The present disclosure describes molded footwear including a sole integrally connected to an upper. For example, a sole structure may include an insole and a strobel board. The insole may include a spacing structure that rests on a top surface of the strobel board to form a cavity between the insole and the strobel board. Further, the upper and/or strobel board may include perforations at least partially aligned with the cavity. Accordingly, the sole structure may be connected to the upper via injection molding material into the cavity formed between the insole, the strobel board, and the upper. The molding material may flow through the specifically located perforations in the shoe's upper and/or the shoe's strobel board such that the material bonds internally within the cavity, internally within the perforations, and externally to the shoe's upper and strobel board but within the mold cavity.

The present disclosure describes molded footwear including a sole integrally connected to an upper. For example, a sole structure may include an insole and a strobel board. The insole may include a spacing structure that rests on a top surface of the strobel board to form a cavity between the insole and the strobel board. Further, the upper and/or strobel board may include perforations at least partially aligned with the cavity. Accordingly, the sole structure may be connected to the upper via injection molding material into the cavity formed between the insole, the strobel board, and the upper. The molding material may flow through the specifically located perforations in the shoe's upper and/or the shoe's strobel board such that the material bonds internally within the cavity, internally within the perforations, and externally to the shoe's upper and strobel board but within the mold cavity.

A sole for footwear or a removable sole insert for footwear including a heel area, a forefoot area, and a midfoot area located between the heel and forefoot areas of the sole or the removable sole insert. The sole or removable sole insert include a concavely rounded upper and lower surfaces of the sole or removable sole inserts, a first flexibility groove located in a lateral side of the midfoot area of the sole or removable sole insert, and a second flexibility groove located in a medial side of the midfoot area of the sole or the removable sole insert. The concavely founded lower surface of the sole or the removable sole insert may extend to the sidemost extend of the lateral and medial sides of the sole or the removable sole insert except at a location of the second flexibility groove.

A sole for footwear or a removable sole insert for footwear including a heel area, a forefoot area, and a midfoot area located between the heel and forefoot areas of the sole or the removable sole insert. The sole or removable sole insert include a concavely rounded upper and lower surfaces of the sole or removable sole inserts, a first flexibility groove located in a lateral side of the midfoot area of the sole or removable sole insert, and a second flexibility groove located in a medial side of the midfoot area of the sole or the removable sole insert. The concavely founded lower surface of the sole or the removable sole insert may extend to the sidemost extend of the lateral and medial sides of the sole or the removable sole insert except at a location of the second flexibility groove.

A shoe, particularly a high-heeled shoe, containing a convex midfoot support structure formed of a cushioning material that is sized and shaped to have a height (h.sub.1) sufficient to contact and to support at least a portion of the midfoot area of the wearer's foot. The midfoot support may be constructed of an elastomeric material with a maximum thickness of between 10 mm and 22 mm, and includes a support platform and side walls. Preferably, a forefoot support may also be provided on the upper surface of the insole in the forefoot portion of the insole.

A shoe, particularly a high-heeled shoe, containing a convex midfoot support structure formed of a cushioning material that is sized and shaped to have a height (h.sub.1) sufficient to contact and to support at least a portion of the midfoot area of the wearer's foot. The midfoot support may be constructed of an elastomeric material with a maximum thickness of between 10 mm and 22 mm, and includes a support platform and side walls. Preferably, a forefoot support may also be provided on the upper surface of the insole in the forefoot portion of the insole.

An article of footwear may include an upper forming a void within the footwear, a sole structure secured to the upper, and a chamber that encloses a pressurized fluid. The sole structure includes a depression. The chamber is located within the void of the upper and located on the depression of the sole structure. The chamber may include a plurality of fluid-filled subchambers, a manifold, and a connection fluidically-connected at least one of the subchambers to the manifold. The subchambers may enclose the pressurized fluid at different pressures. The subchambers may be separated from one another by a bonded area in the direction extending between the heel and toe of the chamber.

An article of footwear may include an upper forming a void within the footwear, a sole structure secured to the upper, and a chamber that encloses a pressurized fluid. The sole structure includes a depression. The chamber is located within the void of the upper and located on the depression of the sole structure. The chamber may include a plurality of fluid-filled subchambers, a manifold, and a connection fluidically-connected at least one of the subchambers to the manifold. The subchambers may enclose the pressurized fluid at different pressures. The subchambers may be separated from one another by a bonded area in the direction extending between the heel and toe of the chamber.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a recess defining a first opening in the peripheral surface. The sole structure for an article of footwear also includes an insert disposed within the recess and including a first material having a first gloss unit value and a second material disposed on an outer surface of the first material and having a second gloss unit value. The second material is at least partially disposed within the first opening.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a recess defining a first opening in the peripheral surface. The sole structure for an article of footwear also includes an insert disposed within the recess and including a first material having a first gloss unit value and a second material disposed on an outer surface of the first material and having a second gloss unit value. The second material is at least partially disposed within the first opening.