A fluid chamber for a shoe may be formed using pressure channels in a forming mold, eliminating the need to insert a nozzle or needles into the chamber for inflation. A fluid chamber so formed may have a smaller seal area than a chamber formed using an inflation needle, making the chamber more visually pleasing. Apparatus and methods for forming a fluid chamber in this fashion are also disclosed.

In some examples, an assembly for a footwear includes a cell comprising a housing structure, the cell comprising a first chamber to contain a fluid. The assembly further includes a port and a vibrator responsive to activation to cause a reduction in fluid flow through the port between the first chamber and a second chamber by changing a characteristic of the fluid in the port.

A fluid-filled chamber includes first subchamber having a substantially U-shape. The fluid-filled chamber also includes a second subchamber having a substantially U-shape and being spaced apart from the first subchamber in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber.

A fluid-filled chamber includes first subchamber having a substantially U-shape. The fluid-filled chamber also includes a second subchamber having a substantially U-shape and being spaced apart from the first subchamber in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber.

A fluid-filled chamber includes first subchamber having a substantially U-shape. The fluid-filled chamber also includes a second subchamber having a substantially U-shape and being spaced apart from the first subchamber in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber.

A invention disclosed a bio-mimicked three-dimensional laminated structure at least comprising a flexible lattice structure, which is characterized in that the flexible lattice structure comprises a plurality of particle units are uniformly disposed and evenly distributed in the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis direction and evenly distributed as a lattice matrix of an array grid in an identical plane; wherein each of the particle units is an opened hollow shell or a close shell. The design eliminates the need for support structures and the subsequent post-processing required to remove them. A shell-shaped close cell bio-mimicked three-dimensional laminated structure bio-mimicking a sea urchin shape was introduced for the load-bearing structure application.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes an outsole, a plate disposed between the outsole and the upper, and a first cushioning layer. The plate includes an anterior-most point disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure, a posterior-most point disposed closer to a heel region of the sole structure than the anterior-most point, and a concave portion extending between the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point. The concave portion includes a constant radius of curvature from the anterior-most point to a metarsophalangeal (MTP) point of the sole structure. The MTP point opposes the MTP joint of a foot during use. The first cushioning layer is disposed between the concave portion and the upper.

An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole attached to the upper, and an outsole. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed. The outsole has a ground-engaging surface, an inner surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface, and a wall extending from the ground-engaging surface and surrounding the outsole. The article of footwear also includes at least two casings each containing particulate matter and having a thickness extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outsole. The at least two casings are arranged in a layered configuration and received within a cavity bounded by the wall of the outsole and between the bottom surface and the inner surface.

Several sole components and a method of manufacturing those sole components are disclosed. In general, each sole component includes a fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing element extending around a portion of the bladder. The reinforcing element is bonded to the exterior of the bladder, and may be recessed into the bladder. In some configurations, the reinforcing element is die-cut from a sheet of polymer material, and the reinforcing element may exhibit a layered configuration. In manufacturing the sole component, the reinforcing element may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing element during the molding process.

A method for manufacturing a sole structure. Data is received for a cushioning profile of the sole structure of an article of footwear, the sole structure including a bladder network including multiple bladders interconnected by conduits, the sole structure also including a plurality of openings exposing the conduits. Based on the received data, configurations of at least some stems in a frame are adjusted. The frame is installed into the sole structure, the installing including inserting the stems through the openings so as to at least partially close at least a portion of the conduits.