Abstract: A manufacturing method, within a modularized manufacturing environment for stabilizing a phylon article that is produced utilizing a heat press, is provided. Initially, the method includes immersing a phylon article in a first tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawing the phylon article from exposure with the fluid. Typically, the midsole is heated from its production with the heat press when it is placed into the first tank. The immersion in the first tank acts to cool the phylon article, thereby stabilizing the heated phylon. The phylon article may be next placed in a second tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawn from exposure with the fluid. The fluid of the first tank may reside at a temperature comparable to or higher than the temperature of the fluid of the second tank. Recursively exposing the heated phylon article to the fluid of the tanks incrementally decreases the volume of the article.

Abstract: A stock fit assembly fixture is provided for aligning and holding into place various portions of a shoe, such as an upper portion, an outsole, and a midsole, while the shoe portions are being assembled. The upper portion of a shoe may be secured to a shoe last, which in turn, may be secured to a top portion of the stock fit assembly fixture. The top portion may be movable such that the upper portion of the shoe can be moved toward the outsole and midsole portions, thus allowing for a securement of the upper portion to the outsole and midsole portions. The movement of the top portion may be by way of a compression mechanism allowing the top portion to be forced to be moved toward a bottom portion of the stock fit assembly fixture.

Abstract: A method for producing a regionalized-firmness midsole utilizing a heat press, and a description of the resultant product, are provided. Initially, the method involves providing a plurality of pre-formed phylon biscuits. Typically, the plurality of biscuits includes at least a first biscuit that has a first density and a second biscuit that has a second density. The method may further include the steps of arranging the biscuits into a receiving area of the heat press, and integrating the plurality of biscuits to form the midsole by activating the heat press. Integrating the biscuits includes raising the biscuits above a threshold temperature, and causing the biscuits to expand such that each of the plurality of biscuits couples with another of the biscuits to form a midsole with two or more degrees of firmness located at distributed regions thereon.

Abstract: A manufacturing method, within a modularized manufacturing environment for stabilizing a phylon article that is produced utilizing a heat press, is provided. Initially, the method includes immersing a phylon article in a first tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawing the phylon article from exposure with the fluid. Typically, the midsole is heated from its production with the heat press when it is placed into the first tank. The immersion in the first tank acts to cool the phylon article, thereby stabilizing the heated phylon. The phylon article may be next placed in a second tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawn from exposure with the fluid. The fluid of the first tank may reside at a temperature comparable to or higher than the temperature of the fluid of the second tank. Recursively exposing the heated phylon article to the fluid of the tanks incrementally decreases the volume of the article.

Abstract: A stock fit assembly fixture is provided for aligning and holding into place various portions of a shoe, such as an upper portion, an outsole, and a midsole, while the shoe portions are being assembled. The upper portion of a shoe may be secured to a shoe last, which in turn, may be secured to a top portion of the stock fit assembly fixture. The top portion may be movable such that the upper portion of the shoe can be moved toward the outsole and midsole portions, thus allowing for a securement of the upper portion to the outsole and midsole portions. The movement of the top portion may be by way of a compression mechanism allowing the top portion to be forced to be moved toward a bottom portion of the stock fit assembly fixture.

Abstract: A method for producing a regionalized-firmness midsole utilizing a heat press, and a description of the resultant product, are provided. Initially, the method involves providing a plurality of pre-formed phylon biscuits. Typically, the plurality of biscuits includes at least a first biscuit that has a first density and a second biscuit that has a second density. The method may further include the steps of arranging the biscuits into a receiving area of the heat press, and integrating the plurality of biscuits to form the midsole by activating the heat press. Integrating the biscuits includes raising the biscuits above a threshold temperature, and causing the biscuits to expand such that each of the plurality of biscuits couples with another of the biscuits to form a midsole with two or more degrees of firmness located at distributed regions thereon.

Abstract: An adhesive sheet is prepared by coextruding a thermoplastic adhesive material such as a thermoplastic polyurethane and a polymeric material such as a polyolefin that forms a polymeric expendable layer. A process for making a multi-layer impact resistant glass composite made up of alternating glass and plastic layers involves interposing the adhesive sheet between the glass layer and the plastic layer, removing at least one polymeric expendable layer from the adhesive sheet, and pressing the layers together to adhere the glass layer to the plastic layer. In alternate embodiments, the adhesive sheet may be provided as a co-extruded A-B composite sheet or as an A-B-A 3-layer composite sheet.