Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) an upper; (b) a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a plurality of polygonal lugs arranged about a base surface of the outsole. The outsole may include one or more regions wherein the characteristics of a portion of the lugs within a region differ from the characteristics of a portion of the lugs in another region. The lugs may differ, for example based on size, construction and/or spacing between the lugs. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.

A medical shoe having a plurality of outsole projections is provided. The medical shoe may include a sole assembly configured to support a foot, and a frame surrounding the sole assembly. The sole assembly may include a midsole portion forming a substantially planar surface for supporting the foot and an outsole portion including the plurality of outsole projections extending from the midsole portion. The frame may include a plurality of through holes corresponding to the plurality of outsole projections. The plurality of outsole projections may extend through the plurality of through holes so as to form a ground contacting surface. The plurality of outsole projections may also be provided in a symmetrical pattern. The sole assembly may be secured to the frame by a self-locking fit between the sole assembly and the frame.

A sole member for an article of footwear includes a composite sole structure and a reinforcing member. The sole structure may comprise two layers of woven composite material. The two layers have substantially similar woven patterns. The sole structure includes bulging portions with centrally recessed portions. The reinforcing member fits into channels associated with the bulging portions.

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation.

Described are soles for shoes, in which the sole includes a porous mesh and a continuous first layer arranged at least partially on a first side of the porous mesh, wherein the first layer penetrates the porous mesh at least partially to form a tread structure on a second side of the porous mesh opposite the first side, and wherein the first layer and the porous mesh are bonded at least in an area where the tread structure is formed.

Disclosed is a spring-loaded boot. The invention consists of a rigid boot bound to a set of plates, with shock absorbers situated on each end of, and sandwiched between, the plates. The top plate provides the platform for binding a ski boot, and the bottom plate provides ground contact and traction. The device allows the user to bounce with pogo-like motion. The rigid shell of the boot provides the ample ankle support and protection needed for rugged terrain.

A sole structure of an article of footwear has a support assembly structure including a flexure element and an upper support element. The flexure element may have a central portion located between first and second ground-contacting or lower regions, wherein the central portion may have a downwardly concavely-curved shell-like region. The flexure element also may have first and second flanges extending upward from the first and second lower regions, respectively. The upper support element is positioned above the central portion and between the first and second flanges of the flexure element. When a vertical compressive load is first applied to the upper support element, the upper support element moves vertically relative to the first and second flanges. An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.

A sole includes a sole body supporting an entire planta of a wearer, lower protrusions protruding downward from a lower portion of the sole body toward the ground and spaced from each other, and upper protrusions protruding upward from an upper portion of the sole body toward a planta of a wearer, each of the upper protrusions being on the sole body and overlapping with an associated one of the lower protrusions. Each of the lower protrusions has, at its lower portion, a first region which makes contact with the ground, and each of the upper protrusions has, at its upper portion, a second region which makes contact with the planta of the wearer and is smaller than the first region.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole structure comprises a fluid filled member and a plurality of slots. The slots are associated with connecting portions that connect portions of the sole structure in the generally longitudinal direction and provide for increased fit, flexibility and stability.

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation. Some embodiments can include an inner member that is configured to accommodate the movement of a protruding member. Other embodiments can include a plurality of recessed portions or nub portions formed along an outwardly facing surface of the sole member.