An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure defines a ground engaging surface, and includes a cushioning member coupled to the upper and an outsole coupled to the cushioning member. The outsole includes a central portion and a plurality of lobes extending outward from a periphery of the central portion. Each of the plurality of lobes is independently movable relative to one another.

An article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper, the sole structure including a first cushioning member positioned in a heel region of the sole structure and a second cushioning member positioned in a forefoot region of the sole structure. A gap extends between the first cushioning member and the second cushioning member in a midfoot region of the sole structure, and one or both of the first cushioning member or the second cushioning member are a supercritical foam with pockets of nitrogen gas therein.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate having a first surface. The first plate includes a forefoot region at an anterior end, a heel region at a posterior end, and a mid-foot region. The sole structure further includes a second plate having a second surface opposing the first surface of the first plate. The second plate has a first end attached to the forefoot region of the first plate and a second end that is spaced apart from the first surface of the first plate. A cushion is disposed between the first plate and the second plate and has a first side attached to the first surface of the first plate and a second side attached to the second surface of second plate. The cushion extends continuously from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure.

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 method for producing the shock absorbing member includes: inserting in which each of tubes is housed in a corresponding one of first housings such that molding spaces and the tubes communicate with one another; and molding in which a thermoplastic resin material to form a connection member is heated to melt and injected from a gate toward the molding spaces and the tubes so that the tubes and the connection member are integrally formed.

An article of footwear has a sole structure with an extension portion that maintains contact with the ground during a forward stride, extending the time period for deceleration of loads applied to the sole structure. The article of footwear comprises an upper and a sole structure. The upper has a forefoot region with a foremost extent. The sole structure has a forefoot portion underlying the forefoot region, and an extension portion extending forward from the forefoot portion. The extension portion extends forward of the foremost extent of the upper from a forward edge of the forefoot portion to a distal end. A top side of the extension portion is spaced apart from the upper between the forward edge and the distal end. The extension portion establishes a propulsion surface beyond the foremost extent of the upper during a forward stride.

Orthotic and prosthetic devices having integrated features such as cushioning features are described, as well as methods for computer aided designing and making of these devices. The orthotic or prosthetic devices comprise a cushioning layer superimposed onto an orthotic or prosthetic shell, the cushioning layer comprising an array (35) of discrete solid and resilient cushioning elements (31). In one preferred embodiment, said cushioning structure is a beam, defined around a centerline of any arbitrary shape. In another preferred embodiment, said cushioning structure has the shape of a spiral.

A shoe, which is light and capable of improving cushioning properties and a thrust force occurring upon push off without sacrificing comfort to wear, has a simple structure and can be mass-produced. The shoe is provided with: a shoe body into which a foot is inserted; a hard plate which covers a necessary area on a bottom side of the shoe body in a length direction and is fixed to the bottom side of the shoe body only at a necessary location including a position of a front foot part; and cushion materials which are attached to both end parts of a ground contact side of the hard plate in the length direction.

The present invention relates to a damping system for an article including a rigid support having at least one reception face extending along a plane, and a spring blade including a first end and a second end. A first means of assembling the article includes a first end with the rigid support. The blade extends along the rigid support on a convex path so that said second end is put in contact with said reception face and is able to move in said plane during compression and/or relaxation of said blade.

A shoe sole includes a sole body, and a reinforcing structure portion made up of a first reinforcing member and a second reinforcing member that are made of different members of different materials from each other. The first reinforcing member includes a first bar, and the second reinforcing member includes a second bar. The first bar is located on a medial foot side from the second bar. A portion of the first bar disposed in a midfoot portion extends along an oblique direction crossing both a front-rear direction and a left-right direction, and a portion of the second bar disposed in the midfoot portion extends crossing the left-right direction. The portion of the first bar disposed in the midfoot portion and the portion of the second bar disposed in the midfoot portion are located at least in part with a distance therebetween.