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: Disclosed here are inventive systems and methods for a powertrain of an electric vehicle (EV) having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to an electric drive motor, wherein a control system is configured to control the CVT and/or the drive motor to optimize various efficiencies associated with the EV and/or its subsystems. A control system is configured to operate the EV in an economy mode. Operating in said mode, the control system simultaneously manages the CVT and the drive motor to optimize the range of the EV. The control system can be configured to manage the current provided to the drive motor, as well as adjust a transmission speed ratio of the CVT. Other modes of operation are also possible. The control system can be configured to manage the power to the drive motor and adjust the transmission speed ratio of the CVT taking into account battery voltage, throttle position, and transmission speed ratio, for example.

Abstract: A pulley for a wearable article includes a frame defining an aperture and a slot spaced apart from the aperture. A pulley wheel is disposed exterior to the frame, and a hub extends from the pulley wheel through the aperture. The hub engages the frame in a locked position, and is disengaged from the frame in an unlocked position. The hub is further from the slot in the locked than in the unlocked position. The hub and the pulley wheel are rotatable relative to the frame in the locked position. In another pulley, a frame defines an internal void and a slot extending through the frame and spaced apart from the internal void. A pulley wheel disposed exterior to the frame is spaced apart from the slot. A plurality of legs extends from the pulley wheel and is locked to the frame. The frame may include an anchor bar.

Abstract: An article of footwear may comprise an upper and a closure system. The closure system may include a strap, a tensioning cable, and a plurality of pulleys. The strap may have a fixed end fixed relative to the upper, a free end selectively securable to the upper in a fastened position, and an elastic portion between the fixed end and the free end. The closure system may include a tensioning cable anchored to the upper and secured to the strap. The closure system may also include a plurality of pulleys anchored to the upper and engaging the tensioning cable. The tensioning cable may be configured to tighten against the upper when the elastic portion of the strap stretches as the free end of the strap is pulled.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.

Abstract: A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

Abstract: A system for cleaning bone that includes a base unit with a motor, a cleaning head with a cleaning element and a mill head with a mill element. Both the cleaning head and the mill head are designed to be coupled to the base unit. Both the cleaning element and mill element have features that facilitate their coupling to the motor. When the cleaning head is attached to the base unit, a motor in the base unit rotates the cleaning element to remove soft tissue from the bone so as to clean the bone. The mill element is placed on the base unit and the cleaned bone placed in the mill head. The actuation of the base unit motor results in the actuations of the mill element. The actuation of the mill element converts the cleaned bone into bone chips.

Abstract: A track and field shoe can include an upper, a sole structure, and a toe plate. The upper can include a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and a toe box portion. The sole structure can be attached to the upper and can include a spike plate. The spike plate can have an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The toe plate can be attached to an anterior portion of the toe box portion of the upper and can include a hard and smooth outwardly facing surface. One or more portions of the toe plate can be exposed from an exterior surface of the upper.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a first sole plate with a foot-receiving surface, a ground-facing surface opposite the foot-receiving surface, and an opening in the ground facing surface extending at least partway through the first sole plate and from a lateral side to a medial side of the first sole plate in a forefoot region. The first sole plate has a first wall at a forward extent of the opening, a second wall at a rear extent of the opening, and at least one tensile member disposed in the opening. The tensile member has a forward end fixed to the first wall, a rear end fixed to the second wall. A midportion of the at least one tensile member is transversely offset from both the forward end and the rear end by a first offset distance when the sole structure is in an unflexed, relaxed state.

Abstract: A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

Abstract: A tensioning system for use with an article of footwear includes a pulley assembly. The pulley assembly may include a first disc and a second disc connected by a central shaft. A tensioning element can be engaged around the central shaft. A ring element can be used to prevent the tensioning element from disengaging the pulley when there is slack in the tensioning element. The pulley assembly can include a guide portion that guides a tensioning member so as to restrict the entry angle of segments of the tensioning member.

Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate with a foot-facing surface with a recess disposed in the foot-facing surface. An insert plate is disposed in the recess. A length of the insert plate between anterior and posterior ends of the insert plate is less than a length of the recess. The insert plate flexes free of compressive loading by the sole plate when a forefoot portion of the sole assembly is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and operatively engages with the sole plate when the forefoot portion is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range. The sole assembly is dorsiflexed, for example, when the forefoot portion is flexed in accordance with toes bending toward the top of the foot.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.

Abstract: A system for cleaning bone that includes a base unit with a motor, a cleaning head with a cleaning element and a mill head with a mill element. Both the cleaning head and the mill head are designed to be coupled to the base unit. Both the cleaning element and mill element have features that facilitate their coupling to the motor. When the cleaning head is attached to the base unit, a motor in the base unit rotates the cleaning element to remove soft tissue from the bone so as to clean the bone. The mill element is placed on the base unit and the cleaned bone placed in the mill head. The actuation of the base unit motor results in the actuations of the mill element. The actuation of the mill element converts the cleaned bone into bone chips.

Abstract: A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a spool system that can be engaged or disengaged from a driveshaft through the use of a cam device. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensile element.

Abstract: Foot support systems, e.g., for articles of footwear, include systems for changing the hardness or firmness of the foot support portion (e.g., of a sole structure) and/or systems for moving (e.g., selectively moving) fluid between various portions of the foot support system.

Abstract: Foot support systems, e.g., for articles of footwear, include systems for changing the hardness or firmness of the foot support portion (e.g., of a sole structure) and/or systems for moving (e.g., selectively moving) fluid between various portions of the foot support system.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.