An article of footwear has an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface and an inner surface disposed on opposite sides. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on opposite sides. The bottom surface opposes the inner surface to define a cavity therebetween. The article of footwear also includes a first series of projections extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in a first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a second series of projection extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in the first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a quantity of particulate matter disposed within the cavity.

A sole structure may have a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate. The first plate may extend from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure. Stated differently, the first plate may be a full-length plate that extends the full length of the sole structure. The second plate may be joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and may diverge from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region. Heel cushioning units may be stacked in the heel region, with a first heel cushioning unit disposed in the first heel gap.

A sole structure may include a bladder network. The bladder network may include multiple bladders interconnected by one or more conduits. At least a portion of the bladder network may contain a fluid. The sole structure may further include one or more stems. Each of the one or more stems may be positioned to impinge upon an external surface of, and at least partially deform, a corresponding conduit.

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.

A bladder for an article of footwear includes a support chamber and an expansion chamber. The support chamber has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall and defining a peripheral profile of the support chamber. The expansion chamber extends from the peripheral wall at a first end of the bladder. In some examples, the peripheral wall defines a first end of the support chamber having one or more lobes extending from the top wall to the bottom wall. The one or more lobes may include a first lobe disposed adjacent to a first side of the support chamber and a second lobe disposed adjacent to a second side of the support chamber. The expansion chamber may be disposed between the first lobe and the second lobe at the first end of the support chamber.

A bladder for an article of footwear includes a first chamber having a first segment extending along a first side of the bladder and a second segment formed on an opposite side of the bladder from the first segment. The bladder further includes a second chamber at least partially surrounded by the first chamber and disposed between the first segment and the second segment. A manifold is in direct fluid communication with each of the first segment of the first chamber, the second segment of the first chamber, and the second chamber. A web area connects each of the first chamber, the second chamber, and the manifold. The bladder may include a first series of ports formed in the first segment of the first chamber and a second series of ports formed in the second segment of the first chamber.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a cushioning element including a first material and a cradle including a second material. The cradle is attached to the cushioning element and includes a first plate disposed against the cushioning element and a second plate spaced apart from the cushioning element, the second plate including an aperture. The sole structure additionally includes a bladder disposed within the cradle and including a first portion contacting the first plate and a second portion extending through the aperture of the second plate.

Implementation described and claimed herein include a cushioning structure and method for manufacturing a cellular cushioning system, which allows for maximum comfort through the compression and shock cycle. Specifically, a cushioning structure comprises void cells formed in an array, which comprise multiple outwardly curved surfaces, with varying radius measurements. Stiffness in the void cells can vary by varying the Radii. Outwardly curved surfaces prevent buckling and provide support for high impact by absorbing energy.

A sole structure may include a damping pad. The damping pad may include a chamber, a foam element located within the chamber, particles located within the chamber and at least partially filling cavities in the foam element, and a set of electrodes positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the particles.

A shoe support structure comprising a hard rubber-like material and a gel material. The rubber-like material is constructed so that it has a change in thickness beginning at the arch, where it slopes down, leveling out at a thickness of about 1¼ inches. This change in thickness creates a frontal recess, leaving a bead of rubber at the outer edge. This cavity holds a thick cushion of about 1¾ inches of highly viscous gel material held in place by the rubber lip and adhered to the elastic material. This creates a cushion when the foot applies weight. The front of the sole and the back of the heel are equal in height, giving the entire surface equal height planes for balance. The two materials are one rubber like, one gel like and slope toward each other at the arch in identical angles.