A plurality of orthotic systems are provided. One bi-layer system is constructed from a single sheet of fabric that is molded into two layers. One tri-layer system includes a base layer; a mid-layer; and an upper layer. The upper layer is joined to the mid-layer and the mid-layer is joined to the base layer. The coupling of the base layer, the mid-layer and the upper layer create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section and a front spring section in which the upper layer is suspended over the mid-layer and the heel portion is suspended on the proximal heel end of the base layer.

An article of footwear including a sole and a first support member and a second support member positioned on the sole, where the first support member and the second support member are separated from each other, and where the first support member has a main body and a terminal end that extends at least partially below the main body of the first support member, and the second support member has a main body and a terminal end that extends at least partially below the main body of the second support member.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure providing lateral roll control structure. The sole structure includes a sole component having a continuous slit located in a central region of the sole component and progressing in a longitudinal direction of the sole component. The slit forms a laterally extending portion(s) that extends from a medial side of the sole component to a lateral side of the sole structure, a distal end of the laterally extending portion being attached to an opposing surface of an adjacent component, and a medially extending portion(s) that extends from a lateral side of the sole component to a medial side of the sole structure, a distal end of the medially extending portion being attached to the opposing surface of the adjacent component, the laterally extending portion(s) and the medially extending portion(s) alternating in a longitudinal direction of the sole component.

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a cinching apparatus that is configured to move the upper between an open position and a closed position. The cinching apparatus includes a spring pad with a first, second, and third portion. The third portion is elastic and configured to deform elastically from a first position toward a second position. The third portion is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion generally in the longitudinal direction as the third portion deforms between the first position and the second position. Also, the cinching apparatus is configured to move the upper from the open position toward the closed position as the third portion of the spring pad moves from the first position toward the second position.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole and a membrane layer. The outsole has a plurality of protrusions that extend from a base layer. The membrane layer extends between the plurality of protrusions and includes at least a portion that is separated from the base layer by a distance. The membrane layer forms an outer surface of the article of footwear, and is configured to elastically deform toward the base layer in response to an applied force.

An article of footwear may incorporate a chamber with an outer barrier and a tether element. The barrier may be formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, and tether element may be located within the interior cavity and joined to opposite sides of the barrier. Upon pressurization of the chamber, the tether element may extend across the interior cavity and be placed in tension by the outward force of a pressurized fluid within the interior cavity. The tether element may have a variety of configurations. For example, the tether element may have a diagonal orientation, or different tether elements may have different lengths. A tether element may also have plates or tie pieces secured to opposite sides of the chamber, with one or more tethers extending between. Also, the tether element may include one of more sheets that extend across the interior cavity.

The present disclosure describes a performance enhancing shoe sole that includes an anterior support structure and a posterior support structure that are connected by a first support structure. The anterior support structure and posterior support structure are flexible bent spring structures. The first support structure provides a plantar interface that includes a midfoot arch. The shoe sole is positionable in a shoe to provide shock absorption and controlled energy return from the posterior support structure to the first support structure. The shoe sole is an interconnected bent spring system that can be a single ribbon of flexible material defining multiple pivot angles or a multi-layered cantilevered flexible bent spring. The shoe sole can also include inserts that dampen shock.

A energy sole including a base structure extending a length of a shoe sole, a flexion extending from the base structure, a toe arm extending forward from the flexion, and a heel arm extend rearward from the flexion.

A sole structure includes a sole plate having a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-facing surface. The sole plate includes a plurality of grooves extending transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the sole plate, in the forefoot region of the foot-facing surface. A flex control insert includes an upper surface, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. The flex control insert includes a plurality of ribs protruding from the lower surface of the flex control insert, which extend transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the sole plate. Each one of ribs is disposed within a different respective one of the grooves. The ribs are strong in compression, and maintain their volume to resist compression by the grooves as the sole plate flexes in a longitudinal direction to increase the bending stiffness of the sole plate.

Embodiments provide a support structure for an article of footwear, which may include upper and lower support elements, upper and lower members, a compression element disposed between the upper and lower members, and a torsion element. A vertical force applied to the upper support element compresses the compression element, rotationally displaces in a first direction the upper member relative to the lower member, rotationally displaces in the first direction a second portion of the torsion element relative to a first portion of the torsion element, deflects a torsion loading portion of the torsion element, and moves the upper member vertically toward the lower member. Upon release of the force, the torsion loading portion rotationally displaces in a second direction opposite to the first direction the second portion of the torsion element relative to the first portion. Embodiments of methods of manufacturing a support structure are also disclosed.