Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes a first midsole portion, a second midsole portion, and a sheet. The first midsole portion includes a first sidewall. The second midsole portion includes a second sidewall. The sheet is disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion and extends from the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The sheet extends at least partially over the second sidewall.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear is described. In one example, the sole structure includes first and second foam components and one or more mesh components, e.g., a mesh textile component. The first foam component includes first and second opposing sides, and the second foam component includes first and second opposing sides. The first and second foam components form a stack in the sole structure. The mesh components, e.g., a mesh textile component, are positioned in the stack between and bonded to the second side of the first foam component and the first side of the second foam component. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first cushioning element, a second cushioning element, and a panel disposed within a joint formed between the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element. The first cushioning element includes a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side from the first surface. The second cushioning element includes a third surface and a fourth surface formed on an opposite side from the third surface. The third surface of the second cushioning element is joined to the second surface of the first cushioning element to form a joint between the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element, where the fabric panel is interposed between the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element within the joint. The panel may be a fabric panel, and more particularly, may include a mesh textile material.

Abstract: A sole structure of an article of footwear is provided and includes a first midsole portion including a first sidewall and a second midsole portion including a second sidewall. The sole structure also includes a first sheet disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first sheet than the first surface. The first sheet includes one or more apertures extending through the first sheet from the first surface to the second surface. The first midsole portion and the second midsole portion are operably connected through the one or more apertures of the first sheet.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and a guide secured to the inner surface of the sole structure. An outer surface of the bottom of an upper is secured to the inner surface of the sole structure, the upper and the guide forming a passage. A tensioning component extends along the guide in the passage, and extends out of the passage at a medial side and/or a lateral side of the upper. An increase in tension in the tensioning component flexibly conforms the sole structure to a foot disposed in the upper. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes placing an upper on a last, applying adhesive on an inner surface of a sole structure, placing a guide on the adhesive, the tensioning component on the guide, and the inner surface of the sole structure against an outer surface of the upper.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper coupled to a sole structure. The upper has a ground facing surface, and opposing medial and lateral sidewalls disposed on and extending from opposite medial and lateral sides of the ground facing surface. The sole structure is formed from a plurality of non-coextensive, thermoplastic foam layers, where each layer extends across a portion of the ground facing surface of the upper. These layers include at least a first foam layer and a second foam layer. The first foam layer has a different hardness and/or density than the second foam layer. Each of the first foam layer and the second foam layer extends into direct contact with, and is directly adhered to the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall of the upper, and the first foam layer is secured to the second foam layer via an adhesive or a thermal weld.

Abstract: A sole structure of an article of footwear is provided and includes a first midsole portion including a first sidewall and a second midsole portion including a second sidewall. The sole structure also includes a first sheet disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first sheet than the first surface. The first sheet includes one or more apertures extending through the first sheet from the first surface to the second surface. The first midsole portion and the second midsole portion are operably connected through the one or more apertures of the first sheet.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper comprising a knitted component forming a one-piece integrally knit element that forms a lower portion of the upper and extends from the lower portion toward a collar. The lower portion of the upper is configured to extend under a wearer's foot. The article of footwear includes an insert member having a bottom side with a plurality of protuberances that extend away, and the lower portion of the upper is vacuum molded around at least some portions of the protuberances of the insert member. The article of footwear may also include a sole assembly secured to the bottom side of the lower portion of the upper.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole system, including an upper and the sole system. The sole system includes a knitted component incorporating a one-piece knit outsole. The knit outsole has a ground-facing side, a top side, an inlaid tensile element, and a ground-engaging cleat member protruding from the ground-facing side of the knit outsole. The tensile element may be adjacent a cleat member. The upper is connected at its bottom to the top side of the knit outsole.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and a guide secured to the inner surface of the sole structure. An outer surface of the bottom of an upper is secured to the inner surface of the sole structure, the upper and the guide forming a passage. A tensioning component extends along the guide in the passage, and extends out of the passage at a medial side and/or a lateral side of the upper. An increase in tension in the tensioning component flexibly conforms the sole structure to a foot disposed in the upper. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes placing an upper on a last, applying adhesive on an inner surface of a sole structure, placing a guide on the adhesive, the tensioning component on the guide, and the inner surface of the sole structure against an outer surface of the upper.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in one aspect, provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component. The knitted component may include a knit element, a first tensile strand with an exposed first end, and a second tensile strand with an exposed second end. The first tensile strand may be at least partially inlaid within the knit element, the second tensile strand may be at least partially inlaid within the knit element, and the exposed first end of the first tensile element may be secured to the exposed second end of the second tensile element. One or more braids including tensile strands can be part of a main braid configured to wrap around a heel region of the upper and to be secured to a medial side of the upper.

Abstract: A sole system for an article of footwear may include one or more of the following: a knitted component including an underfoot portion having a plurality of knitted cleat members; and an outsole cover assembly having a plurality of recesses corresponding to the plurality of knitted cleat members of the knitted component. The outsole cover assembly may substantially cover the underfoot portion of the knitted component.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include a knitted component having an auxetic portion. The auxetic portion may be configured to move between a first position and a second position as the knitted component stretches. The knitted component may also include a tensile strand inlaid within at least one of a course and a wale of the knit element, where the tensile strand extends through the auxetic portion, and where the tensile strand is selectively securable to the knit element via a securement device. The securement device may be spaced from the auxetic portion.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole system, including an upper and the sole system. The sole system includes a knitted component incorporating a one-piece knit outsole. The knit outsole has a ground-facing side, a top side, an inlaid tensile element, and a ground-engaging cleat member protruding from the ground-facing side of the knit outsole. The tensile element may be adjacent a cleat member. The upper is connected at its bottom to the top side of the knit outsole.

Abstract: A pre-tensioned article and method of making an article of footwear involving pre-tensioning a sole structure during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a plurality of apertures that provide an auxetic effect. In further embodiments, the upper may also be pre-tensioned in a similar manner as the sole structure.

Abstract: A sole for article of footwear includes a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A plurality of blind holes each extends from the outer surface toward the inner surface. The plurality of blind holes are arranged in an auxetic configuration in the outer surface. Each hole in the plurality of holes extends towards the inner surface. The plurality of blind holes is arranged in a pattern that provides a tunable performance characteristic. The patterns of blind holes vary between different regions of the midsole component to provide different types of responses in the different regions.

Abstract: A method of customizing the sole structure of an article of footwear includes providing a sole structure with a sole component having an inner surface and an opposite-facing outer surface. The sole component includes a plurality of inner recesses extending from the inner surface and a plurality of outer recesses extending from the outer surface, the plurality of inner recesses include a blind-hole inner recess, the plurality of outer recesses include a blind-hole outer recess, and the blind-hole inner recess is generally aligned with the blind hole outer recess along a vertical direction. The method further includes adjusting the flexibility of the sole component by selectively cutting or removing material from one or both of the blind-hole inner recess and the blind-hole outer recess.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes cutting a plurality of sipes into an outer surface of a pre-formed, foamed thermoplastic sole structure that has both an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. An adhesive is then applied to the inner surface of the pre-formed sole structure and the sole structure is heated to permit forming. The heated sole structure is positioned adjacent to a ground-facing surface of a lasted upper, and then is thermoformed against the lasted upper to draw the adhesive into contact with the ground-facing surface of the upper, and such that at least a portion of the pre-formed sole structure bends into contact with a sidewall of the upper.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure with an auxetic structure and a filler. The auxetic structure includes an aperture. The filler is received in the aperture. The auxetic structure is configured to deform auxetically. The sole structure is configured to deform between a neutral position and a deformed position. The aperture is configured to deform as the sole structure deforms between the neutral and deformed positions. The auxetic structure includes a first material and the filler includes a second material. The second material is softer than the first material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes cutting a plurality of sipes into an outer surface of a pre-formed, foamed thermoplastic sole structure that has both an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. An adhesive is then applied to the inner surface of the pre-formed sole structure and the sole structure is heated to permit forming. The heated sole structure is positioned adjacent to a ground-facing surface of a lasted upper, and then is thermoformed against the lasted upper to draw the adhesive into contact with the ground-facing surface of the upper, and such that at least a portion of the pre-formed sole structure bends into contact with a sidewall of the upper.