Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.

Abstract: Presented are S-shaped cleats for footwear, methods for making/using S-shaped cleats, and footwear fabricated with S-shaped cleats. A cleat structure for an article of footwear includes a mounting base, such as a pair of coplanar mounting plates, that attaches to the footwear's sole structure. A center wall projects downwardly from the mounting base and has opposing lateral sides with a distal end extending therebetween. A pair of sidewalls each projects downwardly from the base and adjoins a respective lateral side of the center wall. Each sidewall has a respective angled edge that projects at an oblique angle from the distal end of the center wall. The two sidewalls are located on opposing sides of the center wall; the sidewalls may be parallel to and extend in opposite directions of each other. The center wall and sidewalls may be substantially flat panels with multiple polygonal faces or may have arcuate sides.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. The sole structure includes an outsole having a proximal surface and a distal surface, wherein the proximal surface of the outsole is secured to the distal surface of the midsole body. The outsole includes external flex grooves at the distal surface of the outsole, and the midsole body includes internal flex grooves at the proximal surface of the midsole body. The internal flex grooves overlie and are aligned with the external flex grooves such that the sole structure articulates at the external flex grooves both in dorsiflexion and in plantarflexion.

Abstract: A sockliner for a shoe may be formed to include an integral fabric skirt. The fabric skirt may remain loose from the sockliner along at least a portion of the periphery of the sockliner. The loose periphery of the fabric skirt may be used to join the sockliner to other shoe components, as in a strobel-type seam.

Abstract: Concepts provided are directed to a flexible button that is bendable when exposed to a force. The flexible button in accordance herein has a tapered perimeter portion such that a thickness of a peripheral edge of the perimeter portion is less than a thickness of remaining portions of the flexible button. The low-profile of the flexible button allows the flexible button to easily slip through a respective button hole and to be more easily gripped by a user. Further, the flexible button in accordance with aspects herein provides higher breathability than conventional buttons of the same size by having voided portions on its perimeter portion.

Abstract: Processes and systems for thermoforming articles of wear are disclosed. The process can include utilizing a negative pressure generation system to seal an article in a forming material thereby compressing the forming material onto the outer surface of the article. The process can also include exposing the sealed article to an increased temperature followed by exposure to a decrease temperature, while maintaining the compressive force of the forming material on the outer surface of the article. A positive pressure can also be applied to the sealed article while undergoing the heating and/or cooling steps, which can facilitate the removal of bubbles from the article during thermoforming as well as apply additional compressive force to the outer surface of the article.