A tennis shoe kit that includes a tennis shoe with a wide lower side, a tongue opening, a lower vamp, a hook or loop connector pad attached to the inside surface of the vamp, a plurality of eyelet holes formed on opposite sides of the tongue opening, at least two replaceable tongues each with a complementary hook and loop connector pad attached to its lower edge configured to connect to the hook or loop connector pad attached to the inside surface of the vamp, a set of manually attachable eyelets configured to be selectively attached to the eyelet holes, and at least two elastic bands with ornamental features printed or attached to its outer surface, each band is configured to extend entirely around the outside surface of the outsole of the tennis shoe.

A tennis shoe kit that includes a tennis shoe with a wide lower side, a tongue opening, a lower vamp, a hook or loop connector pad attached to the inside surface of the vamp, a plurality of eyelet holes formed on opposite sides of the tongue opening, at least two replaceable tongues each with a complementary hook and loop connector pad attached to its lower edge configured to connect to the hook or loop connector pad attached to the inside surface of the vamp, a set of manually attachable eyelets configured to be selectively attached to the eyelet holes, and at least two elastic bands with ornamental features printed or attached to its outer surface, each band is configured to extend entirely around the outside surface of the outsole of the tennis shoe.

In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

The invention relates to an item of footwear in which is provided a mid-sole (10) with features that provide comfort to the wearer when walking. An item of footwear comprising: a sole (1) comprising a mid-sole (10), the mid-sole having a first major surface (11) for facing the foot of a wearer, a second major surface (12) opposite the first, the mid-sole (10) having an inner edge (13) corresponding to the inside of a wearer's foot and an outer edge (14) corresponding to the outside of a wearer's foot; and a securing means for securing the item of footwear to a foot of a wearer such that the first surface (11) of the sole (1) contacts the foot, wherein: the mid-sole (10) has formed therein a plurality of generally transverse grooves (20) and a generally longitudinal primary groove (30a), thereby dividing the sole (1) into an array of lands (50); and the primary groove (30a) is substantially parallel to the outer edge (14) of the sole (1) over a majority of the length of the sole (1) and defines with 15 the transverse grooves (20) a plurality of lands (50).

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole defining a ground-contacting surface, a midsole disposed between the outsole and the upper, and a plate attached to the midsole and defining a recess extending in a direction away from the outsole and toward the upper, the recess including a first retainer. The sole structure further includes a first cushion having a first portion received within the recess, the first portion engaging the first retainer to maintain a desired position of the first cushion relative to the plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first midsole body and a second midsole body. The first midsole body defines a ground-facing surface and a foot-facing surface opposite the ground-facing surface and includes a first midsole material, which has a first hardness. The second midsole body extends through the first midsole body. As such, the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface of the first midsole body. The second midsole body includes a second midsole material, which has a second hardness, and the first hardness is greater than the second hardness.

A footwear sole structure having a fluid-filled chamber including a tensile member is provided. The fluid-filled chamber includes a first barrier sheet, a second barrier sheet and the tensile member. The first barrier sheet is formed from a first thermoplastic material. The second barrier sheet is attached to the first barrier sheet and is formed from a second thermoplastic material. The first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet cooperate to define an internal cavity. The tensile member is disposed within the internal cavity and is formed from a third thermoplastic material. A first weld attaches the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together by melding the first thermoplastic material of the first barrier sheet, the second thermoplastic material of second barrier sheet, and the third thermoplastic material of the tensile member.