Abstract: Glove structures may include front and back portions. A knuckle support assembly may be attached to the back portion. The knuckle support assembly may include a knuckle support member having at least one cutout coincident with at least one metacarpophalangeal joint and a flexible member extending across the at least one cutout. The knuckle support member may have a greater flexural stiffness than the back portion. The material of the knuckle support member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The material of the flexible member may be more elastically stretchable than the material of the back portion. The knuckle support member may be molded to the flexible member. Alternatively, the knuckle support member and the flexible member may be fuse bonded to one another. Methods for making such glove structures are also provided.

Abstract: An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.

Abstract: A sole structure can be used with an article of footwear and includes fins for minimizing spin of at least one foot during the backswing and downswing stages of a golf swing. The sole structure includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region between the heel region and the forefoot region, a lateral edge, and a medial edge. The outsole includes an outsole body. At least one plate is disposed on the outsole body. The plate is made of a material that is harder than the material forming the outsole body. Further, the plate includes a plate body disposed on the outsole body and a plurality of fins extending from the plate body. The fins include a fin body and a gusset protruding perpendicularly from the fin body.

Abstract: Apparel, sporting equipment, and other items include magnetic securing systems (e.g., for holding a ball marker on a golf glove. Housings for such systems include a mount area defining a base surface that includes a magnet or is made from a magnetic material. At least two retaining walls extend from the mount area and together with the base surface define a receptacle for receiving another component (e.g., a golf ball marker) to be held by magnetic force. In such housings, a combined total perimeter length of interior surfaces of the retaining walls around the receptacle may be less than 50% of a total length around the perimeter of the component being held.

Abstract: A sole structure includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region between the heel region and the forefoot region. The outsole extends along the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, and the outsole includes a first zone having a plurality of first chevron traction elements, a second zone having a plurality of second chevron traction elements, and a third zone having a plurality of third chevron traction elements. The first chevron traction elements are oriented along a first substantially common orientation vector. The second chevron traction elements are oriented along a second substantially common orientation vector. The third chevron traction elements are oriented along a third substantially common orientation vector.

Abstract: A sole structure includes a midsole component including a midsole body, a plurality of traction members, and a securing layer. The midsole body defines an outer midsole surface and an inner midsole surface opposite the outsole midsole surface. The traction members are coupled to the midsole body. Each of the traction members includes a base and a traction body protruding from the base away from the inner midsole surface. The traction body extends through the midsole body, and the base abuts the inner midsole surface. As such, that the traction members are movable relative to the midsole body. The securing layer is disposed over the base, and is coupled to the inner midsole surface to hold the plurality of traction members in contact with the midsole component.

Abstract: Gloves, including athletic gloves, may include: (a) a front member, e.g., made from leather; (b) a rear member made from a mesh material (e.g., stretchable mesh) engaged with the front member for covering a back of a hand, wherein the rear member includes at least one support member fused to the mesh material of the rear member, wherein the support member is formed from a material (e.g., a TPU) that is less stretchable than the mesh material to which it is fused; (c) a thumb element engaged at least in part with the front member; (d) a closure system; and/or (e) one or more elastic components extending along a wrist area. The support member(s) may form at least one continuous, unbroken path across the rear member. When multiple support members are present, they may partially overlap. Also, methods for making such gloves are described.

Abstract: A multi-durometer sole structure includes a sole structure body including a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region between the heel region and the forefoot region, a medial edge, and a lateral edge opposite the medial edge. The sole structure body further includes a first body segment extending along the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, a second body segment extending along the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, and a third body segment extending along midfoot region and the heel region. The first, second, and third body segments are made of different materials having three different hardnesses, respectively, such that a total hardness of the sole structure body varies from the medial edge to the lateral edge.

Abstract: A sole structure can be used with an article of footwear and includes fins for minimizing spin of at least one foot during the backswing and downswing stages of a golf swing. The sole structure includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region between the heel region and the forefoot region, a lateral edge, and a medial edge. The outsole includes an outsole body. At least one plate is disposed on the outsole body. The plate is made of a material that is harder than the material forming the outsole body. Further, the plate includes a plate body disposed on the outsole body and a plurality of fins extending from the plate body. The fins include a fin body and a gusset protruding perpendicularly from the fin body.

Abstract: A sole structure includes an insole with a sensory feedback system. The insole includes a first insole layer and a second insole layer coupled to the second insole layer, and the sensory feedback system includes multiple protrusions extending from the second insole layer and through the second insole layer. The protrusions are made from a material that is harder than the material forming the first insole layer. In other words, the hardness of the material forming the protrusions is greater than the hardness of the material forming the first insole layer. The protrusions are placed along a predetermined feedback region of the insole based on the user's needs. As such, the protrusions can provide the user a tactile sensory feedback to the user during golf swing.

Abstract: Flexible cleats for flexible footwear (e.g., with natural motion sole structures) include a cleat structure that generally has the appearance of a cleat that has been separated into individual component parts by one or more flex grooves formed into the sole structure. Such structures provide additional flexibility at the areas of the cleats so as to avoid a “stiff” feeling in certain areas and/or during certain activities. The flexible cleats may be arranged around one or more intersections of flex grooves provided in a sole member, optionally in the form of an array of sole pods provided at least in a forefoot area of the sole member.

Abstract: Flexible cleats for flexible footwear (e.g., with natural motion sole structures) include a cleat structure that generally has the appearance of a cleat that has been separated into individual component parts by one or more flex grooves formed into the sole structure. Such structures provide additional flexibility at the areas of the cleats so as to avoid a “stiff” feeling in certain areas and/or during certain activities. The flexible cleats may be arranged around one or more intersections of flex grooves provided in a sole member, optionally in the form of an array of sole pods provided at least in a forefoot area of the sole member.