A sole structure includes a foam element extending from a forefoot region to a heel region. A bottom surface of the foam element includes a recess formed in the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a cushioning arrangement disposed in the recess of the foam element. The cushioning arrangement has a proximal end adjacent to the bottom surface of the foam element and a distal end formed on an opposite side of the cushioning arrangement than the proximal end, the cushioning arrangement including at least one medial bladder proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and at least one lateral bladder proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure. An outsole includes an anterior outsole and a posterior outsole attached to the bottom surface of the foam element and the distal end of the cushioning arrangement. The anterior outsole is spaced apart from the posterior outsole.

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation.

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation.

A shoe sole includes a sole body including a midsole and a shock absorber. The shock absorber is disposed adjacent to the midsole in a direction intersecting a thickness direction of the sole body. The midsole includes a first opposing surface that is opposed to the shock absorber and inclined with respect to the thickness direction, and the shock absorber includes a shock absorbing portion having a three-dimensional shape formed by a wall in which an outer shape is defined by a pair of parallel curved surfaces and a plate-shaped fixing wall including a second opposing surface opposed to the first opposing surface. The fixing wall is inclined with respect to the thickness direction such that the second opposing surface is parallel to the first opposing surface. The shock absorber is fixed to the midsole by bonding the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface through an adhesive layer.

Systems and methods are involved with but are not limited to: placing one or more leather portions in a mold, the mold including a cavity with a cavity shape; placing rubber material in the mold; and applying heat to the one or more leather portions and the rubber material while the one or more leather portions and the rubber material are in the mold and subsequently cooling the one or more leather portions and the rubber material thereby fusing one or more portions of the rubber material to the one or more leather portions and thereby conforming one or more portions of the rubber material to one or more portions of the cavity shape. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Disclosed is an insole or footbed for footwear that optimizes the comfort and performance of the footbed via a modified construction to the shoe's upper and midsole to accommodate a preferred footbed construction.

Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include: (a) an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite the upper-facing surface, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and (b) a matrix structure extending from the outer perimeter boundary rim (e.g., the ground-facing surface and/or the upper-facing surface) and across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells across the open space at least at the forefoot support area, wherein a plurality (e.g., at least a majority) of the open cells have curved perimeters with no distinct corners.

A device for holding backless footwear on a person's foot includes an elongated seamless elastic strap, the strap extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end. First and second attachment mechanisms are disposed on the first and second ends of the strap, respectively. The strap can be attached to backless footwear having first and second portions on respective first and second lateral sides thereof by folding the first end of the strap around the first portion of the footwear and securing the first end to the strap between the first and second ends thereof by way of the first attachment mechanism, and by folding the second end of the strap around the second portion of the footwear and securing the second end to the strap between the first and second ends thereof by way of the second attachment mechanism.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.

Presented are sole structures with midfoot gaps and cage-reinforced bladders, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A sole structure includes an outsole with a ground-engaging surface, and a midsole with first and second midsole segments. The first midsole segment includes a cushion that attaches to an upper's hindfoot region and to the outsole's upper surface. The second midsole segment, which is spaced from the first midsole segment by a midfoot gap, includes a fluid-filled bladder spaced from another cushion by a forefoot gap. The cushion and bladder attach to the outsole's upper surface and to the upper's forefoot region. A cage, which partially surrounds the second midsole segment, includes a cage plate that attaches to the upper and the fluid-filled bladder. Arcuate cage wings project from opposing medial and lateral sides of the cage plate and insert between the second cushion and outsole.