A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole system with a plurality of cushioning units, each having multiple cushioning layers configured to work together as a system to absorb a compressive load, such as a dynamic compressive load due to impact with the ground, in stages of progressive cushioning according to the relative stiffness values of the layers. Various midsole systems disclosed include isolated cushioning units, linked cushioning units, sole layers having stanchions interfacing with the midsole system, midsole systems with sole layers having keyed and unkeyed portions overlying a bladder, and midsole systems with vertically-stacked cushioning units disposed in inverted relationship to one another.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a third cushioning layer. The first cushioning layer has a central portion, and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion. The first cushioning layer, the second cushioning layer, and the third cushioning layer are stacked with the second cushioning layer directly overlying the peripheral portion of the first cushioning layer, and the third cushioning layer overlying the second cushioning layer and directly overlying the central portion of the first cushioning layer. The first cushioning layer has a domed lower surface extending away from the second cushioning layer and the third cushioning layer and substantially centered under the central portion.

An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper, a sole secured to the upper and including a stabilizing member extending outwardly from the upper, where the stabilizing member includes a groove that separates the stabilizing member into a medial balancing member and a lateral balancing member, and the medial balancing member and the lateral balancing member move independently of each other to provide balance and stability on different terrains, and a support plate is positioned between the upper and the sole.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole connected to the upper. The sole includes a plurality of cleat mounts. A plurality of cleats is releasably connected to the cleat mounts of the sole. Each of the plurality of cleats includes a mount coupling and a plurality of legs connected to the mount coupling. The mount coupling is configured to engage one of the plurality of cleat mounts and releasably connect the cleat to the sole. The plurality of legs includes at least one lateral leg having a first hardness and at least one medial leg having a second hardness, the first hardness greater than the second hardness.

Articles of footwear including a midsole having a winding wrapped around at least a portion of the midsole. A midsole may include a core and a winding wrapped around the core to form a plurality of loops. Each loop of the winding may include a portion extending across a top surface of the core and a portion extending across a bottom surface of the core. The loops of the winding may protrude from the top surface of the core and/or the bottom surface of the core. Methods of making a midsole having a winding are also discussed.

A footwear sole structure includes a midsole having a ground-facing surface with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The midsole defines downwardly-extending protrusions at the ground-facing surface distributed over the midfoot region and the heel region, each of the downwardly-extending protrusions having a convex outer surface. A height of the midsole is greatest at the midfoot region. The sole structure may also include an outsole covering at least a portion of the ground-facing surface of the midsole, and a height of the sole structure may be greatest at the midfoot region.

Improved cushioning elements for sports apparel, in particular for soles for sports shoes, are described. A cushioning element for sports apparel with a first deformation element is provided. The deformation element includes a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material, wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles.

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 can include provisions for improving the cushioning characteristics and stability of an article of footwear. The sole structure may include multiple layers with specialized structural properties designed to integrate regions of stiffness with cushioning layers. In some cases, the sole structure can include at least two independent stability layers that differ in stiffness.

A shoe includes a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The sole includes a midsole and an outsole. The midsole includes at least one foam midsole member being of foam and at least one gel midsole member being of gel. The at least one gel midsole member is located between the at least one foam midsole member and the outsole and spaces the at least one foam midsole member from the outsole such that when a wearer, wearing the shoe with the outsole in contact with a horizontal surface such as the ground, applies a downward force toward the horizontal surface and against the upper surface of the at least one foam midsole member, all of such downward force is transmitted from the midsole to the outsole via the at least one gel member.