A pressure-relieving footwear is an apparatus that supports and comforts a user's foot. The apparatus absorbs shock that traverses through the footwear, limiting the impact against the foot of the user. The apparatus includes a footwear, a cushioning layer, a support layer, and a first shock absorbing pad. The footwear protects user's foot and enhances the outfit of the user. The footwear includes an insole, an outsole, and an elongated heel. The outsole includes a forefoot portion and an aft portion. The cushioning layer absorbs the shock and the support layer cradles the foot. The insole is connected across the outsole. The cushioning layer is connected across the insole, opposite to the outsole. The support layer is connected across the cushioning layer, opposite the insole. The elongated heel is connected adjacent to the outsole. The first shock absorbing pad is integrated into the footwear, adjacent to the forefoot portion.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning includes a sole and an upper having a heel region. The upper includes an inner material layer and an outer material layer. The footwear article also includes a collar elevator positioned between the inner material layer and the outer material layer in the heel region. The collar elevator, in an example, comprises a strand-receiving aperture through which a stitch extends attaching the collar elevator to the upper.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning includes a sole and an upper having a heel region. The upper includes an inner material layer and an outer material layer. The footwear article also includes a collar elevator positioned between the inner material layer and the outer material layer in the heel region. The collar elevator, in an example, comprises a strand-receiving aperture through which a stitch extends attaching the collar elevator to the upper.

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.

Foot support components include plural foot support members (e.g., arched slats or other support members) forming at least a portion of a footbed for a sole structure/article of footwear. Spacings between individual foot support members enable selective activation of one or more individual members, thereby providing support where needed and enhancing overall comfort without overly stiffening the footbed. When made from sufficiently rigid/resilient materials, the foot support components may apply return energy to the wearer's foot. This may occur, for example, by vertically deflecting (e.g., flattening out) one or more foot support members under applied force, and then the deflected foot support member(s) will spring back to and/or toward its/their original shape when the force sufficiently abates/relaxes.

Foot support components include plural foot support members (e.g., arched slats or other support members) forming at least a portion of a footbed for a sole structure/article of footwear. Spacings between individual foot support members enable selective activation of one or more individual members, thereby providing support where needed and enhancing overall comfort without overly stiffening the footbed. When made from sufficiently rigid/resilient materials, the foot support components may apply return energy to the wearer's foot. This may occur, for example, by vertically deflecting (e.g., flattening out) one or more foot support members under applied force, and then the deflected foot support member(s) will spring back to and/or toward its/their original shape when the force sufficiently abates/relaxes.

A heel support is provided for an article of footwear that includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity having an ankle opening. The heel support includes a cradle configured to be operatively connected to a heel region of the upper. The cradle includes a base and a cradle arm extending outward from the base to a tip portion such that the cradle arm extends upward toward the ankle opening and toward a posterior wall of the heel region. The tip portion is moveable relative to the base between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The heel support includes a metallic spring operatively connected to the cradle such that the spring biases the tip portion of the cradle arm toward the expanded position of the tip portion. The tip portion of the cradle arm is resiliently deflectable toward the collapsed position against the bias of the spring.

A heel support is provided for an article of footwear that includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity having an ankle opening. The heel support includes a cradle configured to be operatively connected to a heel region of the upper. The cradle includes a base and a cradle arm extending outward from the base to a tip portion such that the cradle arm extends upward toward the ankle opening and toward a posterior wall of the heel region. The tip portion is moveable relative to the base between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The heel support includes a metallic spring operatively connected to the cradle such that the spring biases the tip portion of the cradle arm toward the expanded position of the tip portion. The tip portion of the cradle arm is resiliently deflectable toward the collapsed position against the bias of the spring.

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.