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.

An article of footwear comprising a sole and an upper on the sole. The sole comprises a dandelion latex material. The dandelion latex material comprises dandelion latex and at least one other natural or synthetic polymer.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a plurality of sole elements, including a recesses and protrusions, which are arranged on the sole structure to provide a plurality of zones with different properties. The plurality of zones includes a first zone positioned in a heel region and surrounding a first impact region, a second zone positioned between a thinnest portion of the sole structure in a midfoot region and a widest portion of the sole structure in a forefoot region, and a third zone positioned in the forefoot region and surrounding a toe off region. The first zone is configured to provide greater cushioning and relative traction than the second zone, and the second zone is configured to provide greater cushioning than the third zone.

The disclosure relates to articles of footwear (100) and components thereof, including outsoles (112), which can be used in conditions normally conducive to the accumulation of soil on the outsoles (112). In particular, the disclosure relates to articles of footwear (100) and components thereof including an outsole (112) with a material (116) including a polymeric network formed of a plurality of polymer chains, where the material (116) defines external ground-facing surface or side of the outsole (112). The outsoles (112) can prevent or reduce the accumulation of soil on the footwear (100) during wear on unpaved surfaces such as sporting fields.

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for making a shoe outsole and to shoe outsoles made using such techniques. In one such technique, a sheet of composite material is produced by extruding a base material together with a sheet of fabric material. The sheet of composite material is then cut into an outsole component, and a shoe outsole is fabricated using the outsole component.

A shoe including a sole and an upper. The upper is coupled to the sole. The upper includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the outer layer is in direct contact with the inner layer. The outer layer is a hot melt thermoplastic material, and the inner layer is a material different from that of the outer layer. At least a portion of the outer layer is adhered to the inner layer, and the inner layer including a portion not covered by the outer layer.

A shoe sole includes an outsole and a sole body. The sole body includes a low hardness portion made of a foam material having relatively low hardness and a high hardness portion made of a foam material having relatively high hardness. The low hardness portion is provided to define an entire area of a lower surface of the sole body. The high hardness portion is disposed only in a specific region of a region located above the low hardness portion of the sole body.

Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.

An article of footwear may include an outsole having an opening extending from a top face of the outsole to a ground-contacting face of the outsole, and a traction member disposed within the opening in the outsole. The traction member has a protruding portion and flange portion extending from an upper end of the protruding portion. The flange portion is secured to the top face of the outsole.

A shoe includes a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, filler material, springs, an insole, and a midsole. The first plate and the second plate are hingedly connected to each other. The filler material is located between the first plate and the second plate. The springs are located within openings in the filler material. The third plate is affixed to a top surface of the first plate. The insole is located above the third plate. The first plate is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and the third plate is made of carbon fiber. Another shoe includes a midsole, a plate located above the midsole, springs located at least partially within openings in the midsole, and a spring holding unit located below the midsole for holding the springs. The spring holding unit includes spring holding members and branches connecting corresponding spring holding members.