The midsole structure for an athletic shoe includes a midsole body made of foamed resin, and a sheet composite extending at least from the ball of the foot portion to the toe portion in the midsole body and comprising a plurality of foamed rubber sheets that are overlapped and shifted in the longitudinal direction. The sheet composite comprises a single sheet at the toe portion and a plurality of sheets at the ball of the foot portion.

The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear effective to regulate the temperature of the feet of a wearer. In an embodiment, the article of footwear includes an upper and an insole with a thermal effect membrane. The thermal effect membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. The bottom of the sole structure of the article of footwear further includes a multiple openings in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions. The multiple openings promote airflow into the interior of the upper. In operation, the article of footwear is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to footwear lacking the membrane and/or openings), increasing wearer comfort.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure secured to an underside of the upper. The sole structure includes a midsole; a ground contacting outsole surface; and a cushioning system disposed between the midsole and the ground contacting outsole surface. The cushioning system includes a plate comprising an upper plate and a lower plate provided in a spaced relationship. The upper plate and lower plate are integrally connected at a posterior portion of the sole structure. A midfoot fluid-filled chamber is provided between the upper plate and the lower plate within the midfoot region, and a forefoot fluid-filled chamber is provided between the upper plate and the lower plate within the forefoot region.

Provided herein are mid-soles, sole assemblies, footwear inserts and articles of footwear for walking and running. The midsoles include three cushioning members where the height of the midsole provides a zero drop elevation. The midsole architecture provides dynamic variable resistance that improves performance by using different densities and angles of component mid-sole members that will allow the wearer to move through a full range of motion during walking or running with muscle effort remaining constant while shifting the workload from muscles that have limited power in certain positions, to those with more explosive and endurance capabilities in those same positions.

An outsole includes a substantially flat reference surface formed on a lower side of the outsole, and studs projecting downward from the reference surface and each having a projection surface positioned below the reference surface. Midsole hollows are provided in a lower portion of a midsole. The midsole hollows are each defined between an upper portion of the outsole and an associated one of midsole recesses formed in a lower surface of a lower midsole at positions facing upper sides of the studs.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

A method of forming a fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear is provided and includes positioning a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material in a pressure chamber, increasing a fluid pressure within the pressure chamber to a first value, and coupling the first sheet of material to the second sheet of material within the pressure chamber to define a fluid-filled chamber defined by the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material and having a fluid pressure equal to the first value. The method also includes decreasing the fluid pressure within the pressure chamber to a second value.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.