A footwear includes an upper and a sole. The upper includes a membrane and at least one outer layer. The membrane is attached to the outer layer and the membrane is attached to an insole. The membrane is attached to the insole by stitching a lower end of the membrane to the circumference of the insole. The minimum length of stitches of the stitching is at least 1.0 mm. The membrane is a waterproof breathable membrane. The insole is attached to the sole.

A footwear includes an upper and a sole. The upper includes a membrane and at least one outer layer. The membrane is attached to the outer layer and the membrane is attached to an insole. The membrane is attached to the insole by stitching a lower end of the membrane to the circumference of the insole. The minimum length of stitches of the stitching is at least 1.0 mm. The membrane is a waterproof breathable membrane. The insole is attached to the sole.

A knitted foot garment including an upper, heel, toe, and sole knitted fabric portions integrally woven together to define a chamber. A plurality of encapsulated polymer pads are attached to and protrude from an outer surface of at least one of a heel, toe, ball and arch portion of the garment. The polymer pads contain gas infused gel to provide increased cushioning to the sole of the foot garment. A method for treating a knitted foot garment that provides added cushion to the knitted material of the sock includes the steps of heating a liquid polymer gel mixture, forcing gas into the mixture, agitating the mixture to create a gas infused mixture, injecting the gas infused mixture into a polymer template including a plurality of pads, attaching the polymer pads to the outer sole of a knitted foot garment, and cooling the gas infused polymer mixture.

A knitted foot garment including an upper, heel, toe, and sole knitted fabric portions integrally woven together to define a chamber. A plurality of encapsulated polymer pads are attached to and protrude from an outer surface of at least one of a heel, toe, ball and arch portion of the garment. The polymer pads contain gas infused gel to provide increased cushioning to the sole of the foot garment. A method for treating a knitted foot garment that provides added cushion to the knitted material of the sock includes the steps of heating a liquid polymer gel mixture, forcing gas into the mixture, agitating the mixture to create a gas infused mixture, injecting the gas infused mixture into a polymer template including a plurality of pads, attaching the polymer pads to the outer sole of a knitted foot garment, and cooling the gas infused polymer mixture.

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.

A design support apparatus includes: an input unit that receives shoe last data; a processor (computing unit) that computes a cutting pattern of a sheet based on the shoe last data received by the input unit; and an output unit that outputs the cutting pattern of the sheet computed by the processor. The processor calculates an amount of correction in consideration of a shrinkage direction and a shrinkage coefficient of the sheet, and calculates the cutting pattern of the sheet by developing, on a plane, three-dimensional shape data that conforms to a dimension of the shoe last data, to thereby obtain a shape pattern of an upper, and incorporating the calculated amount of correction into the shape pattern of the upper.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating the articles are provided. One exemplary method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable fibrous element and carbon dioxide in a vessel, the foamable fibrous element comprising a plurality of filaments, fibers, and/or yarns, wherein each member of the plurality comprises a foamable material; maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material; optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure; and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

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.

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.

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.