Abstract: An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.

Abstract: A method is provided of making an upper for an article of footwear, the method including applying a liquid to select portions of a first substrate sheet of material, applying a powder to the first substrate sheet of material, applying suction to the first substrate sheet of material in order to remove the powder from portions of the first substrate sheet of material that are not coated with the liquid to form a selectively powdered sheet of material, applying additional liquid, additional powder, and additional suction to additional substrate sheets of material to form a stack of selectively powdered sheets of material, using compression and heat to join the stack of selectively powdered sheets of material into a partially cured structure, and removing uncured portions of sheet material from the partially cured structure leaving a cured structure. Different portions of the cured structure can have different properties.

Abstract: An athletic bra includes a support panel shaped to include first and second cups. Grooves are formed into the panel to provide areas of increase flexure and/or stretch. A textile layer can be secured to the support panel.

Abstract: A fitness tracking system includes a shoe, a magnetometer, and a controller. The magnetometer is mounted on the shoe and is configured to generate three-axis direction data in response to movement of the shoe during a predetermined time period. The controller is operably connected to the magnetometer and is configured to generate two-axis calibrated direction data based on the three-axis direction data after the predetermined time period. The two-axis calibrated direction data corresponds to an orientation of the shoe during the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes an exterior surface, where the exterior surface includes a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

Abstract: A garment includes a first material layer including a first surface, a second material layer laminated to the first material layer, where the second material layer includes a second surface, and a laminate material disposed in a non-continuous manner between the first and second surfaces of the first and second material layers. An amount of laminate material disposed between the first and second material layers varies at different zones defined along the first surface of the first material layer. The laminate material can be applied via a dot lamination process so as to form an array of laminate dots that varies by one or more of spacing between laminate dots, dimensions of laminate dots and shapes of laminate dots at the different zones.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a fastening system including a guide element and a carriage member slidably coupled to the guide element. A lacing element is coupled to the carriage member such that the position of the lacing element changes as the carriage member moves along the guide element. In an embodiment, the footwear includes a lateral side rail and a medial side rail, each rail including one or more carriage members selectively movable along the rail for a predetermined distance. The lacing element extends repeatedly from the lateral side to the medial side, being captured by the carriage members. In operation, the carriage members move along the rail, adapting the positioning of the lacing element.

Abstract: A method of determining a CRF level for a user of a fitness tracking system includes receiving activity data from at least one activity sensor carried by the user during a number of workouts, the activity data including distance data for each of the number of workouts, and then generating workout data based on the activity data. The method further includes storing the workout data in a memory, the memory further including demographic data for the user. When the an attribute of the workout data is less than a threshold number, the method includes determining a first CRF level for the user based on a first CRF model. When the attribute of the workout data is greater than the threshold number, the method includes determining a second CRF level for the user based on a second CRF model, and displaying the first and second CRF levels.

Abstract: A shoe includes: a heel portion; a toe portion; a sole portion; and an electrical assembly. The electrical assembly includes at least: a magnetometer configured to determine a direction of movement of the shoe; and an accelerometer configured to determine acceleration of the shoe. Direction and acceleration data are used to generate a display of a map indicating traversal of a route by a wearer of the shoe at user interface of a user device.

Abstract: A fitness tracking system includes a shoe, a monitoring device, and a controller. The monitoring device is mounted on the shoe and includes an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration data corresponding to acceleration of a foot received by the shoe. The controller is operably connected to the accelerometer and is configured to collect sampled acceleration data by sampling the generated acceleration data, to identify foot strike data of the sampled acceleration data, to identify a local minimum of the sampled acceleration data collected prior to the foot strike data, and to determine foot strike characteristic data corresponding to the foot strike data based on an acceleration value at the local minimum.