A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A method of manufacturing a midsole for an article of footwear includes cutting a pattern of openings at least partway through a midsole with a cutting tool driven by an embroidery machine. An article of footwear includes a midsole defining a pattern of openings extending at least partway through the midsole. An inner surface of the midsole is contoured and the midsole includes upwardly-extending sidewalls. At least some of the openings extend relatively nonparallel with one another through the sidewalls and splay away from one another along longitudinal axes of the openings.

The present invention relates to a system integrated or retrofitted to a shoe for preventing a wearer of the shoe from becoming stuck in mud, sand, water, or any other soft terrain while walking. The system includes a pair of tubes positioned on opposing sides of the shoe/boot and a rigid attachment overlapping a portion of the sole of the shoe. A valve having a lengthwise opening can be placed between the rigid attachment and the sole such that each tube of the pair of tubes is attached to opposing ends of the valve using a pair of elbow tubes. Each elbow tube passes through a hole in the rigid attachment to connect to the valve. The valve creates a vacuum when the shoe to which the system is attached is stepped onto the terrain and when the shoe is lifted, the vacuum is released.

The present invention relates to a system integrated or retrofitted to a shoe for preventing a wearer of the shoe from becoming stuck in mud, sand, water, or any other soft terrain while walking. The system includes a pair of tubes positioned on opposing sides of the shoe/boot and a rigid attachment overlapping a portion of the sole of the shoe. A valve having a lengthwise opening can be placed between the rigid attachment and the sole such that each tube of the pair of tubes is attached to opposing ends of the valve using a pair of elbow tubes. Each elbow tube passes through a hole in the rigid attachment to connect to the valve. The valve creates a vacuum when the shoe to which the system is attached is stepped onto the terrain and when the shoe is lifted, the vacuum is released.

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation.

A pre-tensioned article and method of making an article of footwear involving pre-tensioning a sole structure during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a plurality of apertures that provide an auxetic effect. In further embodiments, the upper may also be pre-tensioned in a similar manner as the sole structure.

A gait analysis apparatus includes a bottom insole pad, a top insole pad layered over the bottom insole pad and configured to be worn by a limb of a subject, a plurality of force sensors configured to sense force exerted by the limb at least in two directions and affixed between the top insole pad and the bottom insole pad, and a processor configured to collect measurement data from the plurality of force sensors and determine a pose of or abnormality in the limb based on the measurement data and a predetermined profile.

A gait analysis apparatus includes a bottom insole pad, a top insole pad layered over the bottom insole pad and configured to be worn by a limb of a subject, a plurality of force sensors configured to sense force exerted by the limb at least in two directions and affixed between the top insole pad and the bottom insole pad, and a processor configured to collect measurement data from the plurality of force sensors and determine a pose of or abnormality in the limb based on the measurement data and a predetermined profile.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a porous midsole the method including: a cotton-beating step (S1) of forming a midsole base (10) having porous voids 16 by mixing low melting fibers (12) and high melting fibers (14); and a thermoforming step (S2) of bonding and fixing the high melting fibers into a compressed state by the melt adhesive strength of the low melting fibers (12) by compressively thermoforming the midsole base (10) at a melting point temperature of the low melting fibers (12).

Provided is a method for manufacturing a porous midsole the method including: a cotton-beating step (S1) of forming a midsole base (10) having porous voids 16 by mixing low melting fibers (12) and high melting fibers (14); and a thermoforming step (S2) of bonding and fixing the high melting fibers into a compressed state by the melt adhesive strength of the low melting fibers (12) by compressively thermoforming the midsole base (10) at a melting point temperature of the low melting fibers (12).