WO2019199270A1

WO2019199270A1 - Footwear with structural members

Info

Publication number: WO2019199270A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/026761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward PONOMAREV; Stephen George Miller; Matthew G. Lopez
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2018-04-09
Filing date: 2018-04-09
Publication date: 2019-10-17

Abstract

In some examples, a footwear apparatus includes an upper portion, a lower sole, a moldable material bonded to the upper portion and to the lower sole, a structural member within and bonded to the moldable material, and a support member extending from the structural member and into the moldable material, to stabilize the position of the structural member within the moldable material.

Description

FOOTWEAR WITH STRUCTURAL MEMBERS

BACKGROUND

[0001] Footwear of various types, including some boots, sandals, and athletic shoes, may be formed by fabrication process that includes assembling various pre-manufactured components into a mold and injecting an elastomer or another moldable material into the mold to produce a portion of the sole. The moldable material bonds the other components together and provides additional structure to the sole. The end result is a completed piece of footwear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Various examples are described below referring to the following figures:

[0003] FIG. 1 shows cross-sectional view of a footwear apparatus including and a structural member supported by a support member in accordance with various examples;

[0004] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a sole of the footwear apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with various examples;

[0005] FIG. 3 shows cross-sectional view of a footwear fabrication assembly that includes the footwear apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with various examples;

[0006] FIG. 4 shows cross-sectional view of another footwear fabrication assembly that includes a footwear apparatus with a structural member supported by a support member in accordance with various examples;

[0007] FIGS. 5 to 7 show various views of a structural member having flow channels for a moldable material in accordance with various examples; and

[0008] FIG. 8 shows a method for fabricating a footwear apparatus in accordance with various examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to... ." Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to be broad enough to encompass both indirect and direct connections. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices, components, and connections.

[0010] As used herein, including in the claims, the word “or” is used in an inclusive manner. For example,“A or B” means any of the following:“A” alone, “B” alone, or both“A” and“B.” In addition, when used herein including the claims, the word“generally” or“substantially” means within a range of plus or minus 20% of the stated value or condition.

[0011] As used herein,“moldable” refers broadly to a capability of a material to flow into or to be injected in to a mold or to be plastically deformed (which is a type of molding process in at least some examples) into a desired shape. Moldable further refers to such capability, as described above, for the material before, during, or after molding or deformation occurs. As examples, a suitable material supplied for a molding process is moldable, and the final product, such as a portion of the sole of a shoe, is moldable even after cooling or curing is completed. The term“moldable material” may refer to such a material at any stage of a process or any stage of the life of a product.

[0012] The present disclosure presents examples of footwear and portions of footwear at various stages of manufacture or, equivalently, fabrication, include fully completed footwear. Any such footwear or portion of footwear may be called a footwear apparatus. The present disclosure also presents examples of footwear fabrication assemblies, including molds. The present disclosure, presents methods for fabrication of footwear apparatuses.

[0013] Some examples describe apparatus and methods involving the use of moldable material to envelope a structural member possessing specific characteristics including flexure or resilience, as examples, to create a hybrid midsole for use within customized footwear. This hybrid midsole structure may provide a highly-tuned flexure and resilience characteristics that may be customized for either a market segment, or for a customer. In some examples, the moldable material is polyurethane elastomer, which may be applied via an over-molding technique to envelope the structural member, for example. The structural members disclosed herein may be manufactured from a variety of methods, such as MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) technology, or other subtractive or additive techniques including but not limited to SLA (Stereolithography), SLM/SLS (Selective Laser Melting or Sintering) and FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling). The structural members may provide a unique behavior based upon the manufacturing material, thickness, shape, and internal construction, including meshes, lattices, and matrices, which are included in some examples.

[0014] The apparatuses and methods disclosed herein may be used to manage the positioning of the structural member within the mold while injecting a moldable material and during solidification, curing, or catalyst of the moldable material. The apparatuses and methods include, as examples, the use of restraining devices such as ribs or standoff posts located in the rubber lower sole, or standoffs protruding from the lower mold thru the rubber lower sole and into the structural member. For convenience, any of these ribs, posts, and standoffs, etc. may also be called“support members.” The use of these support members may stabilize or rigidly fix the structural member in a footwear apparatus or mold during fabrication, resisting, for example, the forces generated by the moldable material prior to solidification. These structural members do not interfere with the removal of the shoe from either a rotary turret, or a last, as examples.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows an example of a footwear apparatus. Footwear apparatus 100 extends from a heel end or back end 101 to a front end 102 and includes an upper portion 1 10, lower sole 120 spaced apart from portion 1 10, a midsole region or, simply, midsole 128. Midsole 128 includes a moldable material 130 injected between sole 120 and portion 1 10, an insert or structural member 140 disposed within material 130, and multiple support members 160. Moldable material 130 is bonded to sole 120, upper portion 1 10, structural member 140, and support members 160. In this example, moldable material 130 is self-bonded to these components. In this example, moldable material 130 is a moldable material. Moldable material 130 may be a 2-part polyurethane. Other examples may use a different type of moldable material or a different category of material for moldable material 130. Members 160 extend from structural member 140 into material 130, to stabilize the position of the structural member within the moldable material during the fabrication of footwear apparatus 100. [0016] Upper portion 1 10 includes sidewalls 1 12 extending from a base layer 1 14. Lower sole 120 includes a body 122 extending from back end 101 to front end 102 in a first or forward direction and from a lower surface 123 to an upper surface 124 in a second or upward direction.

[0017] In some examples, support members 160 are situated on or partially within sole 120. In some examples, support members 160 are attached to lower sole 120 by boding, gluing, by a fastener, etc. prior to assembling sole 120 with the other components of apparatus 100. In the example of FIG. 1 , support members 160 are integral parts of lower sole 120. As an example, if lower sole 120 is fabricated in a mold by a molding process prior to assembling sole 120 with the other components of apparatus 100, support members 160 may be formed during the same process and may be formed from the same material as body 122 or from another material that is sequentially poured or injected into the mold.

[0018] Referring now to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, on sole 120 support members 160 are grouped together but spaced apart across a region of upper surface 124 on body 122. Each support member 160 is formed as a post that extends upward from a first or base end 161 at upper surface 124 and continues to a second end 162 distal from surface 124. On several support members 160, second end 162 includes a ledge 164 and an extension 166 that reaches beyond ledge 164. Ledge 164 faces generally away from (i.e., generally in the same direction as) upper surface 124. Ledge 164 and extension 166 form an L-shape. The L-shape of each similar support member 160 faces toward another support member 160, so that several of the support members 160 appear like a group of chairs formed as a perimeter of an inwardly facing circle or polygon. The group of support members includes another support member 160 disposed inside the perimeter formed by other members of group and having only a ledge 164 at second end 162 and lacking an extension 166, making it shorter in total length. Some examples have multiple of these shorter support members 160. The ledges 164 of the various support members 160 may be flat or curved at second end 162. Together, the group of support members 160 form a seat region 168 to receive the structural member 140. [0019] Continuing to reference FIG. 1 , structural member 140 extends from a back end 141 to a front end 142 in a first or forward direction and from a first or lower surface 143 to a second or upper surface 144 in a second or upward direction. A perimeter surface 145 is disposed around the ends and sides of member 140, extending around the perimeters of lower and upper surfaces 143, 144 and therefore extending vertically between lower and upper surfaces 143, 144. Structural member 140 is resilient, including an ability to regain entirely or partially its previous shape after a compression, torsion, or tension force has been applied to it. The body of structural member 140 includes a webbing 146 that may include meshes, lattices, and matrices, other elements, or other patterns. In some examples, structural member 140 includes another type of resilient member such as a spring or a homogenous or heterogenous elastomer. In various examples, member 140 may have one of many shapes, as examples, surfaces 143, 144 may be rectangular, round, oblong, oval, or another suitable shape. In various examples, the length between ends 141 , 142 may be greater than, less than, or equal to the lateral width of member 140.

[0020] Member 140 is received in seat region 168 of support members 160, supported in the vertical direction by ledges 164 and supported against horizontal movement (lateral and forward-backward) by extensions 166. In some examples, support members 160 allow member 340 to move vertically upward. Member 140 is spaced apart from lower sole 120 at a separation distance 148. More particularly, for this example, member 140 is spaced apart from body 122 of sole 120. Separation distance 148 is measured between upper surface 124 of sole 120 and lower surface 142 of member 140. Separation distance 148 may vary across lower surface 142. Separation distance 148 may be equal to the height or heights of ledges 164 from surface 124. In various examples, separation distance 148 refers to a single, common height or to variety of heights for multiple ledges 164 at differing distances from surface 124. Separation distance 148 may also refer to an average height of these ledges 146 and an average distance for member 140. Separation distance 148 is selected to provide a volume above and a volume below structural member 140 that is filled by moldable material 130. Support members 160 extend from the lower sole 120, through the moldable material 130, and to the structural member 140. In some examples, structural member 140 rests on sole 120 or contacts the lower surface of base layer 1 14 of upper portion 1 10.

[0021] FIG. 3 represents an example of a footwear manufacturing process. In FIG. 3, a footwear fabrication assembly 178 includes a mold 180 containing a footwear apparatus 100, as previously described, including a structural member 140. Mold 180 extends from a heel end or back end 181 to a front end 182 and includes a lower piece 183 coupled to an upper piece 184 an injection port 186 extends through back end 182 to a midsole zone 185 where moldable material 130 may be injected between upper portion 1 10 and lower sole 120. In some examples, an injection port 186 is optionally or additionally located at front end 182 or along a side of mold 180 between ends 181 , 182. Pieces 183, 184 are separable to allow pieces of footwear apparatus 100 to be installed and to allow a complete footwear apparatus 100 to be removed from the mold.

[0022] FIG. 4 represents another example of a footwear manufacturing process. In FIG. 4, a footwear fabrication assembly 278 includes a mold 280 containing a footwear apparatus 300. Footwear apparatus 300 extends from a heel end or back end 301 to a front end 302 and includes an upper portion 310, lower sole 320 spaced apart from portion 310, a midsole region or, simply, midsole 328. Midsole 328 includes a moldable material 330 injected between lower sole 320 and portion 310 and an insert or structural member 340 disposed within material 330. Moldable material 330 is bonded to sole 320, upper portion 1 10, structural member 140, and support members 160. In this example, moldable material 330 is self-bonded to these components. Material 330 may be the same as material 130 or may be selected from among various types of moldable material or from a different category of material. Mold 280 extends from a heel end or back end 281 to a front end 282 and includes a lower piece 283 coupled to an upper piece 284 an injection port 286 extends through back end 282 to a midsole zone 285 where moldable material 330 may be injected between upper portion 310 and lower sole 320. In some examples, an injection port 286 is optionally or additionally located at front end 282 or along a side of mold 280 between ends 281 , 282. Pieces 283, 284 are separable to allow pieces of footwear apparatus 300 to be installed and to allow a complete footwear apparatus 300 to be removed from the mold.

[0023] Mold 280 includes a plurality of space apart pins 290 extending from a first or base end 361 to a second end 362. Pins 290 extend through a plurality of holes 292 in lower piece 283, through lower sole 320, into midsole zone 285, and into structural member 340. Each pin 290 is configured to support the structural member 340 and may also be called a support member 290. The base end 361 of each pin 290 is rotabably coupled in one of the holes 292. In this example, the rotatable coupling 294 between pins 290 and hole 292 includes threads. Some examples include a cam-type coupling to hold pins within holes 292 or within structural member 340. Pins 290 are installable into and removable from holes 292 and footwear apparatus 300. This example includes two pairs of holes 292 and pins 290. Some examples have more pairs or have a single pair. Support members 290 extend from structural member 340 into material 330, to stabilize the position of the structural member within the moldable material during the fabrication of footwear apparatus 300.

[0024] Upper portion 310 includes sidewalls 312 extending from a base layer 314. Lower sole 320 includes a body 322 extending from back end 301 to front end 302 in a first or forward direction and from a lower surface 323 to an upper surface 324 in a second or upward direction. Lower sole 320 includes multiple through-holes 326 extending through body 322, including surface 323, 324. Each hole 326 is alignable with a hole 292 to receive a support member 290.

[0025] Continuing to reference FIG. 4, structural member 340 extends from a back end 341 to a front end 342 in a first or forward direction and from a first or lower surface 343 to a second or upper surface 344 in a second or upward direction. Member 350 includes a plurality of holes 350 extending inward through lower surface 343. Each hole 350 is alignable with a hole 292 to receive a support member 290. A perimeter surface 345 is disposed around the ends and sides of member 340, extending around the perimeters of lower and upper surfaces 343, 344 and therefore extending vertically between lower and upper surfaces 343, 344. The body of structural member 340 includes lattice or webbing 346, which in various examples is similar to webbing 146, including the possible variations discussed above. Member 340 is resilient and may have one of many shapes and lengths, as discussed above with reference to structural member 140.

[0026] During fabrication, structural member 340 is received on support members 290, supported against vertical and horizontal movement. In some examples, support members 290 may allow member 340 to move vertically upward. Member 340 is spaced apart from lower sole 320 at a separation distance 348. Separation distance 348 is measured between upper surface 324 of sole 320 and lower surface 342 of member 340. Separation distance 348 may vary across lower surface 342. Based on a selected design for the footwear apparatus, separation distance 348 may be specified as multiple heights, as an average height, or as a uniform height. Separation distance 348 is selected to provide a volume above and a volume below structural member 340 that is filled by moldable material 330. Support members 290 extend from the lower sole 320, through the moldable material 330, and to the structural member 340. In some examples, structural member 340 rests on sole 320 or contacts the lower surface of base layer 314 of upper portion 310.

[0027] FIGS. 5-7 provide an example of a structural member that includes flow channels for a moldable material. Structural member 440 extends from a first or back end 441 to a second or front end 442 in a first or forward direction and from a first or lower surface 443 to a second or upper surface 444 in a second or upward direction. Member 440 includes a first side 447A and a second side 447B, disposed between ends 441 , 442. Member 440 includes a plurality of mounting holes 450 extending inward through lower surface 443. A perimeter surface 445 is disposed around the ends 441 , 442 and sides 447A, 447B of member 440. As such, surface 445 extends around the perimeters of lower and upper surfaces 443, 444 and therefore extends vertically between lower and upper surfaces 443, 444. The body of structural member 440 includes lattice or webbing 446, which in various examples is similar to webbing 146, including the possible variations discussed above. A pocket 448 is disposed in the upper surface 444 proximal to back end 441 and extending approximately half way toward front end 442. An arch 454 is disposed in second side 447B and lower surface 443.

[0028] Member 440 includes a first and a second flow channel 455. Each channel 455 and its centerline 456 extend laterally through each side 447 A, 447B and therefore extend through the perimeter surface 445 twice. Channels 455 extend through the lower surface 443, dividing surface 443 into a plurality of separated regions. Channels 455 are spaced apart, being disposed on opposite ends of arch 454. One of the channels 455 is disposed underneath pocket 448. Channels 455 are disposed at locations such that when member 440 is positioned in a mold, an end of a channel 455 is aligned with or is proximal to a flow path from an injection port in the mold to assist with the flow and distribution of a moldable material to reduce the potential for the moldable material to exert a force or to move member 440 within the mold during the injection of moldable material. In some examples, center line 456 is aligned with or parallel to a flow path from an injection port. Channels 455 provide an additional flow path or a continuation of a flow path for the moldable material. The flow path of the channels 455 lacks obstructions and lacks a torturous path, such as a path through a webbing, mesh, or lattice structure. In this example, centerline 456 is straight having no curves. In this and various other examples, channel 455 follows a centerline 456 that includes two or fewer curves to reduce or minimize the channel’s resistance to fluid flow. In this and various other examples, centerline 456 includes four or fewer curves to achieve the same purpose. In other examples, channel 455 follows a centerline 456 that includes 5 to 8 curves. In some examples the curves are counted within a two-dimensional plane disposed parallel to or tangent to a surface 443, 444. In other examples, curves are counted within the three-dimensional volume of member 440.

[0029] The cross-sectional area of channel 455 may be selected based on an anticipated flow rate of moldable material that is to be injected. Various other factors such as injection port locations in a mold and formulation of the moldable material may also be used to influence the design of channels 455. In FIG. 7, the cross-sectional area is non-uniform, being wider at sides 447A, 447B than it is toward the middle of member 440. As an example of possible variations in the cross-sectional area, in some examples, channel depth 455D is selected from the range of 1 to 5mm. In comparison, in some examples, size of structural member 440 includes: a height 440H selected from the range of 5 to 15 mm, a length 440L selected from the range of 70 to 100 mm, and a width 440W selected from the range of 60 to 80 mm. As a result, the ratio between channel depth and member height may range from 0.07 to 0.33 or from 0.20 to 0.33, as examples. Other ranges are possible for any of these several parameters. Any of the dimensions stated for structural member 440 may be a representative value at a selected position or an averaged value for a non-uniform feature or may be a constant value for a uniform feature.

[0030] The channels 455 in FIGS. 5-7 are particularly suited for a mold having injection ports on the two sides of the mold rather than at an end of the mold. Even so, in other examples, a member 440 includes channels that extend lengthwise through ends 441 , 442 to accommodate injection ports disposed at the ends of a mold. Some examples have a flow channel that extends through both an end 441 , 442 and a side 447A, 447B. Some examples have one channel or include more than two channels.

[0031] Some examples based on structural member 440 have other shapes, sizes, or positions for pocket 448, holes 450, arch 454, or channel 455. Member 440 is resilient. Member 440 may have one of many shapes and lengths, as discussed above with reference to structural member 140.

[0032] Structural member 440 is compatible for inclusion in an example of footwear apparatus 100 and footwear fabrication assembly 178 of FIG. 3. Member 440 may be received in seat region 168 formed by support members 160. Structural member 440 is also compatible for inclusion in an example of footwear apparatus 300 and footwear fabrication assembly 278 of FIG. 4. For this purpose, each hole 450 is alignable with a hole 288 in mold 280 to receive a support member 290. The shape of holes 450 in FIG. 7 are suited for a support member 290 having a rotatable cam interlock feature to grasp within the structural member 440 to resist movement as moldable material flows. As shown, these holes 450 are rectangular or oblong in cross-section. In some of these examples, a mold 180, 280 is provided with an injection port or ports disposed on its sides in addition to or in place of a port 186, 286 at its end. In an example, a mold 180, 280 may have two injection ports on each of its two sides when using a structural member 440 having two lateral flow channels 455.

[0033] A method for fabricating a footwear apparatus may be developed based on the principles disclosed herein. As examples, the method may be used to operate footwear fabrication assemblies 178, 278 or may be used to fabricate footwear apparatuses 100, 300, including examples with a structural member, 140, 340 440, or a support member 160, 290.

[0034] For example, Figure 8 presents a method 500 for fabricating a footwear apparatus. At block 502, method 500 includes installing a footwear upper portion into a mold. At block 504, method 500 includes installing a lower sole into the mold. At block 506, method 500 includes installing a structural member within the mold using a support member extending from the structural member. At block 508, method 500 includes injecting a moldable material into the mold, wherein the moldable material is to bond to the footwear upper portion, to the structural member, and to the lower sole, and wherein the structural member is disposed between the footwear upper portion and the lower sole and is disposed within the moldable material.

[0035] In some examples, the method includes installing the support member in the mold concurrently with installing a lower sole into the mold. In some examples, the support member extends from the lower sole to the structural member to maintain a separation distance therebetween. In some examples, the method includes:

inserting the support member into a wall of the mold, through the lower sole, and into a midsole zone of the mold;

wherein the support member remains in the wall of the mold, in the lower sole, and in the midsole zone while injecting the moldable material.

[0036] In some examples, the method includes: coupling rotabably the support member to the mold after inserting the support member and prior to injecting the moldable material. In some examples, the method includes: removing the support member from the structural member and the lower sole after injecting the moldable material into the mold.

[0037] In some examples, the method includes:

providing a channel in the structural member; and

aligning the channel parallel to a flow path of an injection port of the mold,

wherein the channel is to provide a flow path for a portion of the moldable material while injecting a moldable material.

[0038] In some examples, the method includes: removing the footwear upper portion, the structural member, the moldable material, and the lower sole from the mold as an integrated assembly. In some examples, injecting the moldable material includes flowing the moldable material around a member upper surface, a member lower surface, and a member perimeter surface of the structural member. The moldable material used in the method may be selected from among the materials described above. In some examples, the method uses moldable material that is self-bonding.

[0039] In various examples, any of the footwear apparatuses disclose herein is a piece of footwear that is partially completed or is fully completed. The footwear apparatus may be a shoe, a boot, a sandal, as examples. A variety of types of shoes, boots, and sandals, etc. are contemplated.

[0040] Examples herein have shown structural members and support members 160, 290 disposed proximal to a heel end and distal to a front end a footwear apparatus. In other examples, a structural member may be positioned at another location, forward or backward, or laterally offset and support members would be positioned accordingly. Some examples have multiple structural members. As disclosed above, support members have been shown to be substantially straight and to extend substantially vertically in a footwear apparatus. In some examples, a support member extends diagonally, substantially horizontally, or includes a bend or curvature. [0041] The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various examples of the present disclosure. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A footwear apparatus, comprising:

an upper portion,

a lower sole,

a moldable material bonded to the upper portion and to the lower sole, a structural member within and bonded to the moldable material, and a support member extending from the structural member and into the moldable material, to stabilize the position of the structural member within the moldable material.

2. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structural member is spaced apart from the lower sole, and

wherein the support member extends from the lower sole, through the material, and to the structural member.

3. The footwear apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member is an integral part of the lower sole.

4. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower sole includes a body and the support member, and

wherein the support member extends from the body of the lower sole and to the structural member.

5. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member is removable.

6. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structural member includes a first surface, a second surface, a perimeter surface extending around the perimeters of the first and second surfaces and extending between the first and second surfaces, and a channel, and wherein the channel extends through the perimeter surface twice and extends through the first surface, dividing the first surface into a plurality of separated regions.

7. A method comprising:

installing a footwear upper portion into a mold,

installing a lower sole into the mold,

installing a structural member within the mold using a support member extending from the structural member, and

injecting a moldable material into the mold, wherein the moldable material is to bond to the footwear upper portion, to the structural member, and to the lower sole, and wherein the structural member is disposed between the footwear upper portion and the lower sole and is disposed within the moldable material.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising:

installing the support member in the mold concurrently with installing a lower sole into the mold.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the support member extends from the lower sole to the structural member to maintain a separation distance therebetween.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising:

inserting the support member into a wall of the mold, through the lower sole, and into a midsole zone of the mold,

1 1 . The method of claim 10 comprising:

coupling rotabably the support member to the mold after inserting the support member and prior to injecting the moldable material, and removing the support member from the structural member and the lower sole after injecting the moldable material into the mold.

12. The method of claim 7 comprising:

providing a channel in the structural member, and

aligning the channel parallel to a flow path of an injection port of the mold, wherein the channel is to provide a flow path for a portion of the moldable material while injecting a moldable material.

13. A footwear apparatus comprising a resilient structural member, the structural member including a first surface, a second surface, a perimeter surface extending around the perimeters of the first and second surfaces and extending between the first and second surfaces, and a channel extending through the perimeter surface twice.

14. The footwear apparatus of claim 13 wherein the channel extends through the first surface, dividing the first surface into a plurality of separated regions, and wherein the channel follows a centerline that includes four or fewer curves.

15. The footwear apparatus of claim 13 comprising:

an upper portion,

a lower sole, and

a moldable material bonded to the upper portion and to the lower sole, wherein the structural member is disposed between the upper portion and the lower sole and is bonded to the moldable material.

16. The footwear apparatus of claim 15 comprising:

a support member, extending from the structural member and into the moldable material, to stabilize the position of the structural member within the moldable material.

17. The footwear apparatus of claim 16 wherein the structural member is spaced apart from the lower sole, and

wherein the support member extends from the lower sole, through the moldable material, and to the structural member.