A midsole molding apparatus which enables production of a high-quality midsole is provided. The apparatus includes a through hole, which passes laterally through a midsole used for a shoe, to be integrally formed, preventing traces of forming the through hole from being left in the through hole and on the periphery of the through hole and a shaft mold crossing the inner space of upper and lower molds, forming extending portions such that the ends of the shaft mold extend beyond the boundary of the inner space, and seating the extending portions in press recesses of the upper and lower molds to seal the insides of the molds so as to prevent raw material from leaking from inside the molds when foaming and forming a midsole, to prevent parting lines and burrs from forming on the inner surface of the through hole passing laterally through the midsole.

A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

An article of footwear has an upper that is direct attached with the sole. The direct attach sole has an insert, such as an airbag, that forms a portion of a sidewall. The insert is externally visible and forms at least a portion of an external sidewall of the sole. The insert is formed into the direct attach sole by having the insert or a mask temporarily joined with the insert contact a sidewall molding surface of a mold used in the direct attach operation such that the insert results in forming a visible element of the direct attached sole.

Mold including a first shell having a cavity, a second shell having a projection, and an intermediate shell having a projection suitable for being coupled in the cavity of the first shell and a cavity suitable for being coupled with the projection of the second shell. The second shell includes a first injection channel extending from an inlet hole in a side wall of the second shell to an outlet hole in the projection of the second shell. The intermediate shell has a second injection channel extending from an inlet hole in a side wall of the intermediate shell to an outlet hole in the projection of the intermediate shell.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles. Disclosed is an apparatus for the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles, wherein the apparatus comprises: a.) a molding tool which is formed from at least two molding halves and which defines a molding cavity, and b.) at least two capacitor plates which are arranged adjacent to the molding cavity, wherein c.) at least one of the capacitor plates is connected to a radiation source, and wherein d.) at least one of the capacitor plates comprises several segments that have an adaptable distance to the molding cavity. Also disclosed is method for using such an apparatus in the manufacture of a shoe sole or part of a shoe sole from foam particles.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of plastic footwear (10; 100) of the “full plastic” type by means of moulding using a polyurethane mixture (M; P). The method comprises the steps of: —providing a mould (20) having a mould cavity (22) defined by at least two impressions (28, 30) and designed to receive a shoe last (24) so as to define, when the mould (20) is closed, an interspace (26) having the shape and dimensions of the plastic footwear (10; 100) to be produced; —spraying a polyurethane mixture (M, P) onto said at least two impressions (28, 30) of the mould cavity (22); —inserting the shoe last (24) inside said mould cavity (22); —closing the mould cavity (22) so that the sprayed polyurethane mixture (M, P) occupies said interspace (26); —opening the mould (20), once at least the demoulding time (td) for the sprayed polyurethane mixture (M, P) has lapsed, such that the sprayed polyurethane mixture (M, P) has solidified inside the interspace (26) forming said plastic footwear (10, 100); —extracting the shoe last (24) from the mould cavity (22); —removing the plastic footwear (10, 100) from the shoe last (24).

A plate is used for a sole that forms a part of a shoe. The plate includes a reinforcement portion composed of a composite material containing a synthetic resin and a plurality of fibers. The plurality of fibers in the reinforcement portion each have a weight average fiber length not shorter than 0.4 mm and not longer than 7.0 mm and have such an orientation property that orientations thereof are aligned in a foot length direction.

A mould lifting device is suitable for use in lifting and rotating a middle mould. At each of two lateral surfaces of the middle mould is provided a pivot portion. The mould lifting device includes: a platform, two longitudinal guide assemblies, two transmissions, a power assembly, two lifting members, two push members, two pivot arms, and two covers. When the pivot arms lift and rotate the middle mould, the lifted portion of the covers will not be pushed by the lifting portions of the lifting members anymore, and the covers will naturally pivot downward by gravity to make the cover portions cover the openings of the restricting grooves, which prevents the disengagement of the pivot portions of the middle mould from the restricting grooves, and thus improving the stability and security of the middle mould during the course of lifting and rotation.

Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold for molding articles of footwear having sole regions of differing materials forming a desired outsole surface material pattern. The multi-part mold includes a carrier mold portion and a tray mold portion. The carrier mold portion provides definition to the lateral surfaces of a resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion cooperates with the carrier mold portion and provides definition to another (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant co-molded product. The tray mold portion generally includes at least one pod or cavity for receiving a first material that when cured/catalyzed, defines a patterned other (e.g., bottom) surface of the resultant product. A multi-part mold having the structure as described herein permits interchangeability of multiple tray mold portions with a single carrier mold portion.

The invention relates to a mould (1) for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a body (2); a lid (4) configured to close said body (2); and incorporated closing and opening means (5) configured to keep the body (2) and the lid (4) joined during the movement thereof. A machine (M1) for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a receiving module (M2) configured to receive the mould (1); a conditioning module (M3) configured to receive the mould (1) from the receiving module (M2) and act on the incorporated closing and opening means (5) in order to separate the lid (4) from the body (2); and a handling module (M4) configured to receive the body (2) from the conditioning module (M3) and enable the placement of the components of the item to be manufactured. A method for manufacturing three-dimensional items and manufacturing plant associated with said machine (M1).