Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate in a forefoot portion of the sole assembly, and a plurality of lower plate arms curving downwardly from the upper plate.

Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear. The cushioning member is a flexible bladder having a fluidly interconnected heel chamber and forefoot chamber. The bladder is disposed above the sole and beneath the wearer's foot to provided added cushioning to the wearer. The bladder contains air at slightly above ambient pressure and can be formed by thermoforming or by welding two sheets of resilient, flexible material together. A connecting passage fluidly connects the heel chamber and the forefoot chamber. The connecting passage is narrow to control the flow of air between the two chambers.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly has at least one fluid-filled chamber capable of transmitting light and a recess. A light source is positioned in the recess, and an outsole is secured to a lower surface of the sole assembly.

Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber. The chamber may be bonded to other portions of the sole to secure the chamber within the sole. A surface of the chamber may also be angled to form a corresponding bevel in a lower surface of the sole structure, potentially in a rear-lateral area of the sole structure. A plate may also extend under a portion of the chamber.

Abstract: The stability and balance offered by an article of footwear is improved by including a rigid layer in an outsole assembly of the article of footwear. The rigid layer may include a material of at least a predefined rigidity. For example, an outsole may be fitted with a carbon fiber plate that maintains the shape and a flatness of the outsole assembly. The rigid layer may be attached to one or more other layers that may be configured for impact force attenuation and comfort. In one or more arrangements, the rigid layer may be sandwiched between two other layers. Alternatively, the rigid layer may be insertable into a layer of the outsole. A channel may cut into a layer of the outsole to distribute weight to an outside portion of the outsole. This distribution of weight to the outside portion of the outsole may improve stability and balance.

Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear. The cushioning member is a flexible bladder having a fluidly interconnected heel chamber and forefoot chamber. The bladder is disposed above the sole and beneath the wearer's foot to provided added cushioning to the wearer. The bladder contains air at slightly above ambient pressure and can be formed by thermoforming or by welding two sheets of resilient, flexible material together. A connecting passage fluidly connects the heel chamber and the forefoot chamber. The connecting passage is narrow to control the flow of air between the two chambers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing footwear includes providing a first upper having a first size and positioning a first cushioning member, having a first recess of a first size, beneath the first upper. The first cushioning member is secured to the first upper and a first sole assembly to form a first article of footwear having a first size. A second cushioning member is positioned beneath a second upper having a second size different than the first upper's size. The second cushioning member has a second recess of a second size formed in an upper surface thereof, with the second size being different than the first size of the first recess. The second cushioning member is secured to the second upper and a second sole assembly to form a second article of footwear having a second size different than the first size of the first article of footwear.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper and having a support assembly. The support assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate spaced from the upper plate. The lower plate has a peripheral edge and a plurality of spring arms, with each spring arm curving initially outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly from the peripheral edge to the upper plate.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly has an upper plate and a plurality of support assemblies. Each support assembly includes a web spaced from the upper plate and a plurality of elastomeric support columns extending between the upper plate and the web. An outsole is secured to at least one of the support assemblies.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper having a tongue opening and a sole assembly secured to the upper. A saddle has a first portion having a lower edge secured to at least one of the upper and the sole assembly in a midfoot portion of the upper and sole assembly, and an upper edge wrapped over the tongue opening. A second portion has a lower edge secured to at least one of the upper and the sole assembly in a midfoot portion of the upper and sole assembly, and an upper edge wrapped over the tongue opening and secured to the upper. A heel strap is connected to the first portion and the second portion and extends about the upper. The saddle is free from the upper at all locations other than the lower and upper edges of the first and second portions.

Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear. The cushioning member is a flexible bladder having a fluidly interconnected heel chamber and forefoot chamber. The bladder is disposed above the sole and beneath the wearer's foot to provided added cushioning to the wearer. The bladder contains air at slightly above ambient pressure and can be formed by thermoforming or by welding two sheets of resilient, flexible material together. A connecting passage fluidly connects the heel chamber and the forefoot chamber. The connecting passage is narrow to control the flow of air between the two chambers.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes an outsole secured to the upper and a plurality of gripping elements extending outwardly from the outsole. A heel plate extends downwardly and rearwardly from a midfoot portion of the outsole. A first support column extends between the outsole and the heel plate, with the first column being positioned in a lateral portion of a heel portion of the outsole. A second support column extends between the outsole and the heel plate, with the second column being positioned in a medial portion of the heel portion of the outsole.

Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear. The cushioning member is a flexible bladder having a fluidly interconnected heel chamber and forefoot chamber. The bladder is disposed above the sole and beneath the wearer's foot to provided added cushioning to the wearer. The bladder contains air at slightly above ambient pressure and can be formed by thermoforming or by welding two sheets of resilient, flexible material together. A connecting passage fluidly connects the heel chamber and the forefoot chamber. The connecting passage is narrow to control the flow of air between the two chambers.