Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. 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 device for applying a film to a three-dimensional article includes an inflatable shape having at least one opening connected or connectable to a source of heated gas. The inflatable shape is configurable in a deflated configuration and in an inflated configuration when the heated gas is introduced into the inflatable shape through the opening. The inflatable shape is configured and sized to allow an article to be placed thereon, at least when the inflatable shape is in the deflated configuration. In the inflated configuration, the inflatable shape is configured for pressing against the article and for adhering, to the article, a film interposed between the inflatable shape and the article. The inflatable shape is impermeable to the heated gas and has a thermal transmittance greater than 600 W/m.sup.2K.

The present invention relates to a flexible waterproofing/impregnation and drying de-vice and a method of drying items that have undergone a solvent-based or water-based waterproofing/impregnation process. The flexible waterproofing/impregnation and dry-ing device is configured with inlets for waterproofing/impregnation fluid for water-proofing/impregnating items and one or more heat generating units for effective drying of items, said items being for example clothes, shoes, bags, purses, blankets and garments.

Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. 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.

Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. 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.

An apparatus for the thermo-forming and/or thermo-adhesive bonding of semi-finished products comprises: an oven (6) having walls (8, 9, 11, 12) delimiting a chamber (13) configured for housing at least one semi-finished product (4); devices (15, 16, 20) for generating a flow of heated fluid; wherein at least one of the walls (11) has a plurality of openings (19) in fluid communication with the devices (15, 16, 20). Baffles (23) and/or closing elements (24) are mounted near at least some of the openings (19). The baffles (23) are configured to divert the heated fluid leaving the openings (19). The closing elements (24) are configured to obstruct some of the openings (19). The baffles (23) and/or the closing elements (24) are movable with respect to the walls (11) and/or they are replaceable, in order to change conditions of the flow of heated fluid in the chamber (13).

A method of manufacturing a shoe upper according to the present invention includes: three-dimensionally forming an upper member; pre-heating the upper member such that a portion-to-be-reinforced of the three-dimensionally formed upper member is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of thermoplastic resin powder; adhering the thermoplastic resin powder to the upper member so as to at least cover the portion-to-be-reinforced of the pre-heated upper member; further heating the upper member to which the thermoplastic resin powder is adhered and melting the thermoplastic resin powder adhered to the upper member; and hardening the melted thermoplastic resin powder to firmly adhere the reinforcing portion to the upper member.

Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.

A method of forming and shaping a waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper includes disposing a shoe upper and a waterproof and moisture permeable film on a shoe last, wherein at least one of the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film includes microwave treatable material, and heating the shoe last with the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film thereon by microwave, so that the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film are combined by the microwave treatable material and shaped to form the waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper after cooling.

Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. 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.