Abstract: An article of footwear with a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear; a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure has a midsole with a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end to the anterior end; a second cushioning element extending from the mid-foot region to the posterior end, the second cushioning element being formed of a different material than the first cushioning element; and a shell with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart protrusions, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is directly coupled to the second cushioning element.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first conical traction element disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure. The sole structure also includes a first elongate traction element, a second elongate traction element, and a third elongate traction element arranged in a radial pattern around the first conical traction element within the forefoot region.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bladder and at least one insert. The bladder includes an upper surface having a first portion defining a chamber and a second portion defining at least one recess adjacent to the chamber. The at least one insert is disposed within the at least one recess and has a top surface that is substantially flush with the first portion of the upper surface of the bladder. The first portion of the upper surface is exposed to the at least one insert.

Abstract: A method can include filling one or more recesses of a mold with a polymer, where the one or more recesses comprise a first recess that is depressed into the mold and shaped and sized according to a 3D polymeric feature to be bonded to a textile. The method can further include forming the 3D polymeric feature within the mold and arranging the textile over the 3D polymeric feature within the mold and pressing the textile and mold together to bond the 3D polymeric feature directly to a surface of the textile. The 3D polymeric feature extends outward from the surface of the textile.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first conical traction element disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure. The sole structure also includes a first elongate traction element, a second elongate traction element, and a third elongate traction element arranged in a radial pattern around the first conical traction element within the forefoot region.

Abstract: Articles of footwear having an upper that includes a tensile support structure are described. The tensile support structure is formed by a plurality of strands that are arranged in a chain-linked configuration. The chain-linked arrangement of the strands assists with distributing tensile forces over portions of the upper of the article of footwear and helps to conforms the upper to a foot of a wearer upon the application of tension.

Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a knitted upper and articles of footwear that incorporate the same that include raised elements that extend in a z-direction away from an outer surface of the knitted upper. The raised elements comprise a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns. A first set of raised elements extends in a first direction on a lateral side of the knitted upper, and a second set of raised elements extends in a second direction on a medial side of the knitted upper where the second direction is different from the first direction.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear; a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure has a midsole with a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end to the anterior end; a second cushioning element extending from the mid-foot region to the posterior end, the second cushioning element being formed of a different material than the first cushioning element; and a shell with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart protrusions, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is directly coupled to the second cushioning element.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear; a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure has a midsole with a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end to the anterior end; a second cushioning element extending from the mid-foot region to the posterior end, the second cushioning element being formed of a different material than the first cushioning element; and a shell with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart protrusions, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is directly coupled to the second cushioning element.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bladder and at least one insert. The bladder includes an upper surface having a first portion defining a chamber and a second portion defining at least one recess adjacent to the chamber. The at least one insert is disposed within the at least one recess and has a top surface that is substantially flush with the first portion of the upper surface of the bladder. The first portion of the upper surface is exposed to the at least one insert.

Abstract: Presented are wear-resistant polymeric shields for reinforcing segments of footwear, methods for making/using such shields, and shoes with a high-strength, abrasion-resistant thermoplastic toe shield covering the shoe's front face. An athletic shoe includes an upper with an outer shell that receives a user's foot. A forefoot region of the upper's outer shell includes a toe box, while the forefoot and midfoot regions include a vamp. A sole structure is attached to the upper to support the user's foot. The sole structure includes a ground-engaging outsole and an outer-perimeter sidewall. A toe shield is bonded to and projects from outward-facing portions of the upper and sole structure. The toe shield is a single-piece structure fabricated from an abrasion-resistant, flexible thermoplastic copolymer. The toe shield may extend across forward portions of the vamp and toe box, a forward portion of the sole's sidewall, and a forward edge of the outsole's ground-facing surface.

Abstract: Articles of footwear having an upper that includes a tensile support structure are described. The tensile support structure is formed by a plurality of strands that are arranged in a chain-linked configuration. The chain-linked arrangement of the strands assists with distributing tensile forces over portions of the upper of the article of footwear and helps to conforms the upper to a foot of a wearer upon the application of tension.

Abstract: A sole assembly is formed by preheating a mold assembly, placing a quantity of rubber in a first portion of a lower recess of a mold assembly; placing a middle plate in contact with a bottom plate, and an upper plate in contact with the middle plate; subjecting the top, middle, and bottom plates to heat to semi-cure the rubber in the lower recess to form an outsole member; separating the top plate, the middle plate, and the bottom plate; placing the top plate in contact with the bottom plate, with polyolefin forming a midsole above the semi-cured rubber; moving the movable insert upwardly with respect to the top plate; subjecting the top and bottom plates to heat such that the polyolefin expands within the sole recess and the polyolefin and rubber in the sole recess fully cure, cross-link, and bond to one another to form a sole assembly; cooling the top and bottom plates; and removing the sole assembly.

Abstract: A sole assembly is formed by preheating a mold assembly, placing a quantity of rubber in a first portion of a lower recess of a mold assembly; placing a middle plate in contact with a bottom plate, and an upper plate in contact with the middle plate; subjecting the top, middle, and bottom plates to heat to semi-cure the rubber in the lower recess to form an outsole member; separating the top plate, the middle plate, and the bottom plate; placing the top plate in contact with the bottom plate, with polyolefin forming a midsole above the semi-cured rubber; moving the movable insert upwardly with respect to the top plate; subjecting the top and bottom plates to heat such that the polyolefin expands within the sole recess and the polyolefin and rubber in the sole recess fully cure, cross-link, and bond to one another to form a sole assembly; cooling the top and bottom plates; and removing the sole assembly.

Abstract: A sole assembly is formed by preheating a mold assembly, placing a quantity of rubber in a first portion of a lower recess of a mold assembly; placing a middle plate in contact with a bottom plate, and an upper plate in contact with the middle plate; subjecting the top, middle, and bottom plates to heat to semi-cure the rubber in the lower recess to form an outsole member; separating the top plate, the middle plate, and the bottom plate; placing the top plate in contact with the bottom plate, with polyolefin forming a midsole above the semi-cured rubber; moving the movable insert upwardly with respect to the top plate; subjecting the top and bottom plates to heat such that the polyolefin expands within the sole recess and the polyolefin and rubber in the sole recess fully cure, cross-link, and bond to one another to form a sole assembly; cooling the top and bottom plates; and removing the sole assembly.

Abstract: A sole assembly is formed by preheating a mold assembly, placing a quantity of rubber in a first portion of a lower recess of a mold assembly; placing a middle plate in contact with a bottom plate, and an upper plate in contact with the middle plate; subjecting the top, middle, and bottom plates to heat to semi-cure the rubber in the lower recess to form an outsole member; separating the top plate, the middle plate, and the bottom plate; placing the top plate in contact with the bottom plate, with polyolefin forming a midsole above the semi-cured rubber; subjecting the top and bottom plates to heat such that the polyolefin expands within the sole recess and the polyolefin and rubber in the sole recess fully cure, cross-link, and bond to one another to form a sole assembly; cooling the top and bottom plates; and removing the sole assembly.