Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment including a foam are provided. The foam portion of the components and articles include a composition which includes a thermoplastic copolyester, the composition having a foam structure. A polymer layer is provided on at least on surface of the foam portion. The polymer layer can control or reduce the water uptake of the foam portion. Methods of making the compositions, foams, and components 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.

Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.

Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.

An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure includes a cushioning element, comprising a plurality of tubes, wherein adjacent tubes are connected to one another by a respective web area, disposed between a first support element and a second support element, wherein one or more of the respective web areas is exposed to the external environment.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having a first support element, the first support element including a first set of recesses; a second support element, the second support element including a second set of recesses, and wherein the second support element includes an opening extending therethrough; a coupling portion, the coupling portion including a third set of recesses, and wherein the coupling portion is disposed within the opening of the second support element; a cushioning element disposed between the first support element and the second support element, the cushioning element including a plurality of tubes, wherein the first set of recesses, the second set of recesses, and the third set of recesses form a continuous receiving area, and wherein the cushioning element is disposed within the continuous receiving area.

An article of footwear having a heel region with a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region with an anterior end of the article of footwear; a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure has; a cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the cushioning element having a first tube and a second tube, wherein each of the first tube and the second tube extend from the lateral side of the article of footwear to the medial side of the article of footwear, wherein the first tube includes a contained fluid volume at a first pressure, and the second tube includes a contained fluid volume at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are equal to one another.

A method of forming a cushioning element. The method including placing a first sheet adjacent to an outer surface of a first mold portion, the first mold portion including a first mold cavity. The method including pressing a portion of the first sheet into the first mold portion and into the first mold cavity with a forming tool, wherein at least a portion of the forming tool is extended into the first mold cavity. The method including applying negative pressure to the first mold cavity to draw the portion of the first sheet into the first mold cavity, and joining a second sheet to the first sheet to form the cushioning element.

A method of forming a cushioning element. The method including placing a first sheet adjacent to an outer surface of a first mold portion, the first mold portion including a first mold cavity. The method including pressing a portion of the first sheet into the first mold portion and into the first mold cavity with a forming tool, wherein at least a portion of the forming tool is extended into the first mold cavity. The method including applying negative pressure to the first mold cavity to draw the portion of the first sheet into the first mold cavity, and joining a second sheet to the first sheet to form the cushioning element.

An article of footwear having a heel region including a posterior end, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end. The article of footwear having a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure has a first cushioning element, having a plurality of first tubes and a plurality of first web areas. Adjacent first tubes are connected to one another by a respective first web area of the plurality of first web areas. The sole structure also having a second cushioning element, having a plurality of second tubes and a plurality of second web areas. Adjacent second tubes are connected to one another by a respective web area of the second plurality of web areas.

An article of footwear having a heel region including a posterior end, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end. The article of footwear having an upper extending from the heel region to the forefoot region and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure further has a first cushioning element having a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube, and an outsole layer extending from the posterior end to the anterior end. The outsole layer is configured to directly receive a portion of the first cushioning element, and the outsole layer forms a ground-contacting surface of the article of footwear.