Improved soles and insoles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. In an aspect, a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with at least a first and a second surface region is provided. The first surface region comprises expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”). The second surface region is free from expanded TPU.

An energizing safety shoe is capable of offering the user a high degree of protection in the case of accidents, in accordance with the current standards, together with a higher level of comfort perceived by the user thanks to a specific configuration of the multi-layer sole capable of respecting the ergonomics of the user in accordance with the biomechanics of walking.

A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A cushioning member for an article of footwear is provided and includes a first barrier member defining a first compartment and a second compartment and being formed from a first material. A second barrier member is attached to the first barrier member, covers the first compartment to define a first interior void, and covers the second compartment to define a second interior void. The second barrier is formed from a second material different than the first material. The cushioning member also includes a first quantity of particulate matter disposed within the first interior void and a second quantity of particulate matter disposed within the second interior void.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole defining a ground-contacting surface, a midsole disposed between the outsole and the upper, and a plate attached to the midsole and defining a recess extending in a direction away from the outsole and toward the upper, the recess including a first retainer. The sole structure further includes a first cushion having a first portion received within the recess, the first portion engaging the first retainer to maintain a desired position of the first cushion relative to the plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first midsole body and a second midsole body. The first midsole body defines a ground-facing surface and a foot-facing surface opposite the ground-facing surface and includes a first midsole material, which has a first hardness. The second midsole body extends through the first midsole body. As such, the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface of the first midsole body. The second midsole body includes a second midsole material, which has a second hardness, and the first hardness is greater than the second hardness.

A midsole includes an upper layer and a lower layer made of a foamed material; the upper layer is a low-hardness foamed material; the lower layer is a high-hardness foamed material; the low-hardness foamed material of the upper layer is a low-hardness, high-resilience material that has a higher specific gravity than the high-hardness foamed material, that has a low hardness that is lower than the hardness of the high-hardness foamed material, and that has a higher speed at which to recover to an original shape after being deformed than that of the high-hardness foamed material.

A sole structure for an article of footwear having a heel region, a mid-foot region, a forefoot region, an interior region, and a peripheral region. The sole structure including a bladder having a chamber including an arcuate segment extending around the heel region, a first segment extending along the peripheral region on a medial side of the sole structure from the arcuate segment to a first terminal end in the forefoot region, and a second segment spaced apart from the first segment across a width of the sole structure and extending along the peripheral region on a lateral side of the sole structure from the arcuate segment to a second terminal end in the forefoot region. A peripheral outsole extends along the chamber and a first cushion is disposed between the first segment and the second segment and is exposed through an opening of the peripheral outsole.

A sole structure for a shoe that can secure cushioning properties and obtain a ground surface information is disclosed. The sole structure includes a first midsole having a plurality of first protrusions on a foot-sole-contact side, an outsole having a plurality of second protrusions on a ground surface side, and a second midsole disposed at a part of a region between the first midsole and the outsole and having a lower compressive rigidity than the first midsole. At least a part of the plurality of first protrusions of the first midsole is located at a position corresponding vertically to at least a part of the plurality of second protrusions of the outsole.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.