Abstract: A manufacturing frame comprises one or more alignment tabs. Each alignment tab comprises an alignment element. The alignment element interacts with a corresponding alignment element at a manufacturing station to identify to the manufacturing station the position and orientation of the frame. The frame supports a flexible material in a known position and orientation relative to the frame, allowing the manufacturing station to infer the position and orientation of the flexible material on the frame from the interaction of the alignment elements on the frame and the manufacturing station.

Abstract: Mold systems for molding fluid-filled elements include a lower mold body having a lower mold surface and an upper mold body having an upper mold surface. A mold apparatus is disposed between the lower and upper mold bodies. This mold apparatus includes: (i) a first arm providing a first mold surface extending between first and second ends of the first arm, and (ii) a second arm providing a second mold surface extending between first and second ends of the second arm. The first and second mold surfaces have surface contours configured to form molded undercut surface features of the fluid-filled element. Methods of molding fluid-filled elements using such mold systems also are described.

Abstract: Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole structure having a fluid-filled element in the heel region. The fluid-filled element includes: (a) an upper surface, (b) a lower surface, and (c) an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper surface and lower surface. The fluid-filled element also includes a pair of spaced apart, substantially U-shaped voids that extend through a central region of the fluid-filled element. A first void of the pair of voids is located closer to a forward end of the fluid-filled element than a second void of the pair. Both the first void and the second void have an open portion of its U-shape oriented toward the forward end of the fluid-filled element.

Abstract: A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface configured to engage a first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface configured to engage a second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. The driving cam member moves between a first position, in which the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface, and a second position, in which the first arm and the second arm are separated to enable removal of a molded element having an undercut mold surface contour.

Abstract: A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface configured to engage a first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface configured to engage a second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. The driving cam member moves between a first position, in which the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface, and a second position, in which the first arm and the second arm are separated to enable removal of a molded element having an undercut mold surface contour.

Abstract: A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface configured to engage a first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface configured to engage a second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. The driving cam member moves between a first position, in which the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface, and a second position, in which the first arm and the second arm are separated to enable removal of a molded element having an undercut mold surface contour.

Abstract: A coloring system includes an assembly for retaining articles to be colored and an actuator for moving the assembly. The assembly can be translated horizontally, raised and lowered and rotated by the actuator. The coloring system may include a fluid control system that allows gas to be removed from a container of the assembly while the container is immersed in a liquid coloring agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coloring an article includes fastening an article to a container which at least partially encloses the article. The article fastens to the container in a fixed position. A portion of the container is inserted into a liquid by an actuator. The liquid enters the container through an open end. An air pocket is created in the container when it is inserted into the liquid. A first portion of the article is contained within the air pocket and a second portion of the article is dipped into the liquid and thereby is colored from a dye in the liquid. The actuator also removes the container and the article from the liquid. The process can be repeated with the article in an inverted position and with another liquid to color another portion of the article a second color.

Abstract: A printing jig system that includes a maintaining jig able to maintain an article for a first processing step and that is also used to maintain and align the article for a subsequent printing process step. In order to effectively be used for a first processing step and a second printing process step, a support portion supports the article in locations otherwise left unsupported by a processing aperture of the maintaining jig. The processing aperture is configured to facilitate the first processing step, such as steaming of the article. The print support portion is configured to extend through the processing aperture of the maintaining jig The maintaining jig and the print support portion are aligned and maintained relative to each other and a printing machine by a base plate adapted to removeably secure and align the maintaining jig and the print support portion.

Abstract: A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface configured to engage a first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface configured to engage a second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. The driving cam member moves between a first position, in which the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface, and a second position, in which the first arm and the second arm are separated to enable removal of a molded element having an undercut mold surface contour.

Abstract: A printing jig system that includes a maintaining jig able to maintain an article for a first processing step and that is also used to maintain and align the article for a subsequent printing process step. In order to effectively be used for a first processing step and a second printing process step, a support portion supports the article in locations otherwise left unsupported by a processing aperture of the maintaining jig. The processing aperture is configured to facilitate the first processing step, such as steaming of the article. The print support portion is configured to extend through the processing aperture of the maintaining jig The maintaining jig and the print support portion are aligned and maintained relative to each other and a printing machine by a base plate adapted to removeably secure and align the maintaining jig and the print support portion.

Abstract: A printing jig system that includes a maintaining jig able to maintain an article for a first processing step and that is also used to maintain and align the article for a subsequent printing process step. In order to effectively be used for a first processing step and a second printing process step, a support portion supports the article in locations otherwise left unsupported by a processing aperture of the maintaining jig. The processing aperture is configured to facilitate the first processing step, such as steaming of the article. The print support portion is configured to extend through the processing aperture of the maintaining jig The maintaining jig and the print support portion are aligned and maintained relative to each other and a printing machine by a base plate adapted to removeably secure and align the maintaining jig and the print support portion.

Abstract: A printing jig system that includes a maintaining jig able to maintain an article for a first processing step and that is also used to maintain and align the article for a subsequent printing process step. In order to effectively be used for a first processing step and a second printing process step, a support portion supports the article in locations otherwise left unsupported by a processing aperture of the maintaining jig. The processing aperture is configured to facilitate the first processing step, such as steaming of the article. The print support portion is configured to extend through the processing aperture of the maintaining jig The maintaining jig and the print support portion are aligned and maintained relative to each other and a printing machine by a base plate adapted to removeably secure and align the maintaining jig and the print support portion.

Abstract: A coloring system includes an assembly for retaining articles to be colored and an actuator for moving the assembly. The assembly can be translated horizontally, raised and lowered and rotated by the actuator. The coloring system may include a fluid control system that allows gas to be removed from a container of the assembly while the container is immersed in a liquid coloring agent.