Described are methods of estimating a physical property associated with a region of a sports article. The method includes determining a plurality of structural features within the region, determining, for each structural feature, a feature value, mapping each feature value to a physical property, wherein the mapping is based on a machine learning algorithm from a limited plurality of samples, and wherein each sample associates a feature value with a value of the physical property, and using the mapping to estimate the physical property for the region.

Described are methods of manufacturing at least part of a sports article. The method includes determining a set of physical parameters of the sports article, wherein the set including a first group and a second group. The method further includes determining a set of constraints for the first group of physical parameters, wherein the set of constraints is intended to achieve at least one objective function. Moreover, method further includes determining an optimum for the at least one objective function, which is determined by optimizing the second group of physical parameters and manufacturing the part of the sports article according to the set of constraints and the second group of optimal physical parameters.

Described are methods of manufacturing at least part of a sports article. The method includes determining a set of physical parameters of the sports article, wherein the set including a first group and a second group. The method further includes determining a set of constraints for the first group of physical parameters, wherein the set of constraints is intended to achieve at least one objective function. Moreover, method further includes determining an optimum for the at least one objective function, which is determined by optimizing the second group of physical parameters and manufacturing the part of the sports article according to the set of constraints and the second group of optimal physical parameters.

Footwear is disclosed herein that comprises a base with a cut-out and/or a fold pattern, either of which, when actuated, is useful to transform the footwear from a closed/relaxed configuration to an open/actuated configuration in which the rapid-entry shoe has an expanded shoe opening to facilitate reception of a foot of an individual wearing the rapid-entry shoe.

Footwear is disclosed herein that comprises a base with a cut-out and/or a fold pattern, either of which, when actuated, is useful to transform the footwear from a closed/relaxed configuration to an open/actuated configuration in which the rapid-entry shoe has an expanded shoe opening to facilitate reception of a foot of an individual wearing the rapid-entry shoe.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components are provided. The articles include a composition having a foam structure, wherein the composition includes an ionomeric polymer and a plurality of cations, wherein the ionomeric copolymer is crosslinked by the cations. The crosslinks are ionic, so in some aspects the composition is free or essentially free of any covalent crosslinks between the ionomers. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

A method of printing a three-dimensional structure onto a base having irregularities on the surface is disclosed. A sensing device determines the depth of the irregularity on the surface. A computing system receives an image file including a predetermined thickness of a layer to be printed onto the base. The predetermined thickness is adjusted based on the depth of the irregularity. A printing device prints a layer onto the base having the adjusted predetermined thickness print on the irregularity to make the surface substantially smooth.

A method of printing a three-dimensional structure onto a base having irregularities on the surface is disclosed. A sensing device determines the depth of the irregularity on the surface. A computing system receives an image file including a predetermined thickness of a layer to be printed onto the base. The predetermined thickness is adjusted based on the depth of the irregularity. A printing device prints a layer onto the base having the adjusted predetermined thickness print on the irregularity to make the surface substantially smooth.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole coupled to an outsole. The midsole includes a plurality of sipes on a first side and a plurality of sipes on a second side opposite the first side. The sipes partition portions of the midsole body into impact attenuation cells on the first and second sides of the midsole. The second side of the midsole further includes a plurality of grooves and a plurality of protruding members separated by the grooves. The protruding members extend from a midsole body towards the outsole when the midsole is coupled to the outsole, spacing the midsole body apart from the outsole. When coupled together, the midsole and the outsole form voids at the grooves. The grooves, protruding members, and sipes provide increased flexibility to the midsole even when the midsole is coupled to the outsole.

A footwear article includes a doffing ledge that may provide a lever for pressing the footwear article in one direction, while the wearer slides his or her heel out of the footwear article in a different direction. A doffing angle of the doffing ledge is based, at least in part, on a forwardly inclined angle of a center connecting band near a rear portion of the ankle collar.