A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bladder having a plurality of tapered chambers including (a) a series of first tapered chambers tapering from a first end on a medial side of the bladder to a second end on a lateral side of the bladder, and (b) one or more second tapered chambers tapering from a first end on the lateral side of the bladder to a second end on the medial side of the bladder. Each of the one or more second tapered chambers is interposed between adjacent ones of the first tapered chambers. The sole structure also includes a chassis disposed on a first side of the bladder and having a plurality of first ribs each disposed between adjacent ones of the first tapered chambers and the second tapered chambers.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

The invention relates to embroidered material portions for incorporation into an article of footwear, and systems and methods for the manufacture thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to an article of footwear having an upper with a sole structure, the upper including a first upper element including a base layer and a first structural layer including at least one first fiber embroidered onto the exterior surface of the base layer, the at least one first fiber forming a plurality of first elongate structural elements extending over the exterior surface of the base layer to provide discrete localized structural support to the base layer.

A protective guard for reducing injury to a shin of a person includes a conformable substrate and a plurality of core members disposed adjacent to a surface of the conformable substrate. The plurality of core members are arranged such that a first of the core members is rotationally movable about at least one axis relative to a second of the core members. A flexible fabric membrane comprised of natural or synthetic fibers is positioned adjacent to at least one of the conformable substrate and the plurality of core members.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A method of making an article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The method includes laying down ribbon elements in straight and winding sections. The method includes stitching or otherwise attaching the ribbon elements to a backing layer. The method also includes embroidering a periphery of the ribbon structure to tack down any raised portions of the ribbon at the periphery. The method also includes inserting a lace through loops in the ribbon structure.

A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes a first portion including a lateral side and a medial side that opposes the lateral side, and a second portion connected with and extending upward and transversely outward in an angled manner away from the first portion such that a terminal end of the second portion is distanced from the first portion. An exterior surface of the last can include a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole coupled to the upper. The article of footwear includes an inflation system. The inflation system includes an inflatable bladder, a pump in fluid communication with the bladder, and a control circuitry operatively linked to the pump. The pump adjusts the air pressure of the inflatable bladder. The control circuitry receives a command signal from a remote device, and upon receipt of the command signal, the control circuitry transmits an actuation signal to the pump to adjust the air pressure of the inflatable bladder.

An article with a color change portion and a method of changing color. The article includes at least one color change portion capable of changing colors. The color change portion includes composite material including a photonic lattice. The color change portion can change colors according to one or more performance parameters. The article can be connected to a computer and the color change portion can be controlled using the computer.