A sole for an item of footwear comprising: a front portion; a heel portion; and a energy absorbing member positioned within the front portion, and having a first position in which the energy absorbing member protrudes from the sole, and a second position in which the energy absorbing member is substantially level with a surface of the sole.

A shoe may comprise an upper and a sole structure that includes a plurality of support elements located in a plantar region. Each of the support elements may be non-destructively removable from and replaceable into the sole structure. The shoe may comprise a plurality of sensors configured to measure force exerted in a footbed region of the article of footwear, as well as a processor communicatively coupled to the sensors. The processor may be configured to receive input indicative of forces measured by the sensors and to transmit data based on that input. Methods utilizing the article may include removing a support element and replacing the removed support element with a replacement support element.

A shank for an article of footwear including a substantially planar base portion extending within a first plane in the longitudinal and lateral directions and a substantially planar ramp portion designed to absorb footwear loads in a vertical direction, the ramp portion extending, in an uncompressed state, within a second plane that is oblique to the first plane. The base portion and the ramp portion are arranged such that they do not overlap in the vertical direction. A sole assembly is also described and includes an outsole divided into a first portion located at a forefoot portion of the sole assembly and a second portion located at an arch portion of the sole assembly. The second portion is designed to contact the midsole in a compressed state and form a gap between when a load is removed. Related methods of manufacturing are also described.

A sole for an article of footwear includes: a foam base; a lateral pod assembly having a plurality of pods fluidly connected in series disposed below the foam base, wherein the lateral pod assembly extends from a heel portion of the sole to a forefoot portion of the sole along a lateral side of the sole; and a medial pod assembly having a plurality of pods fluidly connected in series disposed below the foam base, wherein the medial pod assembly extends from a heel portion of the sole to a forefoot portion of the sole along a medial side of the sole, wherein a portion of the foam base extends between the lateral pod assembly and the medial pod assembly.

A cushioning sole for footwear includes a heel portion, an opening, and a cushioning slide. The heel portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The opening extends vertically through the heel portion from the bottom surface to the top surface. The cushioning slide is disposed in the opening and extends out from the top surface and out from the bottom surface.

Footwear devices having various shock absorbing configurations situated in the heal of the footwear and a plurality of regions on the bottom of the footwear defined by a plurality of compressibilities.

The present invention relates to a midsole for dispersing the pressure of the mesopodium and the metatarsal bones, and a shoe having the same, the midsole having, installed in a metatarsal bone portion and mesopodium portion of the central upper part thereof, a midfoot support for receiving an inner sole, which protrudes upwardly so as to support the mesopodium, and having a bridge groove formed in a metatarsal bone portion of the lower part thereof, wherein the bridge groove consists of three components, and has been improved so as to be capable of supporting joints between the metatarsal bone body and basal tarsus metatarsal bones.

A sole cushioning module includes a contacting plate, a base plate, a connecting portion and a first spring leaf. The contacting plate abuts against a sole. The base plate and the contacting plate form a space. The connecting portion connects with the contacting plate and the base plate. The first spring leaf is located within the space. The first spring leaf connects with the base plate. The first spring leaf is curved and forms a first outer curved surface. A first region of the first outer curved surface abuts against the contacting plate. When the contacting plate moves towards the base plate, the contacting plate presses on the first outer curved surface. The first spring leaf deforms, and the first outer curved surface slides relative to the contacting plate. The first region shifts towards an end of the first spring leaf connecting with the base plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole structure includes a reinforcing plate and/or a lasting board. The reinforcing plate and/or lasting board includes a first flange portion corresponding to a big toe of a foot and a second flange portion corresponding to a ball region of a foot. The first flange portion and the second flange portion each include a cleat member.

Support plates, and footwear soles and articles of footwear containing the same. The support plate generally may provide one or more of heel cushioning, arch support in a midfoot region of the support plate, and integral medial and lateral legs extending from the midfoot region of the support plate towards an anterior end of the support plate. An article of footwear may include a support plate at least partially embedded within a sole assembly, such as a midsole thereof. The support plate may be configured to provide energy return and arch support to a wearer of the article of footwear. The support plate may include a domed structure with radially extending arms extending from a central heel portion, where the domed structure provides heel cushioning to the wearer when a force is transmitted through the midsole to the domed structure.