Abstract: A closure system for an article of footwear includes a reel and a cord that is configured to be operably engaged with an upper of the footwear. A first segment of the cord is attached to the reel, and the reel is configured to be actuated by pulling the first segment of the cord to tighten the footwear.

Abstract: An article of footwear is provided that includes a sole structure and an upper attached to the sole structure. The upper includes an exterior layer and a base layer, and the exterior layer includes a biodegradable layer and a biologically active agent capable of biodegrading the biodegradable layer. The article of footwear has a first state in which the biodegradable layer is not biodegraded.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a garment, especially to a sports garment, which includes a region which is in contact with a wearer during intended use. The region includes at least one material layer. To allow an improved ventilation at those locations where the same is really needed the present disclosure proposes that the region has at least one receiving space in which microorganisms are placed, and the microorganisms are selected to corrode at least a portion of the material layer under certain conditions.

Abstract: A method of making a midsole includes selecting a plurality of yarns. At least two yarns of the plurality of yarns have different properties relative to one another. The method further includes bundling the plurality of yarns to form a bundled yarn structure and intertwining the bundled yarn structure to form a twisted yarn structure. Further, the method includes depositing the twisted yarn structure into a first mold within an autoclave and applying a supercritical fluid to the twisted yarn structure. The method further includes supercritical fluid infiltrating and saturating the twisted yarn structure, depressurizing the autoclave to cause a foaming process therein to convert the twisted yarn structure into an anisotropic foam blank, and depositing the anisotropic foam blank within a second mold that is configured as a midsole for an article of footwear.

Abstract: An article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper, the sole structure comprising a top midsole coupled to the upper, a sole plate coupled to the top midsole, a front midsole coupled to the top midsole and the sole plate, a rear midsole coupled to the top midsole and the sole plate, and an outsole coupled to the front midsole and the rear midsole. The front midsole is spaced forward from the rear midsole creating a cavity, and an underside of the sole plate is exposed in the cavity. The top midsole, the front midsole, and the rear midsole are made of a supercritical foam that includes an organic compound having an open-chain structure.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate, a second plate and a third plate. The first plate has a first anterior end disposed adjacent a toe end of the sole structure and a first posterior end disposed within a heel region of the sole structure. The second plate has a second anterior end disposed adjacent the toe end and a second posterior end disposed in a midfoot region of the sole structure. The third plate has a third anterior end disposed adjacent the toe end and a third posterior end disposed in the midfoot region. A first cushion is arranged between the first plate and the second plate, and wherein the second plate and the third plate are coplanar in the forefoot region.

Abstract: A shoe having an upper and a sole structure, the shoe having a medial side, a lateral side, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The sole structure includes ridges aligned around and emanating outwardly from an epicenter. The epicenter is disposed within the forefoot region and is closer to the medial side than the lateral side. The ridges are disposed in at least the forefoot region and the midfoot region. Spaces extend between respective ridges, and the ridges have a plurality of short portions defining heights that are smaller than heights of adjacent tall portions of the ridges. A flex zone is defined by at least some of the short portions and is configured to flex more than one or more stiffening zones of the sole.

Abstract: A method of managing digital assets is provided. The method includes receiving an input identifying a first digital wallet. One or more non-fungible tokens associated with the first digital wallet are identified. From the one or more non-fungible tokens, sustainability tokens are selected, each of the sustainability tokens being associated with a corresponding sustainability digital asset. For each of the sustainability tokens, a uniform resource indicator for the corresponding sustainability digital asset is retrieved from a distributed blockchain ledger and based on the uniform resource indicator, attributes of the corresponding sustainability digital asset are retrieved. A composite sustainability score is generated based on the attributes of the sustainability digital assets associated with the sustainability tokens, which is compared to a first benefit criteria and when the composite sustainability score meets the benefit criteria, a first benefit is provided to an owner of the first digital wallet.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a midsole of an article of footwear includes arranging an insert into a mold cavity of a mold base. The insert including a region of solid volume that corresponds with an empty volume within the midsole. The method further includes supplying a midsole material to the mold cavity of the mold base to form the midsole around a negative mold so that the negative mold is embedded within the midsole material to form a midsole lattice structure within the midsole. The method further includes removing the negative mold with the midsole from the mold base. The method further includes removing the negative mold from the midsole.

Abstract: An article of footwear that has an upper attached to a sole structure. The sole structure includes a midsole that is positioned between an insole and an outsole. The article of footwear also includes a plate that is removably received within a cavity formed within the midsole. The insole is configured to cover the plate within the cavity. The plate includes a reinforcing member that comprises carbon fiber.

Abstract: An article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper, the sole structure comprising a widest section, a narrowest section, a toe end, a heel end, a lateral side, a medial side, a top midsole directly coupled to the upper, a sole plate directly coupled to the top midsole, a front midsole directly coupled to the top midsole and the sole plate between the toe end of the sole structure and the widest section of the sole structure, a rear midsole directly coupled to the top midsole and the sole plate between the heel end of the sole structure and the narrowest section of the sole structure, and an outsole directly coupled to the front midsole and the rear midsole. The front midsole is spaced forward from the rear midsole creating a void, and an underside of the sole plate is exposed in the void.

Abstract: A system to produce a textile component of an article includes an additive manufacturing device in selective communication with a processor and memory. The processor and memory are configured to determine a strain value in a region of a textile component of a reference article based on images of the reference article from a camera in selective communication with the processor and memory and to generate a strain map based on the strain value. The additive manufacturing device is configured to apply a reinforcement to a textile substrate of a custom article to variably reinforce the textile substrate according to the strain map and to form the textile component of the custom article.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure has a longitudinal extension in a longitudinal direction and a vertical extension in a vertical direction and defines a plurality of recesses that extend into the sole structure at least in a transverse direction. The plurality of recesses includes a first row of recesses arranged toward the upper and a second row of recesses arranged vertically below the first row of recesses. Each recess of the plurality of recesses has, without external forces on the sole structure, a peripheral contour forming a shape of a lemniscate when viewed in the transverse direction and are larger in a first direction that in a second direction. The sole structure is configured such that, when an external force is applied to the sole structure, the plurality of recesses collapse in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprising a sole structure and an upper. The sole structure includes an outsole that defines a ground engaging surface in at least a forefoot region of the sole structure, and the outsole includes at least one first ground engaging element that extends away from the ground engaging surface. The sole structure further includes a cushioning member that extends between the outsole and the upper, and the cushioning member is a supercritical foam with pockets of gas therein.