Abstract: A method of manufacturing footwear including the steps of positioning a sole member on a first portion of a cutting assembly; heating a second portion of the cutting assembly, the second portion including a cutting die; pressing the heated cutting die into the sole member to form a plurality of sipes in the sole member; and removing the cutting die from the sole member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for 360 degree wave-shaping of an outsole of a shoe including: a base part; and a blade plate part mounted on the base part and having an upper blade plate corresponding to an upper portion of the outsole of the shoe and a lower blade plate corresponding to a lower portion of the outsole of the shoe, each of the upper blade plate and the lower blade plate having a plurality of blades adapted to perform the 360 degree wave-shaping for the outsole of the shoe. The blade plate part is wave-shaped, and each of the upper blade plate and the lower blade plate has a plurality of streamlined space portions formed extended from one sides thereof to the other sides thereof, thereby discharging water therethrough.

Abstract: An anvil for supporting an outsole based upon an elastomeric compound, the outsole having a heel portion of greater thickness than the sole portion, during a process of imparting a multiplicity of slits to the outer surface of the heel and sole portions of said outsole. The anvil has a sole portion extending to a greater height than the heel portion of the anvil, whereby the multiplicity of slits may be imparted to the heel and sole portions of the outsole by a single reciprocating cutting blade in one continuous operation without removing the outsole from the anvil or changing the position of the outsole on the anvil. A method of imparting the multiplicity of slits to the outsole is also provided.