Energy dampening and/or dispersing systems may include a gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, an aerated gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the top surface of the aerated gel member secured to the bottom surface of the gel member. In some embodiments, the energy dampening and/or dispersing systems may include a support structure secured to the gel member, and a cover extending over the top surface of the support structure and the bottom surface of the aerated gel member. The energy dampening and/or dispersing systems may be operable in ballistic garments, footwear, sporting goods, and vehicles.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having a heel region, a mid-foot region, a forefoot region, an interior region, and a peripheral region. The sole structure including a bladder having a chamber including an arcuate segment extending around the heel region, a first segment extending along the peripheral region on a medial side of the sole structure from the arcuate segment to a first terminal end in the forefoot region, and a second segment spaced apart from the first segment across a width of the sole structure and extending along the peripheral region on a lateral side of the sole structure from the arcuate segment to a second terminal end in the forefoot region. A peripheral outsole extends along the chamber and a first cushion is disposed between the first segment and the second segment and is exposed through an opening of the peripheral outsole.

An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A tactile feedback shoe sole for footwear comprising a main body that defines a toe portion, a middle portion and a heel portion. A first chamber filled with a fluid is disposed in one or more areas of the main body. A second chamber comprising a second chamber upper wall, a second chamber lower wall and projections is disposed in the arch region of the middle portion. Channels disposed between the first and the second chambers help in establishing fluidic communication between the first and second chambers. If the second chamber is compressed before the first chamber getting compressed, which is likely to happen when the feet of the user of the sole overpronate, the second chamber upper wall comes in contact with the second chamber lower wall and the projections are felt by the user in the arch region since the second chamber is not filled with the fluid.

A sole structure includes a foam element extending from a forefoot region to a heel region. A bottom surface of the foam element includes a recess formed in the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a cushioning arrangement disposed in the recess of the foam element. The cushioning arrangement has a proximal end adjacent to the bottom surface of the foam element and a distal end formed on an opposite side of the cushioning arrangement than the proximal end, the cushioning arrangement including at least one medial bladder proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and at least one lateral bladder proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure. An outsole includes an anterior outsole and a posterior outsole attached to the bottom surface of the foam element and the distal end of the cushioning arrangement. The anterior outsole is spaced apart from the posterior outsole.

The present disclosure is directed to articles such as bladders comprising mechano-luminescent materials which emit light when the mechano-luminescent materials are placed under stress. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including these bladders, methods of forming these bladders, and methods of making articles including these bladders.

An elegant and stylish high-heeled shoe includes improved arch supports, pads, and gel-filled cushions, to enhance ankle stability and wearer comfort and improved weight distribution, by collecting and transferring body weight primarily by the ball of the heel and secondarily by an arch support and tertiarily by a toe post. These distributed support structures in combination prevent an undesirable feeling of the foot sliding down the ramp.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a midfoot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a first segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure within the heel region, a second segment extending from the medial side in the forefoot region to a lateral side in the heel region and along a lateral side of the sole structure within the heel region, and a web area disposed between and connecting the first segment and the second segment. The first barrier layer being attached to the second barrier layer within the web area.

Presented are sole structures with midfoot gaps and cage-reinforced bladders, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A sole structure includes an outsole with a ground-engaging surface, and a midsole with first and second midsole segments. The first midsole segment includes a cushion that attaches to an upper's hindfoot region and to the outsole's upper surface. The second midsole segment, which is spaced from the first midsole segment by a midfoot gap, includes a fluid-filled bladder spaced from another cushion by a forefoot gap. The cushion and bladder attach to the outsole's upper surface and to the upper's forefoot region. A cage, which partially surrounds the second midsole segment, includes a cage plate that attaches to the upper and the fluid-filled bladder. Arcuate cage wings project from opposing medial and lateral sides of the cage plate and insert between the second cushion and outsole.