Abstract: Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear components including the bladders, articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. Such bladder systems may include two thermoplastic elastomer sheets joined together at an outer perimeter bond. The outer perimeter bond may be shaped such that the interior chamber of the bladder forms: (i) a foot support chamber portion for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot and (ii) one or more side chamber portions forming at least part of one or more securing straps and/or at least part of one or more footwear upper components. The one or more side chamber portions extend outward from the foot support chamber portion and are in fluid communication with the foot support chamber portion.

Abstract: Bladder systems for footwear uppers, footwear components (e.g., uppers), and articles of footwear including the bladder systems, and/or methods of making and using such bladder systems are described. The bladder systems may include two or more bladder pods engaged together by one or more elastic connectors. The elastic connector(s) may enable the bladder system to fit snugly around the wearer's ankle and/or heel area while still allowing some relative movement between the bladder pods, e.g., as a wearer moves in an article of footwear. In this manner, the bladder systems provide support and a snug fit and return to its/their original size, shape, and/or location once the force from the wearer's movement is removed or sufficiently relaxed. Additionally or alternatively, the bladder systems may provide impact force attenuation properties, e.g., to protect the wearer's ankle and/or heel.

Abstract: Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear components and articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. The bladders may include first and second thermoplastic elastomer sheets joined together by an outer perimeter bond. An interior chamber is defined between the thermoplastic elastomer sheets and inside the outer perimeter bond. The outer perimeter bond may be shaped such that the interior chamber forms: (i) a foot support chamber portion for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot, and at least one of items (ii) and (iii) below, in which: item (ii) comprises a first side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first securing strap or a first footwear upper component), and item (iii) comprises a second side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first strap-engaging member or a second footwear upper component).

Abstract: 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 comprises a sole; an upper having a heel region; and a collar elevator coupled with the upper in the heel region. The footwear also includes a base affixed to the sole. The collar elevator is attached to the base and the base is an outsole, a midsole, an insole, or a strobel.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for apparel assembly using three-dimensional printing directly onto fabric apparel materials. Disclosed is a method and system for direct three-dimensional printing and assembly of an article of apparel, including designing a three-dimensional pattern for printing, positioning at least a portion of the article on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray, printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the article using the designed pattern, curing the printed material, and removing the article from the three-dimensional printing system.

Abstract: An adaptive fluid system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The adaptive fluid system includes a fluid chamber that provides cushioning and shock absorption for a foot. The adaptive fluid system includes an adjustable pressure regulating valve that may be used to control the pressure of the fluid chamber. The adaptive fluid system includes a valve that prevents fluid from escaping from a fluid chamber during use.

Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber includes first subchamber having a substantially U-shape. The fluid-filled chamber also includes a second subchamber having a substantially U-shape and being spaced apart from the first subchamber in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to articles such as bladders comprising mechano-luminescent materials which emit light when the mechano-luminescent materials are placed under stress. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including these bladders, methods of forming these bladders, and methods of making articles including these bladders.

Abstract: An adaptive music playback system is disclosed. The system includes a composition system that receives information corresponding to user activity levels. The composition system determines target musical criteria corresponding to the user activity levels and modifies the composition of a song in response to changes in user activity.