具体实施方式：
[0078]The present invention(s) will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exemplary embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
[0079]An article of footwear has many purposes. Among other things, an article of footwear may cushion a wearer's foot, support a wearer's foot, protect a wearer's foot (e.g., from injury), and optimize the performance of a wearer's foot. Each of these purposes, alone or in combination, provides for a comfortable article of footwear suitable for use in a variety of scenarios (e.g., exercise and every day activities). The features of an article of footwear (e.g., shape, components, and materials used to make footwear) may be altered to produce desired characteristics, for example, cushioning, support, stability, ride, and propulsion characteristics.
[0080]Stability provided by an article of footwear may protect a wearer's foot from injury, such as spraining his or her ankle. Propulsion provided by an article of footwear may optimize the performance of a wearer's foot by, for example, maximizing the energy transfer from the individual's foot to the surface his or her foot is in contact with (e.g., the ground) via the article of footwear. Maximizing the energy transfer between the individual's foot and a surface (i.e., reducing energy lost via and/or absorbed by an article of footwear) may help an athlete, for example, accelerate faster, maintain a higher maximum speed, change directions faster, and jump higher. Cushioning and ride characteristics provided by an article of footwear may provide comfort for an individual during an athletic or everyday activity.
[0081]The anatomy of the human foot creates a shape and contour for the bottom of the foot that results in varying degrees of pressure (force) on the bottom of the foot when the foot is in contact with the ground (e.g., while standing still, walking, running, etc.). The varying degrees of pressure create areas on the foot subject various pressure forces and stresses. Some areas may be subject to relatively high pressures/stresses and others may be subject to relatively low pressures/stresses. To provide comfort, areas subject to relatively high degrees of pressure/stress may require additional cushioning or support compared to areas subject to relatively low degrees of pressure/stress.
[0082]Moreover, the shape and contour of the bottom of different individuals' feet create different pressure/stress profiles for different individuals' feet. This may also be true for the left and right foot of a single individual. Accordingly, the cushioning and/or support needs for one individual's feet (or the left and right feet of a single individual) may be different. The cushioning and/or support needs may be dependent not only on an individual's foot anatomy, but also the individual's natural gait.
[0083]In some embodiments, the midsoles and articles of footwear having midsoles discussed herein may include a three-dimensional mesh composed of interconnected unit cells. The geometry, interconnection, and arrangement of the interconnected unit cells may be customized for a particular individual, or group of individuals. The geometry, interconnection, and arrangement of the interconnected unit cells may be based, in whole or in part, on a biometric data profile for an individual's foot. The interconnected unit cells may be arranged in a warped cubic lattice structure, which may also be based on the biometric data profile for an individual's foot.
[0084]The geometry, interconnection, and arrangement of the unit cells within a three-dimensional mesh may offer a multitude of different options for customizing (tailoring) a midsole to an individual's, or group of individuals' needs. For example, one or more of the following may be tailored for an individual or group of individuals: (i) the volumetric shape of a midsole, (ii) the stiffness (including for example compressive strength, shear strength and/or bending strength and/or torsional stiffness) of struts defining interconnected unit cells, (iii) the number of unit cells per unit volume (i.e., the density of unit cells), (iv) the degree of interconnection between unit cells (referred to herein as “valence”) and (v) the base geometry of the unit cells. Each parameter (i)-(v) may vary between different zones or portions on a midsole to provide desired characteristics, for example cushioning, support, stability, ride, and/or propulsion characteristics for an individual, or group of individuals.
[0085]Midsoles including a three-dimensional mesh as discussed herein may be manufactured using one or more additive manufacturing methods. Additive manufacturing methods allow for fabrication of three-dimensional objects without the need for a mold. Instead, the objects may be manufactured layer by layer, e.g. from liquid material, or from a powder material. Additive manufacturing methods may reduce costs for a manufacturer, and in turn a consumer, of a product (e.g., a shoe) by reducing or eliminating the need for molds. Integral manufacturing of a midsole using additive manufacturing may make the assembly of separate elements of the midsole unnecessary. Similarly, an additively manufactured midsole may be fabricated from single material, which may facilitate easy recycling of the midsole.
[0086]Also, since molds are not required, additive manufacturing methods facilitate customization of products. For example, a midsole can be customized to a particular individual, or group of individuals, in a more cost effective way with an additive manufacturing method compared to a traditional molding method.
[0087]Due to the nature of additive manufacturing methods, additive manufacturing methods can be leveraged to provide customized and affordable footwear for individuals. Exemplary additive manufacturing techniques include for example, selective laser sintering, selective laser melting, selective heat sintering, stereo lithography, fused deposition modeling, or 3D printing in general. Various additive manufacturing techniques related to articles of footwear are described for example in US 2009/0126225, WO 2010/126708, US 2014/0300676, US 2014/0300675, US 2014/0299009, US 2014/0026773, US 2014/0029030, WO 2014/008331, WO 2014/015037, US 2014/0020191, EP 2 564 719, EP 2 424 398 and US 2012/0117825.
[0088]Using the additive manufacturing methods discussed herein, customized midsoles may be provided with short lead times. For example, a midsole may be customized for, among other things, the width and/or length of an individual's foot, the weight of an individual, an individual's gait, and/or the type of footwear with which a midsole is intended to be used. In some embodiments, a midsole may comprise at least two regions that have different physical properties, for example different unit cell densities, different stiffness, and/or different unit cell interconnection. In some embodiments, midsoles discussed herein may be formed using an additive manufacturing method that does not require post-formation processing steps, such as cutting away undesirable parts of a midsole. Eliminating post-formation processing steps facilitates manufacturing consistency and reproducibility.
[0089]In some embodiments, the physical properties of a three-dimensional mesh may be tailored by tailoring the volume, cell size, and/or warped geometry of a warped lattice structure in which unit cells of the three-dimensional mesh are arranged. In some embodiments, the physical properties of a three-dimensional mesh may be tailored by tailoring the thickness of struts defining the unit cells of the three-dimensional mesh. In some embodiments, the physical properties of a three-dimensional mesh may be tailored by tailoring the density of unit cells in the three-dimensional mesh. The density of unit cells may be tailored by tailoring at least one of: the size of the unit cells, the degree of interconnection between the unit cells, and the base geometry of the unit cells. In some embodiments, the physical properties of a three-dimensional mesh may be tailored by tailoring the material(s) used to form the three-dimensional mesh.
[0090]In some embodiments, the base geometry of unit cells may be approximately constant along the length and width of a midsole. For example, the base geometry (e.g., cubic, tetrahedral, dodecahedral, etc.) of unit cells may be approximately constant along the length and width of a midsole. In some embodiments, the base geometry of unit cells may vary in a three-dimensional mesh. In some embodiments, a three-dimensional mesh may include at least two unit cells with different base geometries. For example, a first base geometry (e.g. unit cells designed as rhombic dodecahedrons), may be combined with other unit cells including a second base geometry (e.g., pentagonal dodecahedrons, cubes, cuboids, prisms, parallelepipeds, etc.).
[0091]In some embodiments, a three-dimensional mesh may include a first region with a plurality of unit cells having a first base geometry and a second region with a plurality of unit cells having a second base geometry. The base geometries of the regions may be adapted to the specific requirements of that region. For example, a less dense unit cell geometry (e.g., cubic) may be used in a region with reduced density and/or stiffness requirements. Additionally or alternatively, one or more dimensions of the unit cells in the first region may differ from those of the unit cells in the second region.
[0092]FIGS. 1 and 2 show an article of footwear 100 according to some embodiments. Article of footwear 100 may include an upper 120 coupled to a midsole 130. Article of footwear 100 includes a forefoot end 102, a heel end 104, a medial side 106, and a lateral side 108 opposite medial side 106. Also, as shown for example in FIG. 2, article of footwear 100 includes a forefoot portion 110, a midfoot portion 112, and a heel portion 114. Portions 110, 112, and 114 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of article of footwear 100. Rather, portions 110, 112, and 114 are intended to represent general areas of article of footwear 100 that provide a frame of reference. Although portions 110, 112, and 114 apply generally to article of footwear 100, references to portions 110, 112, and 114 also may apply specifically to upper 120 or midsole 130, or individual components of upper 120 or midsole 130.
[0093]In some embodiments, article of footwear 100 may include an outsole 140 coupled to midsole 130. Together, midsole 130 and outsole 140 may define a sole 150 of article of footwear 100. In some embodiments, outsole 140 may be directly manufactured (e.g., 3-D printed) on the bottom side of midsole 130. In some embodiments, outsole 140 and midsole 130 may be manufactured in one manufacturing process (e.g., one 3-D printing process) and no bonding, e.g. via adhesives, may be necessary. In some embodiments, outsole 140 may include a plurality of protrusions 142 to provide traction for article of footwear 100. In some embodiments, midsole 130 may be the same as or similar to midsole, 300, midsole 2100 or midsole 2200.
[0094]As shown for example in FIG. 1, midsole 130 may include a three-dimensional mesh 132 composed of a plurality of interconnected unit cells 134. In some embodiments, midsole 130 may be customized for an individual, or a group of individuals. In such embodiments, an individual's gait may be analyzed using, for example, a Vicon® Motion Capture system with force plates, or a Run Genie® system. Such gait analysis systems may produce a biometric data profile for an individual that may be used to customize midsole 130 (see e.g., method 1000 described in connection with FIG. 10).
[0095]Based at least in part on the data collected, properties of midsole 130, three-dimensional mesh 132, and/or unit cells 134 may be customized to an individual's cushioning, support, stability, ride, and/or propulsion needs. In some embodiments, midsole 130, three-dimensional mesh 132, and/or unit cells 134 may also be customized based on an individual's athletic needs (e.g., the type of sport the individual plays and/or the amount of time the individual spends exercising).
[0096]Parameters of midsole 130 that may be customized to an individual's needs include, but are not limited to: i) the volumetric shape of midsole 130, ii) the stiffness (including for example compressive strength, shear strength and/or bending strength and/or torsional stiffness) of struts defining the interconnected unit cells 134, (iii) the number of unit cells 134 per unit volume (i.e., the density of unit cells), (iv) the degree of interconnection between unit cells 134 (referred to herein as “valence”), and (v) the base geometry of the unit cells 134. Parameters (i)-(v) may vary between different zones or portions of midsole 130 (e.g., forefoot portion 110, a midfoot portion 112, and a heel portion 114) to provide targeted characteristics in different zones or portions of midsole 130 based on an individual's needs.
[0097]In some embodiments, one or more of these parameters may be customized based on an individual's objective athletic goals. For example, a long distance runner may desire a midsole 130 that provides a high degree of cushioning for long distance runs. As another example, a football player may desire a relatively stiff midsole 130 that resists deformation when upper 120 acts on midsole 130, thereby providing a high degree of support for his or her feet (e.g., a high degree of support for his or her ankles). As a further example, a sprinter may desire a relative stiff and lightweight midsole 130 that provides a high a degree of propulsion (i.e., efficient energy transfer from the individual's foot to the ground).
[0098]In some embodiments, midsole 130 may be customized to a particular individual's foot or gait, or a particular group of individual's feet or gait. This customization may be based on unique user characteristics provided by, for example, a Run Genie® system. In some embodiments, midsole 130 may be customized for an individual to modify an irregularity in the individual's gait. In such embodiments, midsole 130 may provide stability and/or propulsion characteristics to modify the individual's gait (i.e., modify his or her gait to a preferred motion). Correcting/modifying an individual's gait to preferred motion may reduce discomfort for an individual during exercise.
[0099]In some embodiments, different zones or portions of midsole 130 (e.g., portions 110, 112, and 114) may be customized or tuned to a particular individual's foot or gait, or a particular group of individual's feet or gait. Different zones or portions of midsole 130 may customized to an individual's gait by i) adjusting the volumetric shape of midsole 130, ii) adjusting the stiffness (including for example compressive strength, shear strength and/or bending strength and/or torsional stiffness) of struts defining the interconnected unit cells 134, (iii) adjusting the number of unit cells 134 per unit volume (i.e., the density of unit cells), (iv) adjusting the degree of interconnection between unit cells 134 (referred to herein as “valence”), and/or (v) adjusting the base geometry of the unit cells 134.
[0100]For example, a heel striker may be best served by a midsole 130 having a heel portion 114 that provides a high degree of cushioning, but a forefoot striker may be best served by a midsole 130 having a forefoot portion 110 that provides a high degree of cushioning. As another example, a heel striker may be best served by a midsole 130 with a heel portion 114 having a perimeter zone with a large degree stability, but a forefoot striker may be best served by a forefoot portion 110 having a perimeter zone with a large degree of stability.
[0101]Upper 120 and sole 150 may be configured for a specific type of footwear, including, but not limited to, a running shoe, a hiking shoe, a water shoe, a training shoe, a fitness shoe, a dancing shoe, a biking shoe, a tennis shoe, a cleat (e.g., a baseball cleat, a soccer cleat, or a football cleat), a basketball shoe, a boot, a walking shoe, a casual shoe, or a dress shoe. Moreover, sole 150 may be sized and shaped to provide a desired combination of cushioning, stability, propulsion, and ride characteristics to article of footwear 100. The term “ride” may be used herein in describing some embodiments as an indication of the sense of smoothness or flow occurring during a gait cycle including heel strike, midfoot stance, toe off, and the transitions between these stages. In some embodiments, sole 150 may provide particular ride features including, but not limited to, appropriate control of pronation and supination, support of natural movement, support of unconstrained or less constrained movement, appropriate management of rates of change and transition, and combinations thereof.
[0102]Sole 150 and portions thereof (e.g., midsole 130 and outsole 140) may comprise material(s) for providing desired cushioning, ride, propulsion, support, and stability. Suitable materials for sole 150 (e.g., midsole 130 and/or outsole 140) include, but are not limited to, a foam, a rubber, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), polyether block amide (PEBA), expanded polyether block amide (ePEBA), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and a thermoplastic polyurethane (PU). In some embodiments, the foam may comprise, for example, an EVA based foam or a PU based foam and the foam may be an open-cell foam or a closed-cell foam. In some embodiments, midsole 130 and/or outsole 140 may comprise elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), foam-like plastics, gel-like plastics, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, midsole 130 and/or outsole 140 may comprise polyolefins, for example polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and/or polypropylene (PP).
[0103]The above-mentioned materials for sole 150 may be recycled materials, which could be for example reclaimed polymer material, e.g. reclaimed from an ocean, especially from maritime waste. Reclaimed polymer material could be any suitable plastic material, for example TPU, PEBA, PE, PS, PP etc. In some embodiments, more than 50%, or more than 90% reclaimed material may be used for midsole 130 and/or outsole 140.
[0104]In some embodiments, midsole 130 and/or outsole 140 may comprise a plurality of different materials (from different classes of materials or from the same class of materials with slightly different properties). In some embodiments, portions of sole 150 (e.g., midsole 130 and outsole 140) may comprise different materials to provide different characteristics to different portions of sole 150. In some embodiments, portions of sole 150 (e.g., midsole 130 and outsole 140) may comprise the same material, but with different material properties. In some embodiments, midsole 130 and outsole 140 may have different hardness characteristics. In some embodiments, the material density of midsole 130 and outsole 140 may be different. In some embodiments, the moduli of the materials used to make midsole 130 and outsole 140 may be different. As a non-limiting example, the material of outsole 140 may have a higher modulus than the material of midsole 130.
[0105]Sole 150 and portions thereof (e.g., midsole 130 and outsole 140) may be formed using an additive manufacturing process, including, but not limited to, selective laser sintering, selective laser melting, selective heat sintering, stereo lithography, fused deposition modeling etc., or 3D-printing in general. In some embodiments, midsole 130 and/or outsole 140 may be formed using an additive manufacturing process including a continuous liquid interface production process. For example, the continuous liquid interface production process described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,453,142, issued on Sep. 27, 2016, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. In some embodiments, midsole 130 and outsole 140 may be formed as a single piece via an additive manufacturing process. In such embodiments, midsole 130 and outsole 140 may be a single integrally formed piece.
[0106]In some embodiments, outsole 140 may be formed by injection molding, blow molding, compression molding, or rotational molding. In such embodiments, midsole 130 and outsole 140 may be discrete components that are formed separately and attached. In some embodiments, midsole 130 may be attached to outsole 140 via, for example, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, stitching, welding, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, midsole 130 may be attached to outsole 140 via an adhesive disposed between midsole 130 and outsole 140. Similarly, midsole 130 may be attached to upper 120 via, for example, but not limited to, adhesive bonding, stitching, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0107]FIGS. 3-7 show a midsole 300 manufactured by an additive manufacturing process according to some embodiments. Midsole 300 includes a forefoot end 302, a heel end 304, a medial side 306, a lateral side 308, a top side 310, and a bottom side 312. Midsole 300 may be defined, in whole or in part, by a three-dimensional mesh 320. In some embodiments, at least 80% or at least 90% of the volume of midsole 300 may be defined by three-dimensional mesh 320. In some embodiments, midsole 300 may include a rim 314 disposed around all or a portion of the perimeter of top side 310 of midsole 300. In some embodiments, rim 314 may be disposed around all or a portion of the perimeter of medial and lateral sides 306/308 of midsole 300. In embodiments including rim 314, rim 314 may be provide stability for the perimeter of midsole 300 and/or may facilitate attachment of midsole 300 to an upper (e.g., upper 120).
[0108]Three-dimensional mesh 320 includes a plurality of interconnected unit cells 322. The interconnected unit cells 322 include a plurality of struts 324 defining a three-dimensional shape of a respective unit cell 322. The interconnection (valence) between unit cells 322 may be defined by a plurality of nodes 326 at which one or more struts are connected. Nodes 326 may have a valence number defined by the number of struts 324 that are connected at that node 326. In some embodiments, nodes 326 may have a valence number in the range of 1 to 12.
[0109]Each unit cell 322 may have a base geometry defined by the struts 324 of the unit cell 322. As used herein “base geometry” means the base three-dimensional shape, connection, and arrangement of the struts 324 defining a unit cell 322. A base geometry is the three-dimensional shape, connection, and arrangement of unit cell struts 324 in an unwarped state (e.g., before a unit cell 322 is conformed to a warped cubic lattice). The base geometry of a unit cell 322 may be, but is not limited to, a dodecahedron (e.g., rhombic), a tetrahedron, an icosahedron, a cube, a cuboid, a prism, or a parallelepiped. In some embodiments, unit cells 322 may be constructed by assembling partial unit cells (e.g., partial unit cells 800 and 810). Unit cells 322 may be the same as or similar to unit cells 900 or 920 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.
[0110]Three-dimensional mesh 320 may define a volume of midsole 300. In other words, three-dimensional mesh 320 may define all, or at least a significant portion of (e.g., at least 90% or 80% of), the length, width, and height of midsole 300. In some embodiments, three-dimensional mesh 320 may include interconnected unit cells 322 organized in a warped lattice structure that defines a volume of midsole 300. In such embodiments, interconnected unit cells 322 may be constructed of partial unit cells (e.g., partial unit cells 800 and 810) assembled and arranged within lattice cells of warped lattice structure. In such embodiments, respective unit cells 322 may occupy a plurality of lattice cells in a warped lattice structure. In some embodiments, the warped lattice structure may be a warped cubic lattice structure. In some embodiments, in a warped cubic lattice structure, each unit cell 322 may be arranged in a lattice cell having a purely cubic or warped cubic shape. In some embodiments, in a warped cubic lattice structure, one or more partial unit cells forming unit cells 322 may be arranged in a lattice cell having a purely cubic or warped cubic shape. As discussed below in connection with FIGS. 13-15B, a warped lattice structure (e.g., a cubic warped lattice structure) is an invisible lattice structure used to arrange unit cells, or partial unit cells, and construct a three-dimensional mesh. In some embodiments, the warped lattice structure may be a warped tetrahedron lattice or a warped dodecahedron lattice in which unit cells, or partial unit cells, may be arranged.
[0111]A purely cubic shaped lattice cell is a three-dimensional lattice cell bound by six identical square faces joined along their edges. Three edges join at each corner to form vertexes of the purely cubic shaped lattice cell. A warped cubic shaped lattice cell is a three-dimensional lattice cell bound by six faces joined along their edges with at least one face being different from the others. Three edges join at each corner to form vertexes of the warped cubic shaped lattice. The side faces of a warped cubic shaped lattice cell need not have the same shape or area, and the side faces need not be squares.
[0112]Organizing unit cells 322 in a warped lattice structure may result in midsole 300 including only, or a significant portion of, complete unit cells. As used herein a “complete unit cell” means a unit cell that includes all the struts that define the unit cell's base geometry. A complete unit cell is not missing all or a portion of any strut that defines the unit cell's base geometry. In some embodiments, 90% or more of the unit cells 322 defining three-dimensional mesh 320 may be complete unit cells. Complete unit cells may facilitate manufacturing consistency and reproducibility because complete unit cells may behave more consistently than incomplete unit cells. Also, complete unit cells may be more durable than incomplete unit cells. Incomplete unit cells may be a by-product of post-formation processes such as cutting or trimming of unit cells.
[0113]Unit cells 322 may be arranged in a warped lattice structure including a plurality of warped lattice cells having different volumes and geometries. In some embodiments, a portion of a warped lattice structure may include unwrapped lattice cells (i.e. purely cubic lattice cells). In some embodiments, unit cells 322 may be arranged in a warped cubic lattice structure including a plurality of unwarped cubic lattice cells having different volumes and cubic geometries. The volume and geometry of the warped lattice cells, or unwarped lattice cells, may be based on a biometric data profile for an individual, or group of individuals. The warped lattice structure may define the plurality of nodes 326 at which one or more struts 324 are connected. The number and location of nodes 326, and the valence of nodes 326, may be based on a biometric data profile for an individual, or group of individuals.
[0114]In some embodiments, interconnected unit cells 322 may be arranged in a warped lattice structure that is warped in a longitudinal direction along the length of midsole 300 (i.e. between forefoot end 302 and heel end 304 of midsole 300). In some embodiments, interconnected unit cells 322 may be arranged in a warped lattice structure that is warped in a transverse direction along the width of midsole 300 (i.e., between medial side 306 and lateral side 308 of midsole 300). In some embodiments, interconnected unit cells 322 may be arranged in a warped lattice structure that is warped in a vertical direction along the height of midsole 300 (i.e., between top side 310 and bottom side 312 of midsole 300). In some embodiments, interconnected unit cells 322 may be arranged in a warped lattice structure that is warped in at least two of the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction. In some embodiments, interconnected unit cells 322 may be arranged in a warped lattice structure that is warped in the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction. A lattice structure that is warped in longitudinal, transverse, and/or vertical direction includes at least one lattice cell having a geometry warped in that direction (e.g., a side face warped in that direction).
[0115]In some embodiments, the valence number of nodes 326 in three-dimensional mesh 320 may vary. In some embodiments, the variation in the valence number of nodes may be based on a biometric data profile collected for an individual, or group of individuals. In some embodiments, the valence number of nodes 326 in three-dimensional mesh 320 may vary in a longitudinal direction along the length of midsole 300 between forefoot end 302 of midsole 300 and heel end 304 of midsole 300. In some embodiments, the valence number of nodes 326 may vary in a transverse direction along the width of midsole 300 between lateral side 308 of midsole 300 and medial side 306 of midsole 300. In some embodiments, the valence number of nodes 326 may vary in a vertical direction along the height of midsole 300 between top side 310 of midsole 300 and medial side 306 of midsole 300. The variation in the valence number of nodes 326 in the longitudinal, transverse, and/or vertical direction may be based on a biometric data profile collected for an individual, or group of individuals.
[0116]In some embodiments, the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in forefoot portion 110 of midsole 300 may be greater than the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in heel portion 114 of midsole 300. In such embodiments, forefoot portion 110 of midsole 300 may be stiffer than heel portion 114 and heel portion 114 of midsole 300 may provide a higher degree of cushioning. In some embodiments, the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in forefoot portion 110 of midsole 300 may be less than the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in heel portion 114 of midsole 300. In some embodiments, the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in midfoot portion 112 of midsole 300 may be less than the average value for the valence numbers of nodes in forefoot portion 110 and heel portion 114 of midsole 300. In such embodiments, midfoot portion 112 of midsole 300 may provide a higher degree of cushioning than forefoot portion 110 and heel portion 114.
[0117]In some embodiments, the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in forefoot portion 110 may be X, the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in midfoot portion 112 may be Y, and the average value for the valence numbers of nodes 326 in heel portion 114 may be Z, where X, Y, and Z have a value in the range from 2 to 12. In some embodiments, X may be greater than Y and Y may be greater than Z. In such embodiments, X may be in the range from 5 to 12, Y may be in the range from 4 to 8, and Z may be in the range from 3 to 7. In some embodiments, Z may be greater than Y and Y may be greater than X. In such embodiments, X may be in the range from 3 to 7, Y may be in the range from 4 to 8, and Z may be in the range from 5 to 12. In some embodiments, Y may be less than Z and X. In such embodiments, X may be in the range from 3 to 12, Y may be in the range from 2 to 7, and Z may be in the range from 3 to 8.
[0118]In some embodiments, the size of unit cells 322 may vary in three-dimensional mesh 320. In some embodiments, the size of unit cells 322 may vary based a biometric data profile for an individual, or group of individuals. In some embodiments, the size of unit cells 322 may vary based on the volume of the lattice cell (e.g., warped cubic lattice cell) in which a unit cell 322 is positioned. In some embodiments, the volume of lattice cells may be based on a biometric data profile for an individ