Abstract: A mechanically commutated motor (200) configured for use with an external magnetic field (240) is disclosed. The motor (200) includes an axle (208) formed of anon-magnetic material. A rotor (206) is coupled to the axle (208), the rotor (206) including three or more actuator units (205) spaced about the axle (208). Each actuator unit (205) comprises a non-magnetic material, a coil winding (214) along each of the three or more actuator units (205), and a commutator (216) coupled to the axle (208) and electrically associated with the coil windings (214). The motor (200) further includes two or more resilient contacts (210) oriented to direct a current through the commutator (216) to one of the coil windings (214) to induce a current in the coil winding (214) to form an electromagnet that rotates the rotor (206) relative to the external magnetic field (240) from a magnet located external to the mechanically commutated motor (200).

Abstract: A method for forming a composite sole to an upper of a shoe includes molding a blank midsole to an upper of a shoe while protecting the material of the upper from the heat involved in molding the midsole to the upper, and subsequently adhering an outsole having a desired traction surface to the blank midsole. The method requires less heat and less time than prior art vulcanization processes that form entire soles to footwear uppers, and also requires less equipment than prior art processes.