The present invention provides a method for manufacturing shoes having springs embedded therein, the method in which comfort and body weight distribution effect can be enhanced by means of the shock-absorbing force of resilient members being more effectively transmitted to the soles of a wearer.

An article of footwear may include an elastic membrane suspended within an interior of an upper of the article of footwear and spaced above the sole, such that a wearer's foot contacts the membrane and is cradled by the membrane as the membrane is stretched toward an underlying midsole. In some examples, the 5 membrane may contact the midsole for a discrete length of a contact area, e.g., selected by the manufacturer. In some examples, a void between the membrane and the sole is filled, at least in part, with a selected filler material. In some examples, the membrane comprises a material having tailored stretch characteristics.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper can include a first outsole, a second outsole, and a cushioning member. The second outsole is positioned between the first outsole and the upper and the cushioning member is positioned between the first outsole and the second outsole.

A sole structure includes a first cushioning element having a first top side and a bottom side formed on an opposite side from the first top side and defining a receptacle. The sole structure further includes a second cushioning element attached to the first cushioning element and having a second top side flush with the first top side of the first cushioning element. An upper plate is disposed within the receptacle and including a first end attached to the first cushioning element and a second end attached to the second cushioning element. A lower plate spaced is apart from the upper plate and includes a third end attached to the first cushioning element and a fourth end attached to the second cushioning element. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the receptacle of the first cushioning element and attached to each of the upper plate and the lower plate.

A footwear component that includes a sole including a recessed area and a support member positioned in the recessed area. The support member includes a main support, a front support that extends at least partially over a front end of the main support, and a rear support that extends at least partially below a rear end of the main support. The front support of the support member moves toward the main support when pressure is applied to the front support and moves away from the main support when pressure is released from the front support. Similarly, the rear support of the support member moves toward the main support when pressure is applied to the rear support and moves away from the main support when pressure is released from the rear support.

A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area.

A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area.

A shoe sole 1 includes a bottom part 20 and a deformation restraining part 30. The bottom part 20 includes: a rear bottom surface part 24 formed to extend from a rearfoot to a midfoot portion and to be, when the shoe sole is placed on a virtual surface S as a flat surface, in contact with the virtual surface S; and a toe portion 26 of which a height from the virtual surface S is set to 100% or greater and 250% or less with respect to a thickness in the rear bottom surface part 24. The deformation restraining part 30 is disposed in an edge part on a medial side and a lateral side of the bottom part 20 and extends from a forefoot to the midfoot portion along the bottom part 20. The deformation restraining part 30 has higher hardness than the bottom part 20.

A fluid-filled chamber is provided and includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, a foam structure, and a tensile member. The second barrier layer is secured to the first barrier layer to define an interior void between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer. The interior void contains a predetermined volume of fluid. The foam structure and the tensile member are disposed within the interior void, whereby the tensile member includes a plurality of fibers extending in a first direction between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer.

A sole structure for an article of footwear that includes an upper. The sole structure can include an outsole having a ground-engaging surface. The midsole member can be disposed between the outsole and the upper, and can include a pocket extending from a heel region to a forefoot region. A sole plate can be disposed within the pocket. The sole plate can have a uniform thickness and can extend from the heel region into the forefoot region. A cutout portion can be formed in each of the midsole member and the outsole in an arched section of the sole structure. A cushion layer can be disposed over the sole plate and within the pocket.