Disclosed herein are improved cross-linked resilin compositions and methods of making these improved compositions. These include new methods of cross-linking resilin compositions, use of polar nonaqueous solvents for adjusting material properties of cross-linked resilin solid compositions, and resilin foam compositions and methods of making the same.

A shoe component co-molded with a physically foamed midsole includes a composite outsole and a physically foamed midsole. The composite outsole includes a base layer and a mesh layer having has a first surface and a second surface that face opposite directions. The first surface has a first surface structure and is engaged with the base layer. The second surface has a second surface structure different from the first surface structure. A bottom surface of the physically foamed midsole partially enters the second surface structure of the second surface to generate an anchor effect with the mesh layer. A method of manufacturing a shoe component includes placing a composite outsole into a foaming mold, injecting a thermoplastic foaming fluid into the foaming mold; foaming the thermoplastic foaming fluid through a supercritical fluid to form a physically foamed midsole for engaging with a mesh layer of the composite outsole.

A sole for a running shoe comprising a sole tip, a heel edge and a midsole having a base surface delimiting the midsole against the vertical direction (V) and a top surface delimiting the midsole in the vertical direction, wherein the midsole has a heel region (FB), a midfoot region (MFB) and a forefoot region (VFB) and an elastic plate. The elastic plate extends at least from the forefoot region into the midfoot region, and in the forefoot region and/or in the midfoot region has a first curvature with a vertex curved along the longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole in the direction of the top surface of the midsole. The elastic plate is formed so the first curvature is elastically bent in the direction of the base surface by the forces acting during treading and/or rolling movement, and the first curvature returns to its original shape during push-off, or wherein the elastic plate in the forefoot region and/or in the midfoot region has a first curvature curved along the longitudinal direction of the midsole in the direction of the base surface of the midsole and having a vertex. The elastic plate is configured such that the first curvature is elastically bent in the direction of the top surface by the forces acting during treading and/or during rolling movement, and the first curvature returns to its original shape during push-off.

An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure that defines a lateral side and a medial side, a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a heel region. The sole structure includes an outsole that defines a notch that extends toward a toe end of the sole structure. The sole structure further includes a first midsole member that defines an opening within the midfoot region that extends into the notch such that the outsole is disposed on the medial side and lateral side of the toe end of the opening. A second a midsole is positioned between the first midsole member and the upper, and a sole plate is disposed within the midfoot region. The second midsole member is visible though the opening from the bottom of the article of footwear and the second midsole member extends into an aperture in the sole plate.