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 sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.

A footwear construction includes a midsole including a lateral sidewall and a medial sidewall, and a mesh substrate layer covering the lateral sidewall and medial sidewall to protect the surfaces of those sidewalls from abrasion, wear and damage, and in some cases to provide tuned stiffness to the sidewalls and thus the midsole. The mesh substrate layer can wrap partially above and below the midsole so that edges of the layer can be conceals between the midsole and an upper, or between the midsole and an outsole layer. The mesh substrate can include a mesh material and a film sheet bonded to one another, with the film sheet facing the midsole and the mesh textile facing outward in the finished footwear. A related method of manufacture also is provided.

A footwear construction includes a midsole including a lateral sidewall and a medial sidewall, and a mesh substrate layer covering the lateral sidewall and medial sidewall to protect the surfaces of those sidewalls from abrasion, wear and damage, and in some cases to provide tuned stiffness to the sidewalls and thus the midsole. The mesh substrate layer can wrap partially above and below the midsole so that edges of the layer can be conceals between the midsole and an upper, or between the midsole and an outsole layer. The mesh substrate can include a mesh material and a film sheet bonded to one another, with the film sheet facing the midsole and the mesh textile facing outward in the finished footwear. A related method of manufacture also is provided.

Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions. Each midsole protrusion nests within a respective insole pocket, while each insole protrusion nests within a respective midsole pocket.

An outsole for an article of footwear with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a medial side, and a lateral side. The outsole can include a ground engaging surface with a plurality of cleats and a plurality of circular ridges including a first set of circular ridges and a second set of circular ridges. The first set of circular ridges can be concentrically aligned about a first epicenter in the forefoot region and the second set of circular ridges can be concentrically aligned about a second epicenter in the heel region. The plurality of cleats can include a first set of cleats in the forefoot region that can be aligned along a first circular ridge of the first set of circular ridges.

A footwear assembly, such as a cycling show, includes a plantar shell, a dorsal shell, and a closure mechanism. The plantar shell that at least partially defines an interior area sized to receive a wearer’s foot and is shaped to conform to a bottom surface contour of the wearer’s foot. The dorsal shell shaped to conform to an upper surface contour of the wearer’s foot and includes a region positioned to apply a compressive force to a portion of the wearer’s foot. The closure mechanism configured to couple the dorsal shell to the plantar shell to apply the compressive force to the portion of the wearer’s foot to at least partially prevent movement of the wearer’s foot relative to the plantar shell.

A footwear assembly, such as a cycling show, includes a plantar shell, a dorsal shell, and a closure mechanism. The plantar shell that at least partially defines an interior area sized to receive a wearer’s foot and is shaped to conform to a bottom surface contour of the wearer’s foot. The dorsal shell shaped to conform to an upper surface contour of the wearer’s foot and includes a region positioned to apply a compressive force to a portion of the wearer’s foot. The closure mechanism configured to couple the dorsal shell to the plantar shell to apply the compressive force to the portion of the wearer’s foot to at least partially prevent movement of the wearer’s foot relative to the plantar shell.

A footwear sole structure is provided herein comprising a sole including a heel portion and a forefoot portion and at least one pivot point. Each pivot point is disposed on one of the heel portion and the forefoot portion, and is smaller, in coefficient of friction, than the sole.

A footwear sole structure is provided herein comprising a sole including a heel portion and a forefoot portion and at least one pivot point. Each pivot point is disposed on one of the heel portion and the forefoot portion, and is smaller, in coefficient of friction, than the sole.