A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a bladder including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a first chamber bounding a periphery of the heel region, and a second chamber extending from the mid-foot region through the forefoot region and including a plurality of segments extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. Each of the segments of the second chamber includes a medial reservoir adjacent to the medial side and a lateral reservoir adjacent to the lateral side, the medial reservoir fluidly coupled to the lateral reservoir via a first conduit.

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.

The present invention relates to an enhanced method for the manufacture of a plastic component (135), in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, the method comprising: opening a mold (100) by a predetermined amount into a loading position, wherein the mold comprises at least two mold parts (110, 112) and wherein the amount by which the mold is opened influences an available loading volume of the mold, loading a material comprising expanded particles (130) into the loading volume, closing the mold into a closed position, wherein during closing of the mold the mold parts are moved together over different distances (140) in different areas of the mold, compressing the expanded particles by closing the mold and fusing at least the surfaces of the expanded particles to mold the plastic component.

A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprises a midsole, a sole having a heel region, and a first wave spring disposed within a vacuity located within the heel region. The wave spring includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A plate, resting upon the top surface of the wave spring, is unsecured to the midsole and sized to permit movement within the vacuity along with the wave spring responsive to a rolling foot strike.

A plantar energy storage booster includes a fixed plate and an elastic plate. The elastic plate is located below the fixed plate, the front end of the elastic plate is fixedly connected to the front end of the fixed plate. In a natural initial state, the rear end of the elastic plate keeps an energy storage cap of a set distance from the rear end of the fixed plate in a vertical direction, so as to be deformed under the action of the impact force generated by feet landing and the gravity of the body to buffer and store energy. Along with the forward movement of the user, the elastic plate releases it stored energy to generate an upward and forward boosting force to the fixed plate and to drive a boosting mechanism to continue to generate an upward and forward force against the fixed plate.

A shoe includes a sole, an upper portion disposed above the sole and surrounding a foot insertion part, and a buffer including a lower surface and accommodated within the foot insertion part. The lower surface of the buffer includes a projection part projecting toward a facing surface that faces the lower surface, a recess part adjacent to the projection part and recessed from the projection part toward the upper portion, and a circumferential edge projection part projecting, around the recess part, toward the facing surface side with respect to the projection part. When the buffer receives a predetermined first load, the circumferential edge projection part contacts the facing surface whereas the projection part has no contact with the facing surface, and when the buffer receives a predetermined second load, which is larger than the first load, the circumferential edge projection part and the projection part contact the facing surface.

A shoe includes a sole, an upper portion disposed above the sole and surrounding a foot insertion part, and a buffer including a lower surface and accommodated within the foot insertion part. The lower surface of the buffer includes a projection part projecting toward a facing surface that faces the lower surface, a recess part adjacent to the projection part and recessed from the projection part toward the upper portion, and a circumferential edge projection part projecting, around the recess part, toward the facing surface side with respect to the projection part. When the buffer receives a predetermined first load, the circumferential edge projection part contacts the facing surface whereas the projection part has no contact with the facing surface, and when the buffer receives a predetermined second load, which is larger than the first load, the circumferential edge projection part and the projection part contact the facing surface.

An article of footwear including an adaptive support system includes a plurality of support members. Each support member includes an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the inner chamber being filled with a magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnet is disposed adjacent to the inner chamber and can be used to vary the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

An article of footwear and method of making an article of footwear are disclosed. The article includes an outsole having an outsole member. The outsole member includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece is spaced from a base by a first vertical distance. The second piece is spaced from the base by a second vertical distance, the first vertical distance being greater than the second vertical distance.

An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper having a width and a footbed. A sole is attached to the upper and includes a heel portion, a lateral side and a medial side. The sole includes an upper surface and a lower surface, where the upper surface extends across the width of the upper, and where the footbed is on the upper surface of the sole. The sole forms a shell having a sidewall that extends from the lateral side around the heel portion to the medial side, where the sidewall extends along the upper to a point above a top surface of the footbed.