A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole system with a plurality of cushioning units, each having multiple cushioning layers configured to work together as a system to absorb a compressive load, such as a dynamic compressive load due to impact with the ground, in stages of progressive cushioning according to the relative stiffness values of the layers. Various midsole systems disclosed include isolated cushioning units, linked cushioning units, sole layers having stanchions interfacing with the midsole system, midsole systems with sole layers having keyed and unkeyed portions overlying a bladder, and midsole systems with vertically-stacked cushioning units disposed in inverted relationship to one another.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole having four stacked polymeric sheets bonded to one another to define a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a third cushioning layer. Each cushioning layer comprises a sealed chamber retaining gas in isolation from each other sealed chamber. Bonds between adjacent ones of the sheets are arranged such that the third cushioning layer is stacked directly above the first cushioning layer with the second cushioning layer bordering both the first cushioning layer and the third cushioning layer, and the sealed chamber of the second cushioning layer includes a plurality of elongated segments each extending lengthwise across a longitudinal midline of the midsole at a respective acute angle to the longitudinal midline.

A three-dimensional auxetic structure, comprising a plurality of adjoining hollow cells, each hollow cell having cell walls and a transversal cross section of the plurality hollow cells following a two-dimensional auxetic pattern, each cell wall comprising folding lines parallel to a plane containing the auxetic pattern such that peaks and valleys are defined in the cell walls and the cell walls being foldable along the folding lines.

Disclosed is a method for producing a shoe sole. The shoe sole includes: a shoe sole fabric having the form of a sole; a protective cover having the form corresponding to the form of the shoe sole fabric and bonded to a lower surface of the shoe sole fabric with a plurality of pillar through holes vertically penetrating the protective cover; and a plurality of pillar pieces passing through the plurality of pillar through holes, and bonded to the lower surface of the shoe sole fabric and arranged in a form of protruding downward from the protective cover.

An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole having four stacked polymeric sheets bonded to one another to define a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a third cushioning layer. Each cushioning layer comprises a sealed chamber retaining gas in isolation from each other sealed chamber. Bonds between adjacent ones of the sheets are arranged such that the third cushioning layer is stacked directly above the first cushioning layer with the second cushioning layer bordering both the first cushioning layer and the third cushioning layer, and the sealed chamber of the second cushioning layer includes a plurality of elongated segments each extending lengthwise across a longitudinal midline of the midsole at a respective acute angle to the longitudinal midline.

A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear. The method includes depositing a first outsole material including a first uncured polymeric material upon a mold surface of a mold cavity. The method also includes disposing a midsole element adjacent to the first outsole material within the mold cavity and subjecting the first outsole material and the midsole element to a molding process to form the sole structure having an outsole and a midsole.

Sports boot element comprising all or part of a wall designed to form at least part of a lateral and/or frontal and/or rear and/or lower wall of a sports boot, characterised in that all or part of its wall comprises a material (10) comprising a polymer (11) and a hollow microball (12) filler.

A shoe sole includes a body portion and a heel holding portion. The heel holding portion is located opposite to a ground contact surface of the body portion and holds a heel portion of a foot at least from a medial foot side. The body portion includes a low hardness portion and a high hardness portion. The high hardness portion is a foam material harder than a foam material of the low hardness portion. The heel holding portion is a resin harder than the foam material of the low hardness portion and the foam material of the high hardness portion. On the medial foot side in a rear foot portion, the low hardness portion is located between the heel holding portion and the high hardness portion in an up-down direction.

A vibration damping material suitable for use in a wearable garment, comprising a sheet of a flexible material with a first and a second side, both comprising a plurality of protrusions arranged in a predetermined pattern, wherein the protrusions on the first and/or second side of the sheet are arranged to be equidistant from adjacent protrusions, wherein the protrusions are distributed in a substantially uniform pattern throughout the first and/or second side of the sheet of flexible material, wherein the protrusions on the first side of the sheet are arranged to be offset with respect to the protrusions on the second side of the sheet of flexible material. A wearable garment comprising such a vibration damping material is also disclosed.