A shoe midsole for running shoes having spring/tread elements (2, 4, 4a), In order to achieve good damping and running support, it is proposed that a bow-shaped spring/tread element (2) is arranged on the underside in the forefoot region of the shoe midsole (1), which is fixed with a first end to the front end of the midsole (1) and with its other end to a first spring/tread element (4, 4a), of which the direction of movement is parallel to the extension of the midsole, so that it exerts a thrust force on the spring/tread element (2) when it springs out.

A fluid-filled chamber, which may be incorporated into articles of footwear and other products, may include an outer barrier and a tensile element. The outer barrier may have a first portion, an opposite second portion, and an interior surface defining an interior void. The tensile element may be secured to the first portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of first bond areas and may be secured to the second portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of second bond areas. Each of the bond areas may be connected to portions of the tensile element spaced from the interior surface.

Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a foam. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure within the heel region, a second segment extending along a lateral side of the sole structure within the heel region, a third segment extending from one of the first segment and the second segment and terminating at a distal end intermediate the first segment and the second segment, and a web area disposed between and connecting the first segment and the second segment. The first barrier layer is attached to the second barrier layer within the web area.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning element having a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the cushioning element from the top surface, a ramp surface spaced apart from the bottom surface in a heel region of the cushioning element, a heel pocket extending through the cushioning element from the top surface to the ramp surface, and a plurality of pillars extending from the ramp surface and surrounding the pocket. The sole structure additionally includes a plurality of cushioning particles disposed within the pocket, an outsole attached to the cushioning element and enclosing a first end of the pocket, and an upper barrier layer attached to the top surface of the cushioning element and covering a second end of the pocket.

Sole structures, foot support systems, articles of footwear, and/or other foot-receiving devices include: (a) a first footwear component having a ground-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the ground-facing surface includes arched medial and lateral surfaces and (b) a second footwear component having an upper-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the upper-facing surface includes arched medial and lateral surfaces that face (and optionally contact) the respective arched medial and lateral surfaces of the first footwear component. The first and second footwear components are movably engaged together such that: (a) the arched medial surface of the first footwear component moves with respect to and along the arched medial surface of the second footwear component and (b) the arched lateral surface of the first footwear component moves with respect to and along the arched lateral surface of the second footwear component.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a first cushioning member disposed in a heel region of the sole structure and a second cushioning member disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure. The second cushioning member is spaced apart from the first cushioning member by a gap that extends between the first cushioning member and the second cushioning member. A sole plate extends across the gap between the first cushioning member and the second cushioning member.

A sole for an article of footwear includes a cored midsole defining a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter surface extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The cored midsole defines apertures extending diagonally from the top surface of the cored midsole to the bottom surface of the cored midsole.

A sole for a shoe includes a sole body extending longitudinally from a heel portion to a toe portion and a curved plate provided at the sole body and extending longitudinally along the sole body. A compressive rigidity of the sole body is lowest at a metatarsophalangeal joint position. The sole body includes a sole forefoot top part disposed above the curved plate at the forefoot portion and a sole forefoot bottom part disposed below the curved plate at the forefoot portion. The compressive rigidity of the sole body is relatively low at the sole forefoot bottom part.

In an item of footwear having a sole and an upper, the sole includes at least one upper layer, which is directed towards the upper, and at least one lower layer, which is directed away from the upper. The upper layer and the lower layer are made of materials having different levels of elasticity, density or hardness. The side of the sole which is directed towards the upper forms a bearing surface for the foot, with a heel zone and a ball-of-the-foot zone. The lower layer passes through the upper layer at least in part such that a bearing surface is formed by regions of the lower layer and of the upper layer. This construction makes it possible to combine the different materials' properties in the region of the bearing surface.