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.

The present invention is a composite sole used in footwear. The composite sole comprises of two components, a foot support that suspends the foot and a structural chassis. The foot support is a flexible material that attaches to the perimeter of the structural chassis and conforms to the foot. The structural chassis provides rigidity and the foot support provides sufficient strength to suspend the foot during rigorous physical activity. The chassis and foot support performs similarly to that of a trampoline; however, its function has a plurality of features not found in a trampoline. The structural chassis is designed to provide a multitude of physical and performance characteristics in the heel, arch, forefoot and toe area to assist in pronation, plantar support, energy return, upper shoe comfort, toe-off and cushion at impact. The structural chassis has air vents, allowing air to enter and the foot support includes perforations allowing this air to ventilate the underside of foot.

A reinforcement structure is disposed on a midsole of a shoe. A first bar extends from a first point in a medial side of the midsole to a second point in the medial side of the midsole. The second point is closer to a toe of the shoe than the first point. A second bar extends from a third point in the medial side of the midsole to a fourth point in a lateral side of the midsole. The fourth point being closer to the toe of the shoe than the third point. A third bar extending from a fifth point in the medial side of the midsole to a sixth point in the lateral side of the midsole. The sixth point being closer to the toe of the shoe than the fifth point. The third bar extending further toward the toe of the shoe than the second bar.

Sole structures (e.g., midsoles and/or outsoles) and articles of footwear include heel-supporting areas and/or forefoot-supporting areas that include a central area (e.g., a central recessed area) and a plurality of surrounding rings. Additionally or alternatively, the sole structures (e.g., midsoles and/or outsoles) may include bands of material defined by recessed grooves to provide a bumpstop type impact-force attenuating structure.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.

Footwear articles for walking are provided. In one example, a footwear article may include a midsole with a lower surface of constant curvature extending from a heel of the midsole to a toe of the midsole, wherein the lower surface maintains the constant curvature throughout a stance phase of a walking gait. In this way, a smooth step-to-step transition and a smaller range of oscillation of the center of mass of the wearer is achieved, and energy expenditure during walking is reduced. In turn, a wearer of the footwear article may smoothly walk for extended periods of time with reduced fatigue.

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.

Footwear and sole structures include structures and properties, e.g., to support urban dance and urban dance moves. Such dance styles include various dance moves and movements that require contact between side edges of the wearer’s shoes and the dance floor surface (e.g., made from concrete, asphalt, wood, etc.). Such dance styles also require transition of the body’s center of mass along the edge(s) of the foot. Footwear and sole structures in accordance with this technology provide structures and properties to support to support such dance styles and moves, including one or more of: selected materials and/or selected material properties in various areas to promote sliding or gliding along various surfaces and/or other desired interactions with various surfaces; selected sizing and/or dimensional features of components in various areas; various flexion promoting structures and/or characteristics; etc.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. Proprioceptive elements may extend in the hole in the midsole body, and translate toward the proximal surface in the holes upon a force directed along a central axis of the hole at a distal end of the proprioceptive elements. In various embodiments, the holes may angle relative to vertical from the proximal surface to the distal surface, the holes may be defined by perforations and the proprioceptive elements may be integral portions of the midsole body, or the midsole body may have a plurality of annular holes at the proximal surface, and a plurality of annular recesses in the distal surface, and a plurality of proprioceptive elements, each centered in a different annular hole of the plurality of annular holes. Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear are described.

A sole includes: a midsole main body; an elastic portion; and a pressing member. The midsole main body includes a containing portion. The elastic portion is contained in the containing portion in a compressed state. The pressing member has an elastic modulus higher than an elastic modulus of the elastic portion in the compressed state, and presses the elastic portion so that the elastic portion is maintained in the compressed state. The elastic modulus of the elastic portion in the compressed state is larger than an elastic modulus of the midsole main body.