[0001] Footwear tends to be mass produced with variance among a specific style or type of footwear typically being limited to size. Mass production of footwear is facilitated by industrial processes, such as injection molding, that are effective in keeping costs down when many of the same item are made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example midsole with lateral openings being placed inside an example cover that includes a bag.

[0003] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the example midsole being sealed inside the example cover such that the example cover prevents debris from entering the lateral openings of the midsole.

[0004] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of external surfaces of the example cover, with the midsole sealed inside, of FIG. 2, being attached to an upper and an outsole to form a footwear article.

[0005] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example midsole sealed inside an example cover that includes a bag with a sealed flap of the bag located along a side of the example midsole.

[0006] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example midsole being placed inside an example cover that includes a band, and the band being sealed to, and/or attached around, a lateral perimeter of the example midsole.

[0007] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of external edges of the example cover of FIG. 5, with the midsole inside, being attached to respective edges of upper and an outsole to form a footwear article.

[0008] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example method of manufacture of a sealed midsole for a footwear article that includes sealing a midsole inside a cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Footwear tends to be mass produced with variance among a specific style or type of footwear typically being limited to size. Mass production of footwear is facilitated by industrial processes, such as injection molding, that are effective in keeping costs down when many of the same item are made. In some instances, customization of footwear may occur via three-dimensional printing of midsoles, for example having open lattice structures. While this can provide some customization, debris may lodge in lateral openings of the open lattice structures around a lateral perimeter of a three-dimensionally printed midsole, which can degrade and/or change the mechanical properties of the midsole. While a midsole could be printed with a closed perimeter and/or closed boundary, this could alter desired mechanical properties of the midsole.

[0010] Hence, according to the present specification, a midsole having openings at a lateral perimeter may be sealed at least partially inside a cover to cover and seal the lateral openings. The cover may be provided in the form of a bag into which the midsole is placed, or a band which goes around the lateral perimeter of the midsole. The midsole is sealed inside the cover using any suitable sealing process and/or combination thereof, such as thermal shrinking, vacuum sealing, and the like, with materials of the cover being selected accordingly. In some examples, the cover and sealing process may be selected so as to not change the mechanical properties of the midsole; however, in other examples, the cover and sealing process may be selected to change the mechanical properties of the midsole, for example by sealing gas and/or air inside the midsole. The cover may include customized text or customized graphics thereupon located such that, when the midsole is sealed inside the cover, the customized text or customized graphics is at least partially around the lateral perimeter of the midsole. Hence, sealing a midsole inside a cover may allow for sealing of openings to prevent debris from entering openings of the midsole and/or customization of text and/or graphics (and/or texture) of the midsole. [0011] An aspect of the specification provides an article comprising: a midsole comprising a three-dimensionally printed midsole having lateral openings at a lateral perimeter thereof; and a cover at least partially around the midsole to cover the lateral openings, the cover to seal the lateral openings.

[0012] Another aspect of the specification provides an article comprising: a midsole; and a cover around at least a lateral perimeter of the midsole, the cover comprising customized text or customized graphics thereupon, such that the customized text or customized graphics is at least partially around the lateral perimeter of the midsole.

[0013] Another aspect of the specification provides a method comprising: placing a midsole inside a cover, the midsole comprising a three-dimensionally printed midsole having lateral openings at a lateral perimeter thereof; and sealing the midsole inside the cover, using a sealing process, such that the cover conforms to at least the lateral perimeter of the midsole and seals the lateral openings, such that the cover prevents debris from entering the lateral openings.

[0014] Attention is directed to FIG. 1 which depicts a perspective view of an example midsole 101 with lateral openings 103 being placed inside an example cover 105, as represented by an arrow 106. For example, as depicted, the cover 105 comprises a bag that includes an opening 107 into which the midsole 101 may be placed, and a flap 109 which may cover the opening 107 when the midsole 101 is placed inside the cover 105; as will be explained in further detail below, the flap 109 may be sealed around the opening 107 using a sealing process that seals the midsole 101 inside the cover 105.

[0015] The opening 107 may be large enough such that the midsole 101 fits therethrough, and/or the material of the cover 105 may least partially stretch such that the midsole 101 may be placed inside the cover 105. [0016] In some examples, the midsole 101 may be placed inside the cover 105 manually, while in other examples the midsole 101 may be placed inside the cover 105 using a robot and/or any other suitable machine.

[0017] As depicted, the lateral openings 103 are located around a lateral perimeter 110 and/or sides of the midsole 101 ; for example, the midsole 101 may comprise a three-dimensionally printed midsole having the lateral openings 103 at the lateral perimeter 110 thereof. For example, the midsole 101 may comprise a three-dimensionally printed lattice structure (e.g. a structure of nodes and beams and/or struts) and the lateral openings 103 may be between three-dimensionally printed beams, and the like, of the three-dimensionally printed lattice structure. Hence, a three-dimensionally printed lattice structure of the midsole 101 may comprise an open lattice structure.

[0018] Furthermore, while openings of a lattice structure are not depicted on a top side 111 of the midsole 101 , openings similar to the lateral openings 103 may be located at the top side 111 of the midsole.

[0019] However, to illustrate that the midsole 101 may include other types of openings, at locations other than the lateral perimeter 110, as depicted the midsole 101 includes openings 113 at the top side 111 , which may comprise apertures through the midsole and/or recesses in the midsole 101. Hence, an opening 113 may be through the midsole 101 from the top side 111 to a bottom side, or an opening 113 may be a recess or a divot in the top side 111 that does not extend to the bottom side. While the bottom side of the midsole 101 is not depicted, the bottom side is understood to be present opposite the top side 111 of the midsole 101 ; for example, the bottom side is not visible to the angle at which the midsole 101 is depicted. In some examples, openings similar to the openings 113 may be present at the bottom side (e.g. as a recess or an opposite end of a depicted opening 113).

[0020] It is further understood that the lateral perimeter 110 generally joins the top side 111 to the bottom side of the midsole 101. [0021] As depicted, the cover 105 comprises a bag and/or any other suitable shape that may entirely surround the midsole 101 when the midsole 101 is placed therein, including, but not limited to, a pouch, and the like. In other examples, described in more detail below, a cover may be provided in the form of a band which surrounds the lateral perimeter 110.

[0022] As depicted the cover 105 comprises customized text and/or customized graphics 115 which, when the midsole 101 is sealed inside the cover 105, may be located along the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole, as described in more detail below. For example, as depicted, the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 comprises a “LOGO” along with a graphic having a shape similar to a shape of the lateral perimeter 110. For example, the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 may be printed on an external surface (and/or an internal surface) of the cover 105 using any suitable technique. However, the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 may be optional. In yet further examples, the cover 105 may comprise a customized texture (e.g. by printing a texture at the cover 105 and/or by forming a texture into the material of the cover 105). Such a customized texture may be in addition to, or in place of, the customized text or customized graphics 115.

[0023] The cover 105 may comprise any suitable shape and/or material which is compatible with a sealing process used to seal the midsole 101 inside the cover 105. For example, a sealing process may comprise any suitable combination of one or more of a thermal shrinking process, a vacuum sealing process, and the like, with the shape and/or material of the cover 105 selected accordingly. In examples where the sealing process comprises a thermal shrink process, the cover 105 may comprise a thermal shrink material. Similarly, in examples where the sealing process comprises a vacuum seal process, the cover 105 may comprise a material that may hold a vacuum. Hence, the cover 105 may comprise any suitable material including, but not limited to, plastic, mylar, rubber, a membrane, a thermal shrink material and the like. The shape of the cover 105 may comprise any suitable shape which, when the midsole 101 is sealed inside the cover 105, the cover 105 conforms to at least the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101 to seal the lateral openings 103.

[0024] For example, while a shape of the cover 105 is depicted in FIG. 1 as generally formless (e.g. as a loose bag), a shape of the cover 105 may be similar to shape of the midsole 101 , which may assist with locating the midsole 101 inside the cover 105. For example, the cover 105 may be shaped similar to the midsole 101 such that internal surfaces of the cover 105 cause corresponding surface of the midsole 101 to align therewith. For example, the cover 105 may comprise a respective lateral perimeter, top surface and bottom surface respectively similar to the lateral perimeter 110, the top side 111 and the bottom surface of the midsole 101.

[0025] Attention is next directed to FIG. 2 which depicts the midsole 101 inside the cover 105 before and after a sealing process 201 to produce an article 203. In general, the article 203 comprises a sealed midsole for integration and/or incorporation into a footwear article, such as a shoe, a boot, and the like, as described in more detail below.

[0026] In a top portion of FIG. 2, the midsole 101 is depicted as being inside the cover 105, with the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 being about aligned with a corresponding portion of the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101. Further, the flap 109 is depicted as being closed over the opening 107 (e.g. which is hence not visible in FIG. 2).

[0027] The sealing process 201 is applied to the combination of the midsole 101 inside the cover 105 to produce the article 203, as depicted in a bottom portion of FIG. 2. In general, the article 203 comprises the midsole 101 (e.g. which may comprise a three-dimensionally printed midsole having the lateral openings 103 at the lateral perimeter 110 thereof) sealed inside the cover 105.

[0028] As also depicted in FIG. 2, at the article 203, the flap 109 is sealed over the opening 107. As also depicted at the article 203, the cover 105 at least partially surrounds the midsole 101 to cover the lateral openings 103, to seal the lateral openings 103.

[0029] As also depicted at the article 203, the position of the flap 109 of the cover 105 may be selected such that the flap 109 is located at a back end of the article 203 when the midsole 101 is sealed inside the cover 105. While not depicted, in some examples, the flap 109 may include text and/or graphics and/or a texture to at least partially “hide” and/or obscure the flap 109 when the midsole 101 is sealed inside the cover 105 at the article 203. However, the flapl 09 and the opening 107 may be located at any suitable position, as described in more detail below. Furthermore, while the flap 109 has been described as being a part of the cover 105, in other example the flap 109 may comprise a piece separate from the cover 105.

[0030] In FIG. 2, the article 203 is depicted with the cover 105 being slightly offset to the midsole 101 inside the article 203, with a respective shape of the cover 105 being substantially similar to a shape of the midsole 101. Such a depiction indicates that the sealing process 201 has caused the cover 105 to conform to a shape of the midsole 101 therein. Put another way, as depicted, the cover 105 (e.g. at the article 203) comprise a bag shrunk around the midsole 101 , and/or the cover 105 entirely surrounds the midsole 101.

[0031] In general, at the article 203, the cover 105 acts as a barrier for debris from entering the lateral openings 103.

[0032] Hence, put another way, the article 203 may comprise: the midsole 101 , which may comprise a three-dimensionally printed midsole having the lateral openings 103 at the lateral perimeter 110 thereof; and the cover 105 at least partially around the midsole 101 to cover the lateral openings 103, the cover 105 to seal the lateral openings 103.

[0033] Furthermore, as depicted, at the article 203, the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 are at least partially around the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101 , for example to visually customize the article 203. While as depicted the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 cover all of the lateral perimeter 110, in other examples, the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 may cover a portion of the lateral perimeter 110. In yet further examples, the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 may be optional.

[0034] Put another way, the article 203 comprises: the midsole 101 ; and the cover 105 around at least the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101 , the cover 105 comprising the customized text or customized graphics 115 thereupon, such that the customized text or customized graphics 115 is at least partially around the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101. As described above, the cover 105 may further comprise (e.g. in addition to, or in place of the customized text or customized graphics 115) a customized texture, such that the customized texture is at least partially around the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101 at the article 203.

[0035] Furthermore, in some examples, the cover 105 (as well, when present, as the customized text and/or customized graphics 115) may be transparent and/or translucent such that the lateral openings 103 are visible through the cover 105 at the article 203. However, in other examples (e.g. as depicted), the cover 105 (as well, when present, as the customized text and/or customized graphics 115) may be opaque such that the lateral openings 103 are not visible through the cover 105 at the article 203.

[0036] In yet further examples, the sealing process 201 , and the like, may be used to attach the cover 105 with the customized text and/or customized graphics 115, and the like, to a midsole that does not include lateral openings, and the like, for example to visually customize such a midsole using the customized text and/or customized graphics 115. For example, a solid midsole produced using injection molding techniques and/or an injection molding materials and/or injection molding materials may be visually customized using the cover 105 and the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 (e.g. a midsole comprising an injection molded midsole and/or injection molded material and/or injection molded materials may be used with the cover 105 in place of the midsole 101 ).

[0037] In some examples, the sealing process 201 and/or the cover 105 does not substantially alter mechanical properties of the midsole 101 at the article 203. In these examples, the cover 105 and/or the sealing process 201 may allow the midsole 101 to “breathe” such that air and/or gas inside the midsole 101 may exit and enter the lateral openings 103 when compression forces are applied to (and removed from) the midsole 101 , for example when the article 203 is later integrated into a footwear article. However, the cover 105 still generally prevents debris from entering the lateral openings 103. In these examples, the cover 105 may comprise a breathable membrane material.

[0038] However, in other examples, the sealing process 201 and/or the cover 105 may alter mechanical properties of the midsole 101 at the article 203. In these examples, the cover 105 and/or the sealing process 201 may not allow the midsole 101 to “breathe” such that air and/or gas inside the midsole 101 is trapped inside the midsole 101. In these examples, air and/or gas is generally prevented from exiting and entering the lateral openings 103, by the cover 105 and/or the sealing process 201 , when compression forces are applied to (and removed from) the midsole 101 , for example when the article 203 is later integrated into a footwear article; such sealing of air and/or gas in the midsole 101 may provide cushioning in the footwear article. In these examples, it is understood that the cover 105 is further to encapsulate gas in the midsole 101 , via sealing the lateral openings 103, and any other openings in the midsole 101 , such as the openings 113, to alter compression forces of the midsole 101. Indeed, at the article 203, the openings 113 are depicted in broken lines to indicate that the cover 105 covers the openings 113, for example to seal the openings 113. Indeed, in some examples, placing the midsole 101 inside the cover 105 and/or the sealing process 201 may occur in the presence of a given gas (e.g. such as nitrogen and/or any other suitable gas) to trap the given gas inside the midsole 101 at the article 203. Such trapping of gas may alter the mechanical properties of the midsole 101 at the article 203. Put another way, the sealing process 201 and/or the cover 105 may trap gas inside the midsole 101 to alter mechanical properties of the midsole 101 which may include, but is not limited to, cushioning properties and/or compression properties and/or “spring” properties (e.g. spring force) and/or dampening properties (e.g. damping force), and the like.

[0039] Attention is next directed to FIG. 3 which depict the article 203 being altered to include an upper 301 and an outsole 303, for example, to form a footwear article. For example, the upper 301 may be bonded and/or attached to the cover 105 at the top side 111 of the midsole 101 (e.g. inside the cover 105), as represented by an arrow 305 (e.g. the arrow 305 represents an attachment process), using glue, thermal processes and/or any other suitable attachment process for attaching an upper of a footwear article to a midsole of a footwear article. Similarly, the outsole 303 may be bonded and/or attached to the cover 105 at the bottom side of the midsole 101 (e.g. inside the cover 105), as represented by an arrow 307 (e.g. the arrow 307 represents an attachment process), using glue, thermal processes and/or any other suitable attachment process for attaching an outsole of a footwear article to a midsole of a footwear article. As such, the material of the cover 105 may be further selected such that the cover 105, and/or external surfaces thereof, provides adhesion to the upper 301 and the outsole 303.

[0040] Attention is next directed to FIG. 4 which depicts an alternative article 403, which is substantially similar to the article 203 and may be formed in a similar manner as described above. The article 403 comprises the midsole 101 and a cover 405, which is substantially similar to the cover 105. however, in contrast to the cover 105, the cover 405 includes a flap 409 at a different position than the flap 109; while not depicted, it is understood that the flap 409 covers an opening in the cover 405, similar to the opening 107.

[0041] In particular, the flap 409 is positioned such that, when the midsole 101 is sealed inside cover 405 to form the article 403, the flap 109 is located at the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101 , and hence at a lateral perimeter of the article 403 (e.g. when the midsole 101 is sealed inside the cover 105). As depicted, the flap 409 may include text and/or graphics 415 (e.g. “LOGO”) and/or a texture to at least partially “hide” and/or obscure the flap 409 at the article 403.

[0042] Hence, FIG. 4 illustrates that a flap (e.g. and a corresponding opening) of a cover, as provided herein, may be located at any suitable location at the cover.

[0043] Attention is next directed to FIG. 5 which depicts, in a top portion of FIG. 5, a perspective view of another example midsole 501 being placed inside an example cover 505 provided in the form of a band. The midsole 501 may be similar or different from the midsole 101. For example, as depicted, the midsole 501 comprises lateral openings 503 at a lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole 501 , which may be substantially similar to the lateral openings 103. Hence, as depicted, the midsole 501 may comprise a three-dimensionally printed midsole and/or a three-dimensional lattice structure. However, in contrast to the midsole 101 , the midsole 501 may not include openings (e.g. similar to the openings 113) at a top side 511 thereof. Indeed, in other examples, the midsole 501 may not include the lateral openings 503 and/or the midsole 501 may comprise an injection molded midsole and/or an injection molded material and/or injection molded materials.

[0044] As also seen in the top portion of FIG. 5, the cover 505 in the form of a band may comprise customized text and/or customized graphics 515 at a location that corresponds with the lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole 501. The customized text and/or customized graphics 515 may be similar (e.g. as depicted) or different from the customized text and/or customized graphics 115.

[0045] As depicted, the cover 505 in the form of a band is generally of a size to be placed around the midsole 501 and is of any suitable shape and/or material. For example, a material of the cover 505 may be similar to the materials of the cover 105, as described above. While the band of the cover 505 is depicted being an oval shape, the cover 505 may be of any suitable band shape including, but not limited to, a shape similar to the lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole, for example to assist in conforming the cover 505 to the midsole 501 during a sealing process.

[0046] Indeed, as also depicted in FIG. 5, the cover 505 has been placed around the midsole 501 with the customized text and/or customized graphics 515 aligned with a region of the lateral perimeter 510 to be covered by the customized text and/or customized graphics 515. The cover 505 is then sealed to the midsole 501 using a sealing and/or attachment process 521 , such as a thermal shrinking process, and the like to produce an article 523. The article 523 is generally similar to the article 203, however the cover 505 in the form of the band is sealed and/or attached around the lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole 501 rather than being entirely around the midsole 501.

[0047] In particular, the article 523 comprises: the midsole 501 ; and the cover 505 around at least the lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole 501 , the cover 505 comprising the customized text or customized graphics 515 thereupon, such that the customized text or customized graphics 515 is at least partially around the lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole 501. As with the cover 105, in some examples, the cover 505 may further comprise (e.g. in addition to, or in place of the customized text or customized graphics 515) a customized texture, such that the customized texture is at least partially around the lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole 501 at the article 523.

[0048] Like the cover 105, the cover 505 may seal the lateral openings 503 (e.g. when present) to prevent debris from entering the lateral openings 503. Hence, put another way, the article 523 may comprise: the midsole 501 which may comprise a three-dimensionally printed midsole having the lateral openings 503 at the lateral perimeter 510 thereof; and the cover 505 at least partially around the midsole 501 to cover the lateral openings 503, the cover 505 to seal the lateral openings 503. [0049] Regardless of whether the lateral openings 503 are present, or not, as depicted, the cover 505 of the article 523 comprises a band shrunk around the lateral perimeter 510 of the midsole 501.

[0050] In particular, a width (and/or widths) of the band of the cover 505 may be selected such that, when the band of the cover 505 is attached and/or sealed to the midsole 101 , edges 559 (e.g. outer edges) of the band of the cover 505 wrap around the lateral perimeter 510 to reside at the top side 511 (e.g. as depicted) and the bottom side of the midsole 501. As depicted an edge 559 is depicted at the top side 511 of the midsole 501. Due to the angle at which the article 523 is depicted in FIG. 5, an opposite edge 559 at the bottom surface of the midsole 501 is not depicted, but the bottom side of the midsole 501 , and the edge 559 thereupon, are nonetheless understood to be present.

[0051] Attention is next directed to FIG. 6 which depict the article 523 being altered to include the upper 301 and the outsole 303, for example, to form a footwear article. For example, the upper 301 may be bonded and/or attached to a region of the cover 505 at the top side 511 of the midsole 501 (e.g. that includes the edge 559 at the top side 511), as well as the top side 511 of the midsole 501 that is not covered by the cover 505. Such an attachment process is represented by an arrow 605 which may be the same or different from the attachment process represented by the arrow 305, and may include, using glue, thermal processes and/or any other suitable attachment process for attaching an upper of a footwear article to a midsole of a footwear article.

[0052] Similarly, the outsole 303 may be bonded and/or attached to a region of the cover 505 at the bottom side of the midsole 501 (e.g. that includes a respective edge 559 at the bottom side), as well as the bottom side of the midsole 501 that is not covered by the cover 505. Such an attachment process is represented by an arrow 607 which may be the same or different from the attachment process represented by the arrow 307, and may include, using glue, thermal processes and/or any other suitable attachment process for attaching an outsole of a footwear article to a midsole of a footwear article. As such, the material of the cover 505 may be further selected such that the cover 105 provides adhesion at respective edges of the upper 301 and the outsole 303 that adhere to the portions of the cover 105 located at the top side 511 and the bottom side of the midsole 501.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows an example method 700 of manufacture of a sealed midsole for a footwear article that includes sealing a midsole inside a cover. The method begins at block 702, and will be described with respect to the process shown in FIG. 3, but may also be used with the process shown in FIG. 6.

[0054] At a block 704, a midsole 101 is placed inside a cover 105. For example, as previously described, the midsole 101 may comprise a three- dimensionally printed midsole having lateral openings 103 at a lateral perimeter 110 thereof. The cover 105 may comprise the bag depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG.

2, however a cover in the form of a band, as depicted in FIG. 5, may alternatively be used.

[0055] At a block 706, the midsole 101 is sealed inside the cover 105, using a sealing process, such that the cover 105 conforms to at least the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101 and seals the lateral openings 103, such that the cover 105 prevents debris from entering the lateral openings 103. It is understood that the midsole 101 being sealed inside the cover 105 may include the midsole 101 being sealed inside a cover in the form of a bag, as depicted in FIG. 2; however, it is further understood that the midsole 101 being sealed inside the cover 105 may include the midsole 101 being sealed inside a cover in the form of a band, as depicted in FIG. 5. Hence, the term “sealed inside” may refer to the midsole 101 being entirely sealed inside a cover or may refer to the midsole 101 being partially sealed inside a cover, for example such that a cover conforms to at least the lateral perimeter 110 of the midsole 101 and seals the lateral openings 103, such that the cover prevents debris from entering the lateral openings 103.

[0056] As has already been described, the sealing process of the block 706 may comprise thermal shrinking and/or vacuum sealing. For example, the sealing process may comprise any suitable combination of one or more of thermal shrinking, vacuum sealing, and/or any other suitable sealing process and/or attachment process which may further include, but is not limited to at least partially melting a cover and/or a portion of a cover, ultra violet (UV) curing and/or electron beam (EB) curing. Furthermore, the sealing process may be selected based on whether a cover is a bag or a band; for example, thermal shrinking may be used with bag or a band, however vacuum sealing may be more suitable for a bag, and not suitable and/or less suitable for a band. Indeed, in a particular example, a cover in the form of a band may comprise rubber and/or a stretchable material, which may be stretched around a midsole to seal the midsole. Hence, a sealing process may be selected based on a type of a cover and/or a material of a cover. Furthermore, as has already been described, the sealing process may not substantially alter mechanical properties of the midsole 101 , or the sealing process may trap gas inside the midsole 101 to alter mechanical properties of the midsole 101.

[0057] Furthermore, placing the midsole 101 inside the cover 105 at the block 704 may comprise placing the midsole 101 inside the cover 105 via the flap 109 (and the like) of the cover 105, the flap 109 being sealed during the sealing process. Furthermore, placing the midsole 101 inside the cover 105 at the block 704 may comprise aligning the customized text and/or customized graphics 115 (e.g. when present) with a corresponding portion of the lateral perimeter 110.

[0058] The method 700 ends at block 708 with the formation of the article 203 (and/or the article 523).

[0059] While not depicted, the method 700 may further include attaching respective external surfaces of the cover 105, with the midsole 101 sealed inside, to the upper 301 and the outsole 303 to form a footwear article.

However, such attaching may occur at a different facility and/or by a different entity than a facility and/or entity that produces the article 203 (and/or the article 523). Put another way, the article 203 (and/or the article 523) may be produced at a first facility and/or by a first entity and shipped to a second facility and/or a second entity for attachment to an outsole and an upper and/or for incorporation into a footwear article.

[0060] It is further understood that the method 700 may be performed using a robot that is has been provided with non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of the robot, performs the method 700 using a provided midsole and cover.

[0061] It is further understood that similar midsoles may be sealed inside different covers having different customized text and/or different customized graphics (and/or different customized textures). Hence similar midsoles, having different customized text and/or different customized graphics (and/or different customized textures), may be incorporated into footwear articles that are the same other than the different customized text and/or different customized graphics (and/or different customized textures) of the midsoles. Hence, for example, limited runs of footwear articles may be produced having different sports team logos, player’s names, and the like, on the midsoles. Alternatively, a wearer may request particular customized text and/or particular customized graphics (and/or particular customized textures) for a midsole such that a footwear article may customized, for example at a location of a retail store, and the like, that has equipment installed to: print the particular customized text and/or particular customized graphics (and/or particular customized textures) onto a cover; seal a midsole inside a cover (e.g. which may include attaching the cover to the midsole without sealing lateral openings of the midsole which may or may not be present); and assemble the resulting article with an upper and an outsole. Alternatively, the retail store, and the like, may be provided with sealed midsoles having different team logos and/or player names (e.g. different customized text and/or graphics), and a wearer may request a particular logo and/or player name for a customized shoe at the retail store, which may then use installed equipment to: seal a selected customized midsole inside a cover (e.g. which may include attaching the cover to the customized midsole without sealing lateral openings of the customized midsole which may or may not be present); and assemble the resulting article with an upper and an outsole.

[0062] In view of the above, it should be apparent that the techniques described herein provide for readily sealing midsoles. In view of the above, it should be further apparent that the techniques described herein provide for customizable midsoles specific to a single footwear article or group of footwear articles.

[0063] It should be recognized that features and aspects of the various examples provided above can be combined into further examples that also fall within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the figures are not to scale and may have size and shape exaggerated for illustrative purposes.