Abstract: A bladder for an article of footwear includes a support chamber and an expansion chamber. The support chamber has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall and defining a peripheral profile of the support chamber. The expansion chamber extends from the peripheral wall at a first end of the bladder. In some examples, the peripheral wall defines a first end of the support chamber having one or more lobes extending from the top wall to the bottom wall. The one or more lobes may include a first lobe disposed adjacent to a first side of the support chamber and a second lobe disposed adjacent to a second side of the support chamber. The expansion chamber may be disposed between the first lobe and the second lobe at the first end of the support chamber.

Abstract: A midsole and a method of manufacturing it includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

Abstract: A bladder for an article of footwear includes a support chamber and an expansion chamber. The support chamber has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall and defining a peripheral profile of the support chamber. The expansion chamber extends from the peripheral wall at a first end of the bladder. In some examples, the peripheral wall defines a first end of the support chamber having one or more lobes extending from the top wall to the bottom wall. The one or more lobes may include a first lobe disposed adjacent to a first side of the support chamber and a second lobe disposed adjacent to a second side of the support chamber. The expansion chamber may be disposed between the first lobe and the second lobe at the first end of the support chamber.

Abstract: A midsole and a method of manufacturing it includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

Abstract: A bladder for an article of footwear includes a support chamber and an expansion chamber. The support chamber has a top wall, a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall and defining a peripheral profile of the support chamber. The expansion chamber extends from the peripheral wall at a first end of the bladder. In some examples, the peripheral wall defines a first end of the support chamber having one or more lobes extending from the top wall to the bottom wall. The one or more lobes may include a first lobe disposed adjacent to a first side of the support chamber and a second lobe disposed adjacent to a second side of the support chamber. The expansion chamber may be disposed between the first lobe and the second lobe at the first end of the support chamber.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly positioned beneath the upper. The sole assembly has a vertically extending channel formed in its bottom surface inward of a periphery of the sole assembly, the channel including opposed sidewalls and an end surface. The sole assembly includes a first portion having a first color; and a second portion having a second color that is different than the first color. An interface between the first portion and the second portion is positioned at a central portion of one of the sidewalls of the channel. A method of forming such an article of footwear is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole for an article of footwear includes placing first and second preforms in a first mold, closing and heating the first mold to produce a midsole preform with a peripheral preform flange, removing the midsole preform from the first mold and allowing it to further expand and cool, placing the midsole preform in a second mold, with a volume of a midsole recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the midsole preform, and a volume of a peripheral recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the peripheral preform flange, closing the second mold thereby compressing the midsole preform and the peripheral preform flange, and heating the second mold to form a midsole with a peripheral flange, allowing the second mold to cool, opening the second mold, and cutting away a peripheral flange of the midsole.

Abstract: A sole assembly may be formed by a method that includes positioning a plurality of preforms having different colors together to form a sole assembly preform and placing the sole assembly preform in a recess in a first portion of a mold assembly. The sole assembly preform is subjected to heat for a predetermined amount of time such that the plurality of preforms bond to one another to form a sole assembly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole for an article of footwear includes placing first and second preforms in a first mold, closing and heating the first mold to produce a midsole preform with a peripheral preform flange, removing the midsole preform from the first mold and allowing it to further expand and cool, placing the midsole preform in a second mold, with a volume of a midsole recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the midsole preform, and a volume of a peripheral recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the peripheral preform flange, closing the second mold thereby compressing the midsole preform and the peripheral preform flange, and heating the second mold to form a midsole with a peripheral flange, allowing the second mold to cool, opening the second mold, and cutting away a peripheral flange of the midsole.

Abstract: A method of forming a sole assembly includes positioning a plurality of preforms having different colors together to form a sole assembly preform and placing the sole assembly preform in a recess in a first portion of a mold assembly. The sole assembly preform is subjected to heat for a predetermined amount of time such that the plurality of preforms bond to one another to form a sole assembly.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly positioned beneath the upper. The sole assembly has a vertically extending channel formed in its bottom surface inward of a periphery of the sole assembly, the channel including opposed sidewalls and an end surface. The sole assembly includes a first portion having a first color; and a second portion having a second color that is different than the first color. An interface between the first portion and the second portion is positioned at a central portion of one of the sidewalls of the channel. A method of forming such an article of footwear is also disclosed.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly positioned beneath the upper. The sole assembly has a vertically extending channel formed in its bottom surface inward of a periphery of the sole assembly, the channel including opposed sidewalls and an end surface. The sole assembly includes a first portion having a first color; and a second portion having a second color that is different than the first color. An interface between the first portion and the second portion is positioned at a central portion of one of the sidewalls of the channel. A method of forming such an article of footwear is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole for an article of footwear includes placing first and second preforms in a first mold, closing and heating the first mold to produce a midsole preform with a peripheral preform flange, removing the midsole preform from the first mold and allowing it to further expand and cool, placing the midsole preform in a second mold, with a volume of a midsole recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the midsole preform, and a volume of a peripheral recess of the second mold being less than a volume of the peripheral preform flange, closing the second mold thereby compressing the midsole preform and the peripheral preform flange, and heating the second mold to form a midsole with a peripheral flange, allowing the second mold to cool, opening the second mold, and cutting away a peripheral flange of the midsole.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sole assembly includes using a jig with a first mold assembly to distribute pellets a first material into a recess of a first mold member of the first mold assembly. A second material is injected into the first mold assembly, and the first mold assembly is heated to form a first preform. The first preform and a second preform are heated in a second mold assembly to form a sole assembly with a camouflage appearance around only a periphery of the sole assembly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a midsole includes placing first and second preforms into a midsole recess of a mold, with first and second portions of the mold defining a first overflow chamber connected to the first recess; closing the mold by positioning the first and second portions in contact with one another; heating the mold for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature such that the first and second preforms melt and bond together to form a midsole, with a portion of each of the first and second preforms flowing into the first overflow chamber to form a first overflow portion; removing the midsole from the mold; allowing the midsole to expand; and cutting away the first overflow portion.