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.

An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

The invention relates to a system for adjusting pressure locally acting on the skin. Said system includes a set of adjacent modules distributed so as to form a layer. Each module includes a cushion capable of changing shape and comprising a cavity, a valve, a tank, and a pressure sensor, wherein the cavity and the tank are in communication with each other by means of the valve, and the sensor is placed so as to sense pressure directly or indirectly acting on the cushion. The system also includes a feedback loop arranged such as to increase or decrease the change in the shape of the cushion on the basis of the pressure detected by the sensor. The system according to the invention can be built into a shoe so as to re-establish normal plantar pressure under the entire sole of the foot, which is particularly desirable for athletes or for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus or leprosy. It is also possible to incorporate the system according to the invention into a (bed or wheelchair) mattress so as to prevent decubitus ulcers in patients with neurological diseases (hemiplegia, paraplegia, tetraplegia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and any other sensory and/or motor deficit diseases.

A footwear systems utilizing silica derived gel sheets used as a footwear component in upper linings of the footwear. The upper linings provide a cushioning and shock absorption system, particularly in inclined high-heel shoes where the toes and MTP (metatarsophalangeal) joints typically bear most of the weight in such shoes and come in contact with the footwear linings. The material advantageously not only provides padding, but also absorbs shock to further reduce force placed on the foot by dissipating energy of each footstep. In addition like material may be disposed in the sole of the shoe under the ball of the foot to provide shock absorption and cushioning below as well.

An article may include a first polymeric material layer having a surface. A first conductive trace may form at least a portion of the first layer surface. The article may further include a second polymeric material layer. The second layer may have a first surface, a portion of the second layer first surface being bonded to a portion of the first layer surface. The second layer may have a portion of a channel defined therein, the channel at least partially coinciding with a portion of the first conductive trace. The article may also include a first patch interposed between the first layer surface and the second layer first surface. The first patch may span the channel and cover a portion of the first conductive trace.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a bladder including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a first chamber bounding a periphery of the heel region, and a second chamber extending from the mid-foot region through the forefoot region and including a plurality of segments extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. Each of the segments of the second chamber includes a medial reservoir adjacent to the medial side and a lateral reservoir adjacent to the lateral side, the medial reservoir fluidly coupled to the lateral reservoir via a first conduit.

A bladder for an article of footwear includes a chamber having (i) an arcuate segment extending from a first transition to a second transition, (ii) a first plurality of elongate segments extending in a first direction from the first transition to a first terminal end, and (iii) a second plurality of elongate segments spaced apart from the first plurality of elongate segments and extending in the first direction from the second transition to a second terminal end. The bladder also includes a web area connecting the arcuate segment, the first plurality of elongate segments, and the second plurality of elongate segments and extending to a terminal edge spaced apart from each of the first terminal end and the second terminal end.

A fluid-filled chamber is provided and includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, a foam structure, and a tensile member. The second barrier layer is secured to the first barrier layer to define an interior void between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer. The interior void contains a predetermined volume of fluid. The foam structure and the tensile member are disposed within the interior void, whereby the tensile member includes a plurality of fibers extending in a first direction between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer.

A method includes positioning a first polymer sheet on a substantially first flat surface of a tool, positioning a second polymer sheet on the first polymer sheet, and moving a second substantially flat surface of the tool into contact with the second polymer sheet. The method also includes maintaining a gap between the first polymer sheet and the second polymer sheet at a predetermined area and heating one of the two substantially flat surfaces of the tool to heat one of the first polymer sheet and the second polymer sheet. The method further includes joining the first polymer sheet and the second polymer sheet together at locations outside of the predetermined area to define a peripheral bond of the chamber.

A sole structure may include chambers and a transfer channel containing an electrorheological fluid. Electrodes may be positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the electrorheological fluid in the transfer channel. The sole structure may further include a controller including a processor and memory. At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions executable by the processor to perform operations that include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-inhibiting levels at which flow of the electrorheological fluid the through the transfer channel is blocked, and that further include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-enabling levels permitting flow of the electrorheological fluid through the transfer channel.