The present invention relates to an enhanced method for the manufacture of a plastic component (135), in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, the method comprising: opening a mold (100) by a predetermined amount into a loading position, wherein the mold comprises at least two mold parts (110, 112) and wherein the amount by which the mold is opened influences an available loading volume of the mold, loading a material comprising expanded particles (130) into the loading volume, closing the mold into a closed position, wherein during closing of the mold the mold parts are moved together over different distances (140) in different areas of the mold, compressing the expanded particles by closing the mold and fusing at least the surfaces of the expanded particles to mold the plastic component.

The present invention relates to an enhanced method for the manufacture of a plastic component (135), in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, the method comprising: opening a mold (100) by a predetermined amount into a loading position, wherein the mold comprises at least two mold parts (110, 112) and wherein the amount by which the mold is opened influences an available loading volume of the mold, loading a material comprising expanded particles (130) into the loading volume, closing the mold into a closed position, wherein during closing of the mold the mold parts are moved together over different distances (140) in different areas of the mold, compressing the expanded particles by closing the mold and fusing at least the surfaces of the expanded particles to mold the plastic component.

A footwear for wrapping an entire foot includes a t lain body made of foam rubber. The main body is dug to embed synthetic rubber into a heel side of a bottom of the min body made of the foam rubber. The embedded part is a part from a mid point from a toe to a heel to a heel part of the bottom of the main body. Specific gravities of the foam rubber and the synthetic rubber are 0.38 g/cm.sup.3 and 1.03 g/cm.sup.3, respectively. A center of gravity of the footwear is shifted to the heel side using a difference in the specific gravity of both to increase stability such that the footwear does not fall over when the footwear is placed upside down. An opening of the footwear is further formed to be flat with respect to a ground surface when the footwear is placed upside down.

This document discloses a process for manufacturing recyclable injection molded microcellular foams for use in, footwear components, seating components, protective gear components, and watersport accessories. The process includes the steps of providing a thermoplastic polymer which comprises at least one monomer derived from depolymerized post-consumer plastic, inserting a fluid into a barrel of a molding apparatus. The fluid is introduced under temperature and pressure conditions to produce a super critical fluid. The process further includes mixing the thermoplastic polymer and super critical fluid so as to create a single phase solution, and injecting the single phase solution into a mold of an injection molding machine under gas counter pressure. The process further includes foaming the single phase solution by controlling the head and temperature conditions within the mold.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a unitary sole with a first cushioning body having a first hardness and a second cushioning having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and the second cushioning bodies are exposed at a periphery of the sole. The second cushioning body may have a wedge surface that interfaces with a lateral extremity of the first cushioning body and angles laterally outward toward a lateral side exterior surface of the sole from a lower extent to an upper extent of the wedge surface. The second cushioning body may underlie the first cushioning body in a portion of a forefoot region of the sole such that the first cushioning body establishes a foot-facing exterior surface and the second cushioning body establishes a ground-facing exterior surface of the sole where the first cushioning body overlies the second cushioning body.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a unitary sole with a first cushioning body having a first hardness and a second cushioning having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and the second cushioning bodies are exposed at a periphery of the sole. The second cushioning body may have a wedge surface that interfaces with a lateral extremity of the first cushioning body and angles laterally outward toward a lateral side exterior surface of the sole from a lower extent to an upper extent of the wedge surface. The second cushioning body may underlie the first cushioning body in a portion of a forefoot region of the sole such that the first cushioning body establishes a foot-facing exterior surface and the second cushioning body establishes a ground-facing exterior surface of the sole where the first cushioning body overlies the second cushioning body.

A block copolymer including a polymer block (A) containing more than 70 mol % of a unit derived from an aromatic vinyl compound, and a polymer block (B) containing 30 mol % or more of a unit derived from a conjugated diene compound is provided. The block copolymer satisfies the conditions: (1): a content of the polymer block (A) in the block copolymer is 1 to 70% by mass; (2): a maximum width of a series of temperature regions where tan δ measured in accordance with JIS K7244-10 (2005), under conditions including a strain amount of 0.1%, a frequency of 1 a measurement temperature of −70 to 100° C., and a temperature rise rate of 3° C./min, is 1.0 or more is less than 16° C.; (3): a temperature at a peak position of tan δ in the condition (2) is 0° C. to +50° C.; and (4): a mobility parameter M indicating a mobility of the polymer block (B) is 0.01 to 0.25 sec.

A block copolymer including a polymer block (A) containing more than 70 mol % of a unit derived from an aromatic vinyl compound, and a polymer block (B) containing 30 mol % or more of a unit derived from a conjugated diene compound is provided. The block copolymer satisfies the conditions: (1): a content of the polymer block (A) in the block copolymer is 1 to 70% by mass; (2): a maximum width of a series of temperature regions where tan δ measured in accordance with JIS K7244-10 (2005), under conditions including a strain amount of 0.1%, a frequency of 1 a measurement temperature of −70 to 100° C., and a temperature rise rate of 3° C./min, is 1.0 or more is less than 16° C.; (3): a temperature at a peak position of tan δ in the condition (2) is 0° C. to +50° C.; and (4): a mobility parameter M indicating a mobility of the polymer block (B) is 0.01 to 0.25 sec.

Golf shoes having improved outsole constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The outsole includes a first set of arc pathways extending along the outsole in one direction. A second set of arc pathways extend along the outsole in a second direction. When the first and second arc pathways are superposed over each other, four-sided tile pieces are formed, and these tiles contain protruding traction members. In one embodiment, the tiles comprise a first protruding traction member, an opposing second protruding traction member, and a non-protruding segment disposed between the first and second traction members. Different traction zones containing different traction members are provided on the outsole. These zones provide improved multi-surface traction. In one embodiment of the outsole, there is no channeling and no trenching of the golf course turf. There is less damage to the golf course for a given amount of traction. In one embodiment, the tile pieces, first and second protruding traction members, and non-protruding segment comprise the same material and form a unitary piece. Preferably, the unitary piece is made of a rubber material. In another embodiment, a heel step region without traction members may be provided on the outsole. Additionally, spike receptacles and spikes may be provided on the outsole in addition to the traction members.

Golf shoes having improved outsole constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The outsole includes a first set of arc pathways extending along the outsole in one direction. A second set of arc pathways extend along the outsole in a second direction. When the first and second arc pathways are superposed over each other, four-sided tile pieces are formed, and these tiles contain protruding traction members. In one embodiment, the tiles comprise a first protruding traction member, an opposing second protruding traction member, and a non-protruding segment disposed between the first and second traction members. Different traction zones containing different traction members are provided on the outsole. These zones provide improved multi-surface traction. In one embodiment of the outsole, there is no channeling and no trenching of the golf course turf. There is less damage to the golf course for a given amount of traction. In one embodiment, the tile pieces, first and second protruding traction members, and non-protruding segment comprise the same material and form a unitary piece. Preferably, the unitary piece is made of a rubber material. In another embodiment, a heel step region without traction members may be provided on the outsole. Additionally, spike receptacles and spikes may be provided on the outsole in addition to the traction members.