Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole assembly that has a bladder element with a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first surface. A guide component is fused to one of the outer surfaces. The guide component has at least one groove extending laterally across the guide component. The at least one groove is configured to receive and guide at least one elongated member such that the elongated member is movable lengthwise when positioned in the at least one groove. A method of manufacturing a sole assembly for an article of footwear includes fusing the guide component to one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the bladder element.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole assembly that has a bladder element with a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first surface. A guide component is fused to one of the outer surfaces. The guide component has at least one groove extending laterally across the guide component. The at least one groove is configured to receive and guide at least one elongated member such that the elongated member is movable lengthwise when positioned in the at least one groove. A method of manufacturing a sole assembly for an article of footwear includes fusing the guide component to one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the bladder element.

Abstract: A sole structure includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a midfoot region disposed between the heel and forefoot regions. The sole structure also includes a first fluid-filled segment disposed within the forefoot region and includes a first portion extending continuously from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. The sole structure also includes a second fluid-filled segment disposed between the heel region and the first fluid-filled segment and includes a first portion extending continuously between the medial side and the lateral side. The sole structure also includes a third fluid-filled segment disposed between the first fluid-filled segment and the second fluid-filled segment and includes a first portion extending along one of the medial side and the lateral side and a second portion extending from the first portion toward the other one of the medial side and the lateral side.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper element, a lower element positioned below the upper element and a flexure element. The flexure element may be joined to one of the upper element and the lower element. The flexure element may be configured for slidingly contacting the other of the upper element and the lower element when a vertical compressive load is applied to the upper element. A second flexure element may be provided that extends from the upper element toward the lower element (or vice versa). An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.

Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper element, a lower element positioned below the upper element and a flexure element. The flexure element may be joined to one of the upper element and the lower element. The flexure element may be configured for slidingly contacting the other of the upper element and the lower element when a vertical compressive load is applied to the upper element. A second flexure element may be provided that extends from the upper element toward the lower element (or vice versa). An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.

Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.

Abstract: An article of footwear for snowboarding includes a tongue with adjustable stiffness. The tongue includes a flexible intermediate portion and the flexibility of the intermediate portion can be controlled by a tension control system. As the tension control system applies increased tension to the tongue, the flexibility of the intermediate portion is decreased, which increases the overall stiffness of the tongue.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole assembly that has a bladder element with a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first surface. A guide component is fused to one of the outer surfaces. The guide component has at least one groove extending laterally across the guide component. The at least one groove is configured to receive and guide at least one elongated member such that the elongated member is movable lengthwise when positioned in the at least one groove. A method of manufacturing a sole assembly for an article of footwear includes fusing the guide component to one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the bladder element.

Abstract: A protective system for articles of footwear includes a protective member that may be used to protect a sole structure from components of a graphic transfer assembly. The protective member can include adjustment members for adjusting the effective depth of different portions of the protective member. The protective member can also include adjustable covering portions for protecting portions of an upper.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper element, a lower element positioned below the upper element and a flexure element. The flexure element may be joined to one of the upper element and the lower element. The flexure element may be configured for slidingly contacting the other of the upper element and the lower element when a vertical compressive load is applied to the upper element. A second flexure element may be provided that extends from the upper element toward the lower element (or vice versa). An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.

Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable cleat members is disclosed. The heights of each cleat member can be adjusted independently. Each cleat member engages a cleat rotating member associated with the sole of the article. The cleat rotating member may be engaged through a hole in a top portion of a sole structure of the article of footwear. The cleat rotating member can be turned to adjust the height of the cleat member.

Abstract: A protective system for articles of footwear includes a protective member that may be used to protect a sole structure from components of a graphic transfer assembly. The protective member can include adjustment members for adjusting the effective depth of different portions of the protective member. The protective member can also include adjustable covering portions for protecting portions of an upper.

Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.

Abstract: An article of footwear for snowboarding includes a tongue with adjustable stiffness. The tongue includes a flexible intermediate portion and the flexibility of the intermediate portion can be controlled by a tension control system. As the tension control system applies increased tension to the tongue, the flexibility of the intermediate portion is decreased, which increases the overall stiffness of the tongue.

Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable cleat members is disclosed. The heights of each cleat member can be adjusted independently. Each cleat member engages a cleat rotating member associated with the sole of the article. The cleat rotating member may be engaged through a hole in a top portion of a sole structure of the article of footwear. The cleat rotating member can be turned to adjust the height of the cleat member.

Abstract: A catheter handpiece apparatus and method for delivering a desired dose with minimal potential for contamination of the injected substance and rapid, accurate delivery of the desired dose. In one embodiment, a carriage assembly affixed to an inner lumen is slidably located within a handpiece housing equipped with an outer lumen. The carriage assembly receives a dose carpule. An actuator knob cocks the carriage assembly and a spring-powered actuator mechanism. After the catheter is maneuvered to a desired injection site and a desired dose is set, depressing a first trigger causes the inner lumen tip to extend beyond the outer lumen into the injection site. Depressing a second trigger causes the actuator mechanism to push the desired dose from the dose carpule through the inner lumen into the injection site. A second embodiment provides a catheter handpiece with a carriage assembly cocking lever and an operator-powered dose delivery mechanism.

Abstract: A catheter handpiece apparatus and method for delivering a desired dose with minimal potential for contamination of the injected substance and rapid, accurate delivery of the desired dose. In one embodiment, a carriage assembly affixed to an inner lumen is slidably located within a handpiece housing equipped with an outer lumen. The carriage assembly receives a dose carpule. An actuator knob cocks the carriage assembly and a spring-powered actuator mechanism. After the catheter is maneuvered to a desired injection site and a desired dose is set, depressing a first trigger causes the inner lumen tip to extend beyond the outer lumen into the injection site. Depressing a second trigger causes the actuator mechanism to push the desired dose from the dose carpule through the inner lumen into the injection site. A second embodiment provides a catheter handpiece with a carriage assembly cocking lever and an operator-powered dose delivery mechanism.

Abstract: A catheter handpiece apparatus and method for delivering a desired dose with minimal potential for contamination of the injected substance and rapid, accurate delivery of the desired dose. In one embodiment, a carriage assembly affixed to an inner lumen is slidably located within a handpiece housing equipped with an outer lumen. The carriage assembly receives a dose carpule. An actuator knob cocks the carriage assembly and a spring-powered actuator mechanism. After the catheter is maneuvered to a desired injection site and a desired dose is set, depressing a first trigger causes the inner lumen tip to extend beyond the outer lumen into the injection site. Depressing a second trigger causes the actuator mechanism to push the desired dose from the dose carpule through the inner lumen into the injection site. A second embodiment provides a catheter handpiece with a carriage assembly cocking lever and an operator-powered dose delivery mechanism.