A sole for article of footwear includes a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A plurality of blind holes each extends from the outer surface toward the inner surface. The plurality of blind holes are arranged in an auxetic configuration in the outer surface. Each hole in the plurality of holes extends towards the inner surface. The plurality of blind holes is arranged in a pattern that provides a tunable performance characteristic. The patterns of blind holes vary between different regions of the midsole component to provide different types of responses in the different regions.

Footwear with enhanced wearing comfortability, stability and orthotic foot support are disclosed. The footwear comprises built-in intrinsic midsole, anatomically shaped footbed having a functional arch concavity on a medial side, and deep heel cup. The built-in intrinsic midsole provides ideal foot support and function. Raised sidewalls accentuate a deep heel cup, which controls and matches the natural anatomic shape of the foot. The midsole is made by direct single density injection with integrated orthotic contour. The direct injection midsole to upper creates a strong bond, and resolves a potential of delaminating soles. Furthermore, it eliminates the need and cost of cementing, and improves instant fit/comfort.

A sole for article of footwear includes a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A plurality of blind holes each extends from the outer surface toward the inner surface. The plurality of blind holes are arranged in an auxetic configuration in the outer surface. Each hole in the plurality of holes extends towards the inner surface. The plurality of blind holes is arranged in a pattern that provides a tunable performance characteristic. The patterns of blind holes vary between different regions of the midsole component to provide different types of responses in the different regions.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a front midsole component and a rear midsole component. A connecting member connects the front midsole component to the rear midsole component. The connecting member defines a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component. The front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position. Confronting surfaces of the connecting member at the groove are closer to one another in the access position than in the use position so that the groove is relatively open in the use position, and the groove is relatively closed in the access position.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a front midsole component and a rear midsole component. A connecting member connects the front midsole component to the rear midsole component. The connecting member defines a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component. The front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position. Confronting surfaces of the connecting member at the groove are closer to one another in the access position than in the use position so that the groove is relatively open in the use position, and the groove is relatively closed in the access position.

A method of making an article of footwear comprises associating an upper of the article of footwear with a printer. The upper has a lower peripheral portion. The method comprises printing a first end portion of a mechanical connector so that the first end portion of the mechanical connector is coupled with the lower peripheral portion, and printing a second end portion of the mechanical connector. The second end portion extends away from the lower peripheral portion. The second end portion is configured to engage a sole structure and fasten the upper to the sole structure.

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.

The present disclosure, in general, provides for elastomeric materials which, when they contact water, take up water reversibly, and undergo a dry to wet “character change” in which the appearance of the elastomeric material, its physical properties, or both, is altered.

A sole structure 1 includes: a first sole portion including a first sole body and a first connecting portion provided behind the first sole body; a second sole portion disposed behind the first sole portion and including a second sole body and a second connecting portion provided in front of the second sole body; and a connecting shaft provided along a vertical direction to connect the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion together. Either one of the first sole portion or the second sole portion is turnable around the connecting shaft relative to the other one of the first sole portion or the second sole portion in a foot width direction.