A method for manufacturing an article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising at least one shell, the shape of which is set by external heating, the manufacturing method comprising a reference step in which a first shell is positioned on a last, the first shell comprising at least one at least partially hot-melt or thermoformable material, the last extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from a base to a top. The manufacturing method comprises at least one manufacturing step, subsequent to the reference step, the manufacturing step comprising at least one operation of hot-pressing at least a portion of the surface of the first shell arranged on the last.

Provided is a footwear knitting method for knitting footwear that partially has a two-layer structure. The footwear knitting method is a method for knitting footwear (1) provided with a base knitted fabric portion (2) that has a foot insertion opening (5), and is shape of an item of footwear, using a flat knitting machine. The footwear knitting method includes: starting knitting of the base knitted fabric portion (2) from a toe side or a heel side of the base knitted fabric portion (2) to complete the base knitted fabric portion (2) with a left side part and a right side part of the base knitted fabric portion (2) facing each other in a front-back direction of needle beds; knitting an additional knitted fabric portion (3) that is separate from the base knitted fabric portion (2), and is bag-shaped with one end open and the other end closed, before or during the knitting of the base knitted fabric portion (2); and joining, using double stitches, a part of an opening edge of the additional knitted fabric portion (3) with a toe-side edge part or a heel-side edge part of an edge of the foot insertion opening (5) of the base knitted fabric portion (2).

An article of footwear having an upper portion and a footbed portion that may be aligned with apertures proximate specified edges or locations. The footbed portion includes a concave edge extending between the footbed toe end and the footbed heel end along the footbed medial side and a plurality of forming apertures along the medial side. The upper portion also includes a plurality of forming apertures extending along the medial side.

A knitted component may include a knitted base portion located between a first non-planar structure and a second non-planar structure. The knitted base portion may include a first area located adjacent to the first non-planar structure, and the first area may include at least one course of a first base yarn. The knitted base portion may include a second area located adjacent to the second non-planar structure, and the second area may include at least one course of a second base yarn. The first base yarn may have a first color and the second base yarn may have a second color different from the first color.

A knitted component may include a knitted base portion located between a first non-planar structure and a second non-planar structure. The knitted base portion may include a first area located adjacent to the first non-planar structure, and the first area may include at least one course of a first base yarn. The knitted base portion may include a second area located adjacent to the second non-planar structure, and the second area may include at least one course of a second base yarn. The first base yarn may have a first color and the second base yarn may have a second color different from the first color.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that includes a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-receiving surface. A tension member is operatively secured to the ground-facing surface and has a portion configured to move relative to the sole plate during dorsiflexion of the sole structure in a first portion of a flexion range, and interfere with the sole plate during dorsiflexion of the sole structure in a second portion of the flexion range greater than the first portion altering the rate of the resultant torque.

A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.

Method for producing a customized midsole and a customized cleat representation for an article of footwear comprising a knit outsole. The method includes obtaining information relating to a customized cleat arrangement in a knit outsole and other information relating to a midsole customized to the user's foot and having cleat reinforcements arranged to match the cleat arrangement on the knit outsole. The information is used to form an article of footwear including the customized knit outsole and the customized midsole.

A shoe body-forming piece includes an upper portion including an instep portion and a pair of heel portions separately disposed on one side of the instep portion to make the upper portion have a substantially U-shaped configuration outlined by a perimeter edge and an inner edge; and a shoe-sleeve portion having a connection side at least partially connected to the inner edge, wherein the upper portion and the shoe-sleeve portion are knitted from at least one yarn to form a unitary knit construction with a plurality of courses and wales, so that the shoe body-forming piece does not have any sewing portion as the knitting process is completed; when the shoe body-forming piece is processed to form a shoe body, the upper portion corresponds to a fore portion, a lateral portion, and a heel portion of a foot, and the shoe-sleeve portion corresponds to an ankle portion of the foot.