Abstract:
Processes and systems for thermoforming articles of wear are disclosed. The process can include utilizing a negative pressure generation system to seal an article in a forming material thereby compressing the forming material onto the outer surface of the article. The process can also include exposing the sealed article to an increased temperature followed by exposure to a decrease temperature, while maintaining the compressive force of the forming material on the outer surface of the article. A positive pressure can also be applied to the sealed article while undergoing the heating and/or cooling steps, which can facilitate the removal of bubbles from the article during thermoforming as well as apply additional compressive force to the outer surface of the article.
Abstract:
An article of footwear may include a padding on an interior of a foot opening or another cushioning element in a first area. The cushioning element may include a UV curable material. A second area (e.g., of an upper) may be affixed with the first area and may include a second UV curable material.
Abstract:
Systems and processes for reinforcing components of articles of wear are disclosed. The processes can include applying a thermoplastic powder to a component of an article of wear and levelling at least a portion of the thermoplastic powder. The processes can also include applying thermal energy to the component and the thermoplastic powder. Further, the processes can include compressing the thermoplastic powder and the component.
Abstract:
A method for making a cleated plate member for an article of footwear is described. The method includes a number of steps where various molds are used to form different components of the cleated plate member. A collar receptacle is formed using a first molding process. A cleat member is formed from a non-compatible material with a fastener of the cleat member associated with the collar receptacle using another molding process to form a combined cleat assembly. The combined cleat assembly is placed into corresponding receptacles in a mold used to form the cleated plate member. The cleated plate member is formed using another molding process that embeds the collar receptacle into the body of the cleated plate member. The completed cleated plate member includes releasably attached cleat members.
Abstract:
Disclosed are a shoe insole and its manufacturing method. The method includes the steps of crushing a rubber foam material into irregular primary crushed particles, covering a mixed elastomeric material onto a surface of the primary crushed particle uniformly, using a pressurizing, heating and curing method to form a primary modified foam material, crushing the primary modified foam material again to form irregular secondary crushed particles, covering the secondary crushed particles uniformly mixed with the elastomeric material onto a surface of the secondary crushed particle, and using the pressurizing, heating and curing method to form a secondary modified foam material similarly. The shoe sole made of the secondary modified foam material has good breathability, elasticity, comfortability and compressive strength.
Abstract:
An image displaying device includes a background layer and a display layer. The display layer includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is substantially smooth, and the outer surface includes a plurality of raised areas and recessed areas. The display layer has a first zone with a first thickness measured between the inner surface and a raised area and a second zone with a second thickness measured between the inner surface and a recessed area. The display layer also includes a coloring agent having a higher concentration in the first zone as compared to the second zone. The display layer has increased light transmissivity through the recessed areas and decreased light transmissivity through the raised areas such that a contrast of light transmissivity between the raised and recessed areas generates an image.
Abstract:
There is proposed a powder application device P for producing blanks of thermoplastically deformable semifinished products for use as reinforcement elements, starting from a powder mixture containing a meltable plastics powder, comprising a downwardly open powder container B and a perforated stencil L, arranged beneath the latter and spaced apart therefrom, having one or more hole cutouts, said device being characterized in that the powder container B is rigidly connected to the perforated stencil L and is vertically lowerable as far as an auxiliary support or a distance of at most 5 mm therefrom, and is closable at its lower end by means of a horizontal closing plate S having a thickness slightly less than the distance between the powder container B and the perforated stencil L, wherein the closing plate S is movable in a horizontal plane such that it alternately closes and reopens the lower end of the powder container B.
Abstract:
Adjustable system and methods are provided that are used in curing a foam item. Induction heating assemblies, cooling mechanisms and a dynamic conveyance mechanism may be used in combination to heat and cool a mold containing the foam item as it is conveyed. The dynamic conveyance mechanism may have removable rollers that allow for chambers, such as the induction heating assemblies, to be placed into areas where removable rollers have been removed. As such, utilizing a dynamic conveyance mechanism chambers to be placed into, taken out of, and moved around the dynamic conveyance mechanism. The flexibility of a dynamic conveyance mechanism allows for a curing process to be automated, adjusted, and customized.
Abstract:
A footwear article with a hook and loop fastening system, wherein the hooks are a field of injection molded hooks. The injection molded hooks can be integral with a wall of the footwear article, such as the shell of a skate or ski boot, or the hooks can be formed on an injection molded subassembly that is assembled into the footwear article.
Abstract:
A plastic cleat (10) for a golf shoe is disclosed, including a cleat body (3), a plurality of flexible protrusions (1) and rigid protrusions (2) extending from the cleat body (3). The flexible protrusions (1) and rigid protrusions (2) provide good grips on grass without damaging the grass. The flexible protrusions (1) bend outwardly on a hard surface, when the rigid protrusions (2) chiefly support weight. The cleat (10) can be economically manufactured by “forced extraction molding” utilizing the shape rebounding nature of half hardened plastic materials.