The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

The invention relates to the use of at least one impact modifier having a refractive index IR.sub.1 in a polyamide matrix consisting of a mixture of amorphous polyamide and semicrystalline polyamide, said matrix having a refractive index IR2, the difference in absolute value of IR.sub.1-IR.sub.2 not exceeding 0.006, to produce a transparent composition having a fatigue strength, under the fatigue test referred to as notched “Ross-Flex”, greater than 50 000 at −10° C.

Sports boot element of which the wall includes at least two different plastics materials (15, 16), the wall having (i) a first zone (11) including the two different plastics materials within its thickness, the first plastics material (15) forming two layers of the wall constituting the internal and external faces of the said wall, and the second plastics material (16) being interposed between the two layers of the first plastics material (15), and (ii) a second zone (13) including only the second plastics material (16).

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a three-dimensional shaped article, comprising the following steps: a) unfolding the three-dimensional profile of the three-dimensional shaped article with a curved surface via a computer-aided design software; b) dividing the unfolded three-dimensional profile obtained in step a) into several elemental layers via the computer-aided design software; c) cutting a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin based composite sheet to have the same or similar shape and size with the elemental layers; d) stacking the cut composite sheets in order of size to obtain a stack; and g) forming the stack obtained in step d), followed by demoulding and optionally trimming to obtain the three-dimensional shaped article. With the method of the present invention, a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin based composite sheet can be processed into a three-dimensional shaped article with uneven thickness and a high degree of curvature. The resulting three-dimensional shaped article features a light weight, good impact resistance and compression resistance.

A process for welding porous membranes, the process containing i) providing first and second porous membranes; ii) at least partially superimposing the first and second porous membranes to obtain an at least partial superimposition region; iii) welding the first and second porous membranes at least in a portion of the at least one superimposition region at a temperature in the range from 100 to 300° C. to obtain an at least partially welded composite of the first and second porous membranes, wherein the first and second porous membranes are made of at least one thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane elastomer, a polyester elastomer, a polyetherester elastomer, a polyesterester elastomer, a polyamide elastomer, a polyetheramide elastomer, a polystyrene elastomer, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate elastomer, and wherein the first and second porous membranes have pores having an average pore diameter of less than 2000 nm.

Compositions may include a polymer composition prepared from an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a rubber, and a plasticizer. Compositions may further comprise other components, such as a curing agent and a blowing agent. Articles may include a polymer composition prepared from an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a rubber, and a plasticizer. Methods may include mixing an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a rubber, and a plasticizer; and extruding the mixture thereof.

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

A method of making a garment material and garment material and garments obtainable by the method.

The method comprises providing a first layer, which is a shaped polymer and applying a liner to the first layer, the liner being formed of yarn and having interstices through it. A fluid polymeric material is then applied to the liner so that it permeates the interstices and is allowed to solidify to thereby form a second layer in which the liner is embedded in the solid polymeric material. Fibres are then applied to form a textile layer, which serves as a skin-contacting layer.

The garment material comprises a first layer (70, 76, 78), which is a shaped polymer; a second layer (80), which is a shaped polymer that is provided at one or more locations on the first layer, the second layer taking the shape of the first layer at said one or more locations; and a textile layer (82). The second layer is located between the first layer and the textile layer and a liner (22) is embedded in the second layer, the liner being formed of yarn and having interstices through it.