Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate including a foot support portion with a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface. An opening extends through the foot support portion from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface. The sole plate includes a bridge portion underlying the opening and secured to the foot support portion fore and aft of the opening. The sole structure includes a piston that has a body and a support arm extending transversely from the body. The body extends through the opening. The support arm is supported on the bridge portion, trapped below the ground-facing surface by the foot support portion, and extends under the ground-facing surface at medial and lateral sides of the opening.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. The sensor system also includes a port that is configured to receive a module to place the module in communication with the sensors. The port includes a housing with a chamber configured to receive the module and an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber. Additional retaining structure and interface structure may be included.

Abstract: Determining pace or speed based on sensor data may include determining an amount of contact time a user's foot has with a workout surface such as the ground. Contact time may be determined by identifying samples in the sensor data that correspond to various events such as a heelstrike, a toe-off and a subsequent heelstrike. In one example, these events may be identified by determining a sequence of three sample values (e.g., a triplet) that exceeds corresponding thresholds. The validity of an identified triplet (e.g., heelstrike, toe-off and heelstrike) may be confirmed by determining whether a difference between a last event sample and a middle event sample is greater than a difference between the middle event sample and an initial event sample. Once confirmed, a contact time may be determined from the triplet. A linear or non-linear relationship may then be applied to the contact time to determine a speed or pace.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.

Abstract: Determining pace or speed based on sensor data may include determining an amount of contact time a user's foot has with a workout surface such as the ground. Contact time may be determined by identifying samples in the sensor data that correspond to various events such as a heelstrike, a toe-off and a subsequent heelstrike. In one example, these events may be identified by determining a sequence of three sample values (e.g., a triplet) that exceeds corresponding thresholds. The validity of an identified triplet (e.g., heelstrike, toe-off and heelstrike) may be confirmed by determining whether a difference between a last event sample and a middle event sample is greater than a difference between the middle event sample and an initial event sample. Once confirmed, a contact time may be determined from the triplet. A linear or non-linear relationship may then be applied to the contact time to determine a speed or pace.

Abstract: Articles of footwear can include an adaptive-height sole structure. The sole structure can comprise 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.

Abstract: Aspects relate to calculating energy expenditure values from an apparatus configured to be worn on an appendage of a user. Steps counts may be quantified, such as by detecting arm swings peaks and bounce peaks in motion data. A search range of acceleration frequencies related to an expected activity may be established. Frequencies of acceleration data within a search range may be analyzed to identify one or more peaks, such as a bounce peak and an arm swing peak. Novel systems and methods may determine whether to utilize the arm swing data, bounce data, and/or other data or portions of data to quantify steps. The number of peaks (and types of peaks) may be used to choose a step frequency and step magnitude. At least a portion of the motion data may be classified into an activity category based upon the quantification of steps.

Abstract: A device for monitoring athletic performance of a user has a wristband configured to be worn by the user. The electronic module may include a controller and a screen and a plurality of user inputs operably associated with the controller. The user inputs may include a user input configured to be applied by the user against the screen and in a direction generally normal to the screen. The controller may further be configured to generate one or more user interfaces in response to various user inputs and conditions. For example, the controller may generate workout mode interfaces and non-workout mode interfaces including various goal information, workout data, reminders and the like. In one or more arrangements, multiple types of information may be displayed simultaneously.

Abstract: Determining pace or speed based on sensor data may include determining an amount of contact time a user's foot has with a workout surface such as the ground. Contact time may be determined by identifying samples in the sensor data that correspond to various events such as a heelstrike, a toe-off and a subsequent heelstrike. In one example, these events may be identified by determining a sequence of three sample values (e.g., a triplet) that exceeds corresponding thresholds. The validity of an identified triplet (e.g., heelstrike, toe-off and heelstrike) may be confirmed by determining whether a difference between a last event sample and a middle event sample is greater than a difference between the middle event sample and an initial event sample. Once confirmed, a contact time may be determined from the triplet. A linear or non-linear relationship may then be applied to the contact time to determine a speed or pace.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. The sensor system also includes a port that is configured to receive a module to place the module in communication with the sensors. The port includes a housing with a chamber configured to receive the module and an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber. Additional retaining structure and interface structure may be included.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate with a foot-facing surface. A piston is disposed on the sole plate at the foot-facing surface. The sole structure includes a cushioning system disposed on the sole plate. The cushioning system has a variable cushioning characteristic, such as hardness or viscosity. The piston deforms the cushioning system and the variable cushioning characteristic varies in response to dorsiflexion of the sole plate.

Abstract: An athletic parameter measurement device worn by an athlete during an athletic activity session includes a housing which attaches to the athlete, a display, a processor associated with the display, and an athletic parameter measurement sensor. During the athletic activity, the device detects, using the sensor, a vertical jump height of the athlete, and displays, during the performance of the athletic activity session, a representation of the vertical jump height on the display.

Abstract: Aspects relate to calculating energy expenditure values from an apparatus configured to be worn on an appendage of a user. Steps counts may be quantified, such as by detecting arm swings peaks and bounce peaks in motion data. A search range of acceleration frequencies related to an expected activity may be established. Frequencies of acceleration data within a search range may be analyzed to identify one or more peaks, such as a bounce peak and an arm swing peak. Novel systems and methods may determine whether to utilize the arm swing data, bounce data, and/or other data or portions of data to quantify steps. The number of peaks (and types of peaks) may be used to choose a step frequency and step magnitude. At least a portion of the motion data may be classified into an activity category based upon the quantification of steps.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 includes a lever arm. The lever arm may be deformable and biased towards the raised state. The lever arm may be articulated with a biasing force urging the lever arm to the raised state. The lever arm may have a variety of cross sections as well. The lever arm extends from a base, which may a sole portion of the footwear article. The lever arm and the base may be monolithic, permanently joined, removably joined, or otherwise connected.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. The sensor system also includes a port that is configured to receive a module to place the module in communication with the sensors. The port includes a housing with a chamber configured to receive the module and an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber. Additional retaining structure and interface structure may be included.

Abstract: An electronically controlled bladder assembly includes an adjustable pressure bladder and a constant pressure reservoir connected by an electronically controlled valve. The electronically controlled valve is operated in a manner that inflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is below a target pressure and in a manner that deflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is above the target pressure. The inflation and deflation of the adjustable bladder are achieved in an iterative manner by controlling the flow of fluid between the constant pressure reservoir and the adjustable bladder over several cycles of heel strikes.

Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems include GPS data to enhance various features of the workout as well as the post-workout data analysis. Such features include using output from multiple sensors to determine the most accurate data available for providing distance measurements for individual segments of a route. The most accurate data for each route segment, from whatever source, then is used to provide the overall route distance and as the basis for making other calculations, such as pace, calorie burn, etc. Another feature relates to the ability to both input and output geographically tagged messages while moving along a route during an athletic performance.

Abstract: An athletic parameter measurement device worn by an athlete during an athletic activity session includes a housing which attaches to the athlete, a display, a processor associated with the display, and an athletic parameter measurement sensor. During the athletic activity, the device detects, using the sensor, a vertical jump height of the athlete, and displays, during the performance of the athletic activity session, a representation of the vertical jump height on the display.