Article of footwear incorporating foam-filled elements and methods for manufacturing the foam-filled elements

Abstract

An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a plurality of support elements, and each of the support elements include a shell and a core. The shell defines an interior void and is formed from a polymer material that extends around substantially all of the void. The core has a shape of the void and is located within the void, with at least a portion of the core being a polymer foam material. The polymer foam material of at least two of the support elements may have different densities.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a shell including a first support element defining a first cavity and a second support element defining a second cavity;   a first foam material disposed in the first cavity and including a first volume; and   a second foam material disposed in the second cavity and including a second volume greater than the first volume.   
     
     
         22 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first cavity is spaced apart from the second cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first cavity is fluidly isolated from the second cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first foam material and the second foam material are formed from a polymer foam material. 
     
     
         25 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first foam material is located in a heel region of the sole structure and the second foam material is located in one of a midfoot region of the sole structure and a forefoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         26 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first foam material is located at a medial side of the sole structure and the second foam material is located at a lateral side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         27 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first foam material and the second foam material is in particulate form when deposited into the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively. 
     
     
         28 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein the shell is formed from a polymer material. 
     
     
         29 . The sole structure of  claim 21 , wherein one of the first foam material and the second foam material substantially fills the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively. 
     
     
         30 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         31 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a shell including a first support element defining a first cavity and a second support element defining a second cavity;   a first foam material disposed in the first cavity and including a first density; and   a second foam material disposed in the second cavity and including a second density greater than the first density.   
     
     
         32 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein the first cavity is spaced apart from the second cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein the first cavity is fluidly isolated from the second cavity. 
     
     
         34 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein the first foam material and the second foam material are formed from a polymer foam material. 
     
     
         35 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein the first foam material is located in a heel region of the sole structure and the second foam material is located in one of a midfoot region of the sole structure and a forefoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         36 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein the first foam material is located at a medial side of the sole structure and the second foam material is located at a lateral side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         37 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the first foam material and the second foam material is in particulate form when deposited into the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively. 
     
     
         38 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein the shell is formed from a polymer material. 
     
     
         39 . The sole structure of  claim 31 , wherein one of the first foam material and the second foam material substantially fills the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively. 
     
     
         40 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 31 .