A spring compression system for shoes that functions much like a car's suspension in absorbing the shock and impact that occurs when shoes contact the ground. Wherein form is the most important element of shoes and function is a distant afterthought, the ergonomically poor design of shoes desperately require the healthier environment for the wearer a spring compression system would offer with the additional ability to be adjusted to suit the weight of the wearer as well as the level of shock absorption desired.

A spring compression system for shoes that functions much like a car's suspension in absorbing the shock and impact that occurs when shoes contact the ground. Wherein form is the most important element of shoes and function is a distant afterthought, the ergonomically poor design of shoes desperately require the healthier environment for the wearer a spring compression system would offer with the additional ability to be adjusted to suit the weight of the wearer as well as the level of shock absorption desired.

Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region including at least one of a tongue base region or instep base region and (ii) a heel-containing region. A bladder is engaged with the footwear upper. The bladder includes: (i) at least a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region, (ii) at least a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber and placing the first instep chamber in fluid communication with the first heel and/or ankle support chamber. Fluid moving from the first instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber (e.g., under force applied by a footwear securing strap) provides further support for the wearer's heel and/or ankle.

A fluid-filled chamber, which may be incorporated into articles of footwear and other products, may include an outer barrier and a tensile element. The outer barrier may have a first portion, an opposite second portion, and an interior surface defining an interior void. The tensile element may be secured to the first portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of first bond areas and may be secured to the second portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of second bond areas. Each of the bond areas may be connected to portions of the tensile element spaced from the interior surface.

A fluid-filled chamber, which may be incorporated into articles of footwear and other products, may include an outer barrier and a tensile element. The outer barrier may have a first portion, an opposite second portion, and an interior surface defining an interior void. The tensile element may be secured to the first portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of first bond areas and may be secured to the second portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of second bond areas. Each of the bond areas may be connected to portions of the tensile element spaced from the interior surface.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator may be arranged at various positions among the footwear article, such as above or below a strobel. The collar elevator may be coupled to the footwear article using various connectors. The footwear article may have other features, such as an ankle collar, that are configured in a manner to work together with the collar elevator.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator may be arranged at various positions among the footwear article, such as above or below a strobel. The collar elevator may be coupled to the footwear article using various connectors. The footwear article may have other features, such as an ankle collar, that are configured in a manner to work together with the collar elevator.

A shock-absorbing shoe using a spring, comprising: a spring for absorbing shock by providing an elastic force; an outsole which constitutes the bottommost sole of a shoe; an upper sole which is fixed to the top of the outsole, has a gap between the heel part thereof and the heel part of the outsole so as to provide a space in which the spring is provided, and is lowed by the weight of a user or raised by the elastic force of the spring; a lower spring seat which is formed on the upper surface of the outsole and supports the lower end part of the spring; an upper spring seat which is formed below the bottom of the upper sole and supports the upper end part of the spring; and a raising and lowering guide for guiding the lowering and raising of the upper sole straightly.

A shock-absorbing shoe using a spring, comprising: a spring for absorbing shock by providing an elastic force; an outsole which constitutes the bottommost sole of a shoe; an upper sole which is fixed to the top of the outsole, has a gap between the heel part thereof and the heel part of the outsole so as to provide a space in which the spring is provided, and is lowed by the weight of a user or raised by the elastic force of the spring; a lower spring seat which is formed on the upper surface of the outsole and supports the lower end part of the spring; an upper spring seat which is formed below the bottom of the upper sole and supports the upper end part of the spring; and a raising and lowering guide for guiding the lowering and raising of the upper sole straightly.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a cushioning element including a first material and a cradle including a second material. The cradle is attached to the cushioning element and includes a first plate disposed against the cushioning element and a second plate spaced apart from the cushioning element, the second plate including an aperture. The sole structure additionally includes a bladder disposed within the cradle and including a first portion contacting the first plate and a second portion extending through the aperture of the second plate.