The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a shoe insert sized and shaped to accommodate a user's foot and fit inside a standard shoe (e.g., a golf shoe). The insert is configured with a gradient with a first height on a lateral edge and a second (lesser) height on a medial edge. In this way, the insert does not lay flat on the inside of the user's shoe but provides a gradient that stabilizes the user's weight to the center of the foot. Advantageously, the inserts allow the golfer to automatically assume a proper stance and to properly shift the body weight during a swing. As a result, the insert keeps a golfer from swaying during a golf swing, thereby reducing the incidence of shanking the ball.

Articles of footwear can include an adaptive-height sole structure that includes a variable height bladder system. The sole structure can include one or more bladder systems positioned between a midsole and a banking plate. The banking plate can change its relative orientation to the midsole based on an inflation level of the bladder systems.

Foot support systems include a fluid flow control system that facilitates movement of fluid into, out of, and/or within a sole structure and/or article of footwear, e.g., to change and/or control pressure in fluid filled bladder(s). Such systems may include: (a) a first solenoid including first, second, and third ports; (b) a valve in fluid communication with the first solenoid’s first port; and (c) a second solenoid including first, second, and third ports (the first port in fluid communication with the valve). Each of the first and second solenoids is switchable to: (a) a configuration where fluid flows through that solenoid between its first port and second port and (b) a configuration where fluid flows through that solenoid between its first port and third port. The valve is switchable between open and closed configurations. The solenoid and valve configurations are used to selectively place the systems in plural operational states.

Foot support systems include a fluid flow control system that facilitates movement of fluid into, out of, and/or within a sole structure and/or article of footwear, e.g., to change and/or control pressure in fluid filled bladder(s). The fluid flow control system includes: (a) a manifold body defining an internal chamber; (b) at least a first port in fluid communication with the internal chamber; (c) at least a first valve (including a first valve activator) controlling fluid flow through the first port; and (d) a movable cam at least partially within the internal chamber. Valve activator surface(s) on the cam interact with the valve activator(s) to selectively open and close valve(s) based on cam positioning.

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.

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.

A sole plate includes slots spaced apart from each other and extending along a longitudinal axis to define at least one interior bridge portion disposed therebetween. A lateral bridge portion is disposed between a lateral side of the sole plate and a lateral most one of the slots, and a medial bridge portion is disposed between a medial side of the sole plate and a medial most one of the slots. A stiffness controlling device is interlaced between the lateral bridge portion, the interior bridge portions, and the medial bridge portion, and is moveable within the slots, between a first position and a second position, for changing between a first bending stiffness at a specific flex angle when the stiffness controlling device is in the first position, and a second bending stiffness at the specific flex angle when the stiffness controlling device is in the second position.

Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

An elastic strain sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin that can sense flexing by the underlying support structure of the skin to detect and track motion of the support structure. The uni-directional elastic strain sensor can be formed by filling two or more channels in an elastic substrate material with a conductive liquid. At the ends of the channels, a loop port connects the channels to form a serpentine channel. The channels extend along the direction of strain and the loop portions have sufficiently large cross-sectional area in the direction transverse to the direction of strain that the sensor is unidirectional. The resistance is measured at the ends of the serpentine channel and can be used to determine the strain on the sensor. Additional channels can be added to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. The sensors can be stacked on top of each other to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. In other embodiments, two sensors oriented in different directions can be stacked on top of each other and bonded together to form a bidirectional sensor. A third sensor formed by in the shape of a spiral or concentric rings can be stacked on top and used to sense contact or pressure, forming a three dimensional sensor. The three dimensional sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin to provide advanced sensing.

A pneumatic insole includes airbags, channels, two arch-related chambers, a push-type inlet valve, an inlet channel, a check valve, a recessed portion, a push-type adjustment valve, and an outlet channel. The channels interconnect the airbags. The push-type inlet valve is located in the first arch-related chamber. The inlet channel connects the first arch-related chamber to a leading one of the airbags. The check valve is arranged between the inlet channel and the inlet airbag. The recessed portion is located between the arch-related chambers. The push-type adjustment valve is located in the recessed portion and formed with an upper face that extends lower than that of the first and second arch-related chambers. The outlet channel connects the push-type adjustment valve to another one of the airbags.