An improved sole structure for article of footwear is disclosed herein. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole coupled to the midsole. The midsole includes a channel extending from the toe end to the heel end of the midsole. The sole structure further includes a housing with a plurality of segments disposed within the channel. A cable is threaded through the plurality of segments of the housing with a first end of the cable being disposed proximate to the toe end of the midsole, and the second end of the cable extends out of the rear end of the midsole. A tensioning mechanism is operatively coupled to the second end of the cable to alter the amount of tension in the cable, and, ultimately, alter the amount of flexibility of the sole structure.

A sole reference posture is determined such that a straight reference line connects a toe-tip position and a rearmost end position of a sole top surface, a path length measured along the sole top surface from the origin of the rearmost end position to the toe-tip position is L, an intersection point of a sole bottom surface and a line crossing a position of 0.45×L and orthogonal to the reference line is position C, and the sole is in contact with the ground at position C. In the reference posture, the sole bottom surface is separated from the ground at a heel portion and a toe portion, and an inequality θ≥5 is satisfied, wherein θ is an angle between a straight line connecting a heel central position of 0.15×L with a metatarsophalangeal joints position of 0.68×L and the ground.

A method of using a marriage mold includes providing an upper plate having a first wall and at least one second wall, and a lower plate having a marriage cavity and a top wall. At least two midsole components are provided, which are made of a first material, and each have a first region and a void structure. The at least two midsole components are positioned into the marriage cavity. The upper plate is secured to the lower plate such that the first wall and the top wall form a seal. The at least two midsole components are joined together to form a midsole having a second void structure.

A sole plate includes slots spaced apart from each other and extending along a longitudinal axis to define at least one interior bridge portion disposed therebetween. A lateral bridge portion is disposed between a lateral side of the sole plate and a lateral most one of the slots, and a medial bridge portion is disposed between a medial side of the sole plate and a medial most one of the slots. A stiffness controlling device is interlaced between the lateral bridge portion, the interior bridge portions, and the medial bridge portion, and is moveable within the slots, between a first position and a second position, for changing between a first bending stiffness at a specific flex angle when the stiffness controlling device is in the first position, and a second bending stiffness at the specific flex angle when the stiffness controlling device is in the second position.

A kit includes a first article of footwear and a second article of footwear. The first article of footwear includes a first upper, a first sole structure having a first outsole defining a first ground-contacting surface, and a first side support extending between and connecting the first upper and the first outsole at a medial side of the first article of footwear. The second article of footwear including a second upper, a second sole structure having a second outsole defining a second ground-contacting surface, and a second side support extending between and connecting the second upper and the second outsole at a lateral side of the second article of footwear. In one aspect, the first sole structure includes a first fluid-filled chamber and the second sole structure includes a second fluid-filled chamber, wherein the first fluid-filled chamber is identical to the second fluid-filled chamber.

An insole and/or outsole for a shoe such as an athletic shoe or cleat that includes a multilayer channeled assembly designed at preventing the transfer of heat from extremely hot ground surfaces, most notably synthetic turf, to the foot. In one embodiment, the insole includes a channeled layer of solid material with a very low thermal conductivity, preferably silicon or cork, as the base material beneath a layer of heat resistant felt preferably made of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. The channeling in the base layer allows for air pockets to be created within the insole itself that makes the heat resistant felt more resistant to (i.e., more efficient at preventing) the transfer of heat. In another embodiment, the outsole for a shoe such as an athletic shoe or cleat includes a base layer of channeled solid material with low thermal conductivity, preferably silicon, cork, or polystyrene, below a layer of heat resistant felt preferably made of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. This assembly is encased within a solid plastic mold that extends up to the base of the upper of the shoe or cleat and allows for little or no pressure to be put on the assembly itself. The studs for the cleats are preferably molded out of the plastic encasing itself.

A plate for an article of footwear includes a substrate, a first strand portion attached to the substrate via first stitching, and a second strand portion disposed on the first layer. The first strand portion includes first segments that each extend between two different locations along the substrate to form a first layer on the substrate. The second strand portion includes second segments that each extend between two different locations along the substrate to form a second layer on the first layer.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a forefoot region disposed adjacent an anterior end, a heel region disposed adjacent a posterior end, and a mid-foot region disposed intermediate the forefoot region and the heel region. The sole structure further includes fluid-filled bladder having a first segment extending along a medial side in the heel region, a second segment extending along a lateral side in the heel region, and a web area disposed between the first segment and the second segment. Additionally, the sole structure includes an outer sole member having an upper portion extending from a first end in the forefoot region to a second end in the heel region. The second end of the outer sole member is received on a first side of the web area. The outer sole member also includes a rib extending downwardly from the upper portion and defining a cavity.

A sole for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has longitudinal ribs and a midsole that is disposed above the outsole and that defines notches. The longitudinal ribs are disposed in the notches.

Sole structures and uppers for articles of footwear are described that includes features to enhance footwear flexibility, dexterity, natural motion feel, and/or tackiness. Such articles of footwear may provide enhanced properties and feel for use in skateboarding and other activities.