Abstract: A sole portion for an item of footwear having a plurality of cleat systems, cleats, or plate structures that dissipate force by deflecting, deforming, displacing or otherwise shifting under selected force, or by facilitating cleat movement around a radial line during ground engagement.

Abstract: A dual-layered midsole for footwear includes an internal midsole layer and an external midsole layer, which are coupled to and separated by a Strobel board. The internal midsole layer may compress and expand with the movement of a wearer of an article of footwear including the dual-layered midsole, while the external midsole may provide stability and cushion for the wearer. Materials selected for the internal and external midsole layers may provide tuned viscoelastic properties to different areas of the midsole as a function of midsole layer thickness at each sole area.

Abstract: A dual-layered midsole for footwear includes an internal midsole layer and an external midsole layer, which are coupled to and separated by a Strobel board. The internal midsole layer may compress and expand with the movement of a wearer of an article of footwear including the dual-layered midsole, while the external midsole may provide stability and cushion for the wearer. Materials selected for the internal and external midsole layers may provide tuned viscoelastic properties to different areas of the midsole as a function of midsole layer thickness at each sole area.

Abstract: A segmented sole for an article of footwear comprises a forefoot region, a heel region, and a segmentation zone disposed between the forefoot and heel region. The segmentation zone includes a plurality of segments separated from each other and from the forefoot and heel by a plurality of sipes, cuts, or gaps. The segmented sole produces bending along a segmentation axis disposed along an arch of a wearer of an article of footwear including the sole, allowing for arch support and natural foot movement.

Abstract: An article of footwear may include an elastic membrane suspended within an interior of an upper of the article of footwear and spaced above the sole, such that a wearer's foot contacts the membrane and is cradled by the membrane as the membrane is stretched toward an underlying midsole. In some examples, the 5 membrane may contact the midsole for a discrete length of a contact area, e.g., selected by the manufacturer. In some examples, a void between the membrane and the sole is filled, at least in part, with a selected filler material. In some examples, the membrane comprises a material having tailored stretch characteristics.

Abstract: A dual-layered midsole for footwear includes an internal midsole layer and an external midsole layer, which are coupled to and separated by a Strobel board. The internal midsole layer may compress and expand with the movement of a wearer of an article of footwear including the dual-layered midsole, while the external midsole may provide stability and cushion for the wearer. Materials selected for the internal and external midsole layers may provide tuned viscoelastic properties to different areas of the midsole as a function of midsole layer thickness at each sole area.

Abstract: A dual-layered midsole for footwear includes an internal midsole layer and an external midsole layer, which are coupled to and separated by a Strobel board. The internal midsole layer may compress and expand with the movement of a wearer of an article of footwear including the dual-layered midsole, while the external midsole may provide stability and cushion for the wearer. Materials selected for the internal and external midsole layers may provide tuned viscoelastic properties to different areas of the midsole as a function of midsole layer thickness at each sole area.

Abstract: A dual-layered midsole for footwear includes an internal midsole layer and an external midsole layer, which are coupled to and separated by a Strobel board. The internal midsole layer may compress and expand with the movement of a wearer of an article of footwear including the dual-layered midsole, while the external midsole may provide stability and cushion for the wearer. Materials selected for the internal and external midsole layers may provide tuned viscoelastic properties to different areas of the midsole as a function of midsole layer thickness at each sole area.

Abstract: A rate dependent tether for securing a shoe to a user, and footwear incorporating the rate dependent tether. The rate dependent tether may include a tube filled with a shear-thickening material and at least one cable or ribbon. In conditions of normal, low, or no intense activity by the user, the rate dependent tether's deformation resistance is low allowing the rate dependent tether to be extended to allow insertion or removal of the foot. At active levels, for example, participating in sporting events or intense activities, the rate dependent tether's deformation resistance is high preventing the rate dependent tether from loosening and securing the shoe on the user. The rate dependent tether may be connected to a saddle. A rate dependent insole for footwear, a support impregnated with a shear-thickening fluid, a rate dependent footcone, and rate dependent bands are also described.

Abstract: A shoe system including a shoe upper with a bottom side having an aperture extending to a cavity. The shoe system also includes a selectively removable outsole which includes a bottom for contacting the ground, and a top for engaging with the bottom of the shoe upper. The top side of the outsole further includes a projection which is sized and shaped to extend through the aperture and into the cavity when the outsole is in a first orientation, which is misaligned with respect to the shoe upper. The projection is also sized and shaped to fit within the cavity but no longer back through the aperture when the outsole is in a second orientation, which is aligned with respect to the shoe upper. In the second orientation, the projection within said cavity prevents disengagement of the outsole from the shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe system including a shoe upper with a bottom side having an aperture extending to a cavity. The shoe system also includes a selectively removable outsole which includes a bottom for contacting the ground, and a top for engaging with the bottom of the shoe upper. The top side of the outsole further includes a projection which is sized and shaped to extend through the aperture and into the cavity when the outsole is in a first orientation, which is misaligned with respect to the shoe upper. The projection is also sized and shaped to fit within the cavity but no longer back through the aperture when the outsole is in a second orientation, which is aligned with respect to the shoe upper. In the second orientation, the projection within said cavity prevents disengagement of the outsole from the shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe system including a shoe upper with a bottom side having an aperture extending to a cavity. The shoe system also includes a selectively removable outsole which includes a bottom for contacting the ground, and a top for engaging with the bottom of the shoe upper. The top side of the outsole further includes a projection which is sized and shaped to extend through the aperture and into the cavity when the outsole is in a first orientation, which is misaligned with respect to the shoe upper. The projection is also sized and shaped to fit within the cavity but no longer back through the aperture when the outsole is in a second orientation, which is aligned with respect to the shoe upper. In the second orientation, the projection within said cavity prevents disengagement of the outsole from the shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe system including a shoe upper with a bottom side having an aperture extending to a cavity. The shoe system also includes a selectively removable outsole which includes a bottom for contacting the ground, and a top for engaging with the bottom of the shoe upper. The top side of the outsole further includes a projection which is sized and shaped to extend through the aperture and into the cavity when the outsole is in a first orientation, which is misaligned with respect to the shoe upper. The projection is also sized and shaped to fit within the cavity but no longer back through the aperture when the outsole is in a second orientation, which is aligned with respect to the shoe upper. In the second orientation, the projection within said cavity prevents disengagement of the outsole from the shoe upper.

Abstract: An orthotic foot device for footwear may include a flexible insole chassis adapted to extend substantially between the heel and the toe of the footwear and at least one support component attached at a lower side of the chassis. The chassis may include a cushioned layer composed of conforming resilient material overlying the upper side of the chassis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a customer with a footbed. A kiosk provides measurements of a consumer's feet with a self-guided display by using both pressure measurements and scanning of the feet. The measurement information is converted to identify which of the preselected and stocked components proximate the kiosk can be combined to provide an appropriate footbed for the consumer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a customer with a footbed. A kiosk provides measurements of a consumer's feet with a self-guided display by using both pressure measurements and scanning of the feet. The measurement information is converted to identify which of the preselected and stocked components proximate the kiosk can be combined to provide an appropriate footbed for the consumer.

Abstract: A protective cup includes a cage member and a peripheral lip. The cage member includes upper, lower, and side portions. The upper portion may include a plurality of slots. At least one slot may be oriented so that a direction defined by a largest dimension of the at least one slot extends toward one or more of the lower portion and the side portions. The cup may also include linking portions. The lip is operatively connected to the upper and lower portions. The lip may be operatively connected to the side portions or it may be distanced from the cage member at openings between the lip and side portions. If the lip is distanced from the cage member, the linking portions operatively connect the lip to the side portions to fill the openings or one or more parts of the openings. A method of manufacturing the cup is also disclosed.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole assembly having a midsole having an upper surface, a frame recess and a first registration recess being formed in the upper surface. A frame member is seated in the frame recess, and has a first end secured to the midsole, a second end free of the midsole, and a first registration member extending downwardly from a lower surface of the frame member. The first registration member is received in the first registration recess. An upper is removably attached to the sole assembly, and has a pocket on a bottom surface thereof, with the second end of the frame member being received in the pocket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a customer with a footbed. A kiosk provides measurements of a consumer's feet with a self-guided display by using both pressure measurements and scanning of the feet. The measurement information is converted to identify which of the preselected and stocked components proximate the kiosk can be combined to provide an appropriate footbed for the consumer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a customer with a footbed. A kiosk provides measurements of a consumer's feet with a self-guided display by using both pressure measurements and scanning of the feet. The measurement information is converted to identify which of the preselected and stocked components proximate the kiosk can be combined to provide an appropriate footbed for the consumer.