The present invention relates to a mould (10) for producing footwear (1) by means of direct injection onto the upper (2) of a sole (3), comprising a tread (5) and a midsole (4), wherein the midsole (4) is composed of a first layer (6) and a second layer (7). The mould (10) comprises a base (12), a pair of first half-rings (14), a pair of second half-rings (16), a first cover (18), a second cover (20) and a mould last (22). In accordance with the invention the mould (10) comprises gripping means (24) designed to fix selectively the first half-rings (14) to the base (12) or to the second half-rings (16). The present invention also relates to a method for producing footwear (1) using said mould (10).

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.

An article of footwear (1) comprising an upper (8) having a first ground facing surface (9); a primary sole part (10) having a first foot facing surface (11), a second ground facing surface (12), the first foot facing surface comprising a plurality of openings (14), each opening defining a volume (14A) extending in a vertical direction from the first foot facing surface (11) towards the second ground facing surface (12) having a closed end; and a secondary sole part (20) having a second foot facing surface (22) and a third ground facing surface (23), wherein the secondary sole part (20) is arranged between the upper (8) and the primary sole part (10) and extends into the plurality of volumes (14A) and/or openings (14) in the first foot facing surface of the primary sole part.

The present invention relates to a mould (10) for producing footwear (1) by means of direct injection onto the upper (2) of a sole (3), comprising a tread (5) and a midsole (4), wherein the midsole (4) is composed of a first layer (6) and a second layer (7). The mould (10) comprises a base (12), a pair of first half-rings (14), a pair of second half-rings (16), a first cover (18), a second cover (20) and a mould last (22). In accordance with the invention the mould (10) comprises gripping means (24) designed to fix selectively the first half-rings (14) to the base (12) or to the second half-rings (16). The present invention also relates to a method for producing footwear (1) using said mould (10).

A process for manufacturing a multi-layered sole directly on the upper, of the type that employs the technique known as “direct injection on the upper”, by which soles are made of a plastic material and consist of a plurality of layers with different colour, density, softness and physical-mechanical properties. Said layers form at least an external sole, called “outsole”, an internal sole, called “insole” that adheres and extends only partially or totally on the surface of the upper, and an intermediate sole, called “midsole”, that is intended to hold the other two above-said soles. Said process provides for the use of a single mould which is brought, when suitably equipped, in a well-defined sequence, in front of at least three distinct injectors (I.sub.1, I.sub.2, I.sub.3) in order to obtain, also in sequence, by at least a first moulding operation (P.sub.1) the lower portion of the sole, i.e. the “outsole”, by at least a second moulding operation (P.sub.2) the upper part of the sole, i.e. the “insole” and by at least a third moulding operation (P.sub.3) the “midsole”.

The present invention relates to a mould (10) for producing footwear (1) by direct injection onto an upper (2) of a sole (3), comprising a tread (5) and a midsole (4), wherein the midsole (4) is composed of a first layer (6) and a second layer (7). The mould (10) comprises a base (12), a pair of first half-rings (16), a lid (18), a pair of second half-rings (20) and a mould last (22). The first half-rings (16) are designed to be arranged close together such that they abut against the base (12) and against the lid (18), so as to form a first mould cavity for moulding the first layer (6) of the midsole (4). While the first half-rings (16) are abutting against the base (12), the second half-rings (20) are designed to be arranged close together, such that they lie over the half-rings (16) and abut against the upper (2), fitted onto the mould last (22), so as to form a second mould cavity for moulding the second layer (7) of the midsole (4). In accordance with the invention the first half-rings (16) are provided with guiding means (24) so that they can be moved away from and towards each other and rotate about an axis of rotation (C). The invention also relates to a method for producing footwear by direct injection onto an upper, which may be performed by means of the mould according to the invention.

A mould for producing footwear by direct injection onto an upper of a sole, including a tread and a midsole, wherein the midsole is composed of a first layer and a second layer. The mould includes a base, a pair of first half-rings, a lid, a pair of second half-rings and a mould last. The first half-rings are designed to be arranged close together such that they abut against the base and against the lid, so as to form a first mould cavity for moulding the first layer (6) of the midsole. While the first half-rings are abutting against the base, the second half-rings are designed to be arranged close together, such that they lie over the half-rings and abut against the upper, fitted onto the mould last, so as to form a second mould cavity for moulding the second layer of the midsole. The first half-rings are provided with guiding means so that they can be moved away from and towards each other and rotate about an axis of rotation. Also a method for producing footwear by direct injection onto an upper, which may be performed by means of the mould.

A process for manufacturing a multi-layered sole directly on the upper, of the type that employs the technique known as direct injection on the upper, by which soles are made of a plastic material and consist of a plurality of layers with different colour, density, softness and physical-mechanical properties. Said layers form at least an external sole, called outsole, an internal sole, called insole that adheres and extends only partially or totally on the surface of the upper, and an intermediate sole, called midsole, that is intended to hold the other two above-said soles. Said process provides for the use of a single mould which is brought, when suitably equipped, in a well-defined sequence, in front of at least three distinct injectors (I.sub.1, I.sub.2, I.sub.3) in order to obtain, also in sequence, by at least a first moulding operation (P.sub.1) the lower portion of the sole, i.e. the outsole, by at least a second moulding operation (P.sub.2) the upper part of the sole, i.e. the insole and by at least a third moulding operation (P.sub.3) the midsole.

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.

An article of footwear includes an upper having a first ground facing surface. A primary sole part has a first foot facing surface and a second ground facing surface. The first foot facing surface includes a plurality of openings. Each opening defines a volume extending in a vertical direction from the first foot facing surface towards the second ground facing surface, which has a closed end. A secondary sole part has a second foot facing surface and a third ground facing surface. The secondary sole part is arranged between the upper and the primary sole part and extends into the plurality of volumes and/or openings in the first foot facing surface of the primary sole part.