A plate for an article of footwear includes a substrate, a first strand portion attached to the substrate via first stitching, and a second strand portion disposed on the first layer. The first strand portion includes first segments that each extend between two different locations along the substrate to form a first layer on the substrate. The second strand portion includes second segments that each extend between two different locations along the substrate to form a second layer on the first layer.

A running shoe includes an upper, an outsole, a midsole and a stone guard. The stone guard includes a unitary plate member including an aft section and a fore section, wherein the fore section includes a first plurality of portions corresponding in size and location to bones of a human foot including a plurality of phalange portions individually cantilevered relative to the aft section.

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components. A sole plate can include one or more specialized compartments designed to receive a component. The sole plate can be configured to provide greater stability to a sole structure. In some cases, the sole plate can be used to receive a component that can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system. Tabs within the sole plate can assist with retaining components within the sole plate and provide additional surface area for mounting the sole plate to other components of the article of footwear.

A sole assembly for an article of footwear having a midsole defining a sidewall channel in the forefoot and a sidewall channel in the heel. The forefoot and heel channels terminate at the arch. The sole assembly includes a plate disposed below the midsole. The plate may include an arch portion, forefoot legs extending along the medial and lateral sides of the forefoot and heel legs extending along the medial and lateral sides of the heel. The medial forefoot leg may extend almost the full length of the forefoot. The lateral forefoot leg may extend about half-way through the forefoot. The lateral heel leg may extend almost the full length of the heel. The medial heel leg may extend about half-way through the heel. The sole assembly may include an outsole with slots in the heel and forefoot. The slots may terminate short of the peripheral edge.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a unitary sole with a first cushioning body having a first hardness and a second cushioning having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and the second cushioning bodies are exposed at a periphery of the sole. The second cushioning body may have a wedge surface that interfaces with a lateral extremity of the first cushioning body and angles laterally outward toward a lateral side exterior surface of the sole from a lower extent to an upper extent of the wedge surface. The second cushioning body may underlie the first cushioning body in a portion of a forefoot region of the sole such that the first cushioning body establishes a foot-facing exterior surface and the second cushioning body establishes a ground-facing exterior surface of the sole where the first cushioning body overlies the second cushioning body.

An item of footwear including a sole assembly that comprises at least an outsole and an insole, and further comprising one or more shear force-reducing coupling elements (30) disposed between the insole and the ground. The coupling elements (30) are adapted to permit limited displacement, in a plane parallel, in use, to the ground, of overlying components of the item of footwear. The coupling elements (30) provide less resistance to displacement of overlying components of the item of footwear in a first direction than in a second, reverse direction.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a fluid-filled segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure within the heel region, a second fluid-filled segment extending along a lateral side of the sole structure within the heel region, and a web area disposed between and connecting the first fluid-filled segment and the second fluid-filled segment. The first barrier layer is attached to the second barrier layer within the web area.

A method of manufacturing a midsole for an article of footwear includes placing first and second preforms in a first mold, closing and heating the first mold to produce a midsole preform with a peripheral preform flange, removing the midsole preform from the first mold and allowing it to further expand and cool, placing the midsole preform in a second mold, with a volume of a midsole recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the midsole preform, and a volume of a peripheral recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the peripheral preform flange, closing the second mold thereby compressing the midsole preform and the peripheral preform flange, and heating the second mold to form a midsole with a peripheral flange, allowing the second mold to cool, opening the second mold, and cutting away a peripheral flange of the midsole.

A three-layered shoe construction having an outsole with a first flexible area and a second flexible area located in the vicinity of both the forefoot area and the hind foot area, the second flexible area being more flexible than the first flexible area, and further including a cavity housing a plurality of protrusions therewithin; a dual density midsole having a first density in the forefoot area and a second density in the hind foot area, the second density being greater than the first density; and an insole having a top face which includes a plurality of raised projections forming a geometric pattern that starts in the vicinity of the midfoot area and spirals outwardly towards both the toe area and the heel area, the plurality of raised projections increasing in size as they approach the toe and heel areas. The specific construction associated with the outsole, midsole and insole enhance flexibility, cushioning, comfort and breathability.

An article of footwear has a midsole assembly that includes a fluid-filled bladder element having a substantially arc-shaped heel portion and having a lateral arm portion and a medial arm portion spaced from the lateral arm portion. Each of the arm portions extend from the heel portion. The bladder element is configured to be positioned with the heel portion in the heel region of midsole assembly, and the arm portions extending from the heel region to a forefoot region along a peripheral region. A method of manufacturing and a mold assembly for such an article of footwear are provided.