Article of footwear formed from two preforms and method and mold for manufacturing same

A mold for forming a midsole, the mold comprising:

• a first portion having a first recess, a first lower channel, and a first lower overflow recess, the first lower channel connecting the first lower overflow recess to the first recess, and the first lower channel and the first lower overflow recess being formed in a surface of the first portion that is positioned higher than any surface of the first recess;
• and
• a second portion having a second recess, a first upper channel, and a first upper overflow recess, the first upper channel connecting the second recess to the first upper overflow recess, and the first upper channel and the first upper overflow recess being formed in a surface of the second portion that is positioned lower than any surface of the second recess,
• wherein, when the first portion and second portion are positioned in contact with one another such that the mold is in a closed condition, the first recess and second recess cooperate to define a midsole recess, the first lower overflow recess and the first upper overflow recess combine to define a first overflow chamber, and the first lower channel and the first upper channel combine to define a first channel that connects the first overflow chamber to the midsole recess, and
• wherein the midsole recess is substantially foot-shaped and the first overflow chamber extends around a heel portion of the midsole recess, the first channel being coextensive with the first overflow chamber around the heel portion, whereby one or more additional and distinct overflow chambers and coextensive channels thereof are provided around the midsole recess, portions of the midsole recess forward of the first overflow chamber and first channel, on both a medial and a lateral side of the midsole recess, being free of an overflow chamber and corresponding channel.