Mold assembly for shaping and cutting sock liners

A manufacturing mold assembly comprising:

• a movable upper mold portion that includes at least a portion that includes a three-dimensional shape corresponding with a contour of a first surface of an article to be manufactured utilizing the manufacturing mold assembly, a periphery portion surrounding the three-dimensional shape, and an intermediate spring disposed between the periphery portion and the movable upper mold portion, wherein the three-dimensional shape has a first cutting edge at least a portion of a perimeter thereof, wherein the first cutting edge is removably coupled to fixedly formed on the movable upper mold portion;
• a lower mold portion comprising:
• having at least a first portion and a second portion that having include a three-dimensional shape corresponding with a contour of a second, opposite surface of the article to be manufactured utilizing the manufacturing mold assembly, each of the first portion and second portion three-dimensional shape of the lower mold portion having a second cutting edge at least a portion of a perimeter thereof;
• a cutting plate portion having comprising at least one aperture shaped to receive the first portion and the second portion, wherein the at least one aperture includes the second cutting edge at least at a portion of a perimeter thereof;
• and at least one vertical channel therein configured for receiving one or more springs, wherein the second cutting edge is removably coupled to fixedly formed on the lower mold portion;
• and
• a base portion comprising at least one cavity configured to receive the lower mold portion, such that wherein the lower mold portion is retractable in a substantially vertical direction relative to the base portion upon a first force being applied to the at least one or more springs positioned within the at least one vertical channel, and the lower mold portion as well as the movable portion of the movable upper mold portion retractable in the substantially vertical direction relative to the base portion upon a second force being applied to the intermediate spring and the one or more springs.