Conforming membrane for manufacturing footwear

A press having a conforming membrane for aiding in the joining of a first article and a second article, the press comprising:

• the conforming membrane comprising:
• (1) a perimeter portion having a thickness in a range of 1 to 15 millimeters forming an outer perimeter of the conforming membrane;
• (2) a transition portion having a thickness in a range of 1 to 4 millimeters between a first surface and a second surface, wherein the transition portion extends interior to the outer perimeter formed by the perimeter portion;
• and
• (3) a conforming portion extending from the transition portion in a direction of the second surface and forming a receiving cavity, the conforming portion having a thickness in a range of 1 to 4 millimeters, wherein the perimeter portion, the transition portion, and the conforming portion are a unitary construction comprising a common material composition;
• and
• a pressure source fluidly coupled with the press to control a pressure differential between the transition first surface and the transition second surface of 0.5 to 3.9 bar.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear using a conforming membrane for joining a footwear sole portion and a footwear upper, the method comprising:

• positioning the footwear upper on a securing element;
• closing the conforming membrane over the footwear upper on the securing element and the footwear sole portion, with a first surface of the conforming membrane contacting the footwear sole portion and the footwear upper, the conforming membrane comprising:
• (1) a perimeter portion having a thickness in a range of 5 to 15 millimeters forming an outer perimeter of the conforming membrane;
• (2) a transition portion having a thickness in a range of 1 to 4 millimeters between a first surface and a second surface, wherein the transition portion extends interior to the outer perimeter formed by the perimeter portion;
• and
• (3) a conforming portion extending from the transition portion in a direction of the second surface and forming a receiving cavity, the conforming portion having a thickness in a range of 1 to 4 millimeters, wherein the perimeter portion, the transition portion, and the conforming portion are a unitary construction comprising a common material composition;
• generating a pressure differential experienced on the first surface of the conforming membrane and an opposite second surface of the conforming membrane, wherein a pressure at the second surface of the conforming membrane is a greater pressure than a pressure at the first surface;
• and
• after a predefined time period, reducing the pressure differential.