particles). The annealed additive manufacturing powder can be formed in a layer-by-layer additive process to produce articles such as a component of an article of sporting equipment, apparel or footwear (10), including a sole structure (30) for footwear (10).

The present disclosure is related to three-dimensionally printed articles for use in footwear and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a three-dimensionally printed article may comprise a closed-cell foam. The closed-cell foam may have a gradient in and/or may be a single integrated material. In some embodiments, a three-dimensionally printed article may comprise a sensor. The use of such arrangements can, according to certain embodiments, allow for the production of improved articles of footwear and/or customized articles of footwear.