Reebok International Limited

Brian John Hamilton

Ricardo Vestuti

Brian Christensen

Dennis Gaboriault

John S Greenhalgh

Dustin G Simone

Erasmo Rodriguez

Michael Hesterberg

Henry L Hardigan, Iii

Brenna Donnelly

Daniel R Hobson

Matthew Joseph Costa

Francis F Millette

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole coupled to the upper. The article of footwear includes a vacuum pump assembly. The vacuum pump assembly includes a flexible bladder and a pump disposed in the sole and in fluid communication with the bladder. The pump removes air from the bladder to draw a vacuum within the bladder. The pump includes a plunger that activates the pump in response to the application of force against the sole. The bladder constricts and conforms the upper against the wearer's foot as the pump removes air from the bladder to generate the vacuum.

Vacuum pump assembly for article of footwear

A method for manufacturing an article of footwear includes arranging a three-dimensional upper on a last and placing a plurality of elongated support structures on the three-dimensional upper arranged on the last using an automated placement assembly. The method further includes heating the plurality of elongated support structures to secure the plurality of elongated support structures to the upper.

Method for manufacturing an article of footwear and articles of footwear so formed

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North Billerica, MA, United States of America

Brian John Hamilton