Abstract: A sports shoe or boot has a sole of flexible plastic material, with gripping projections or studs of a wear-resistant material thereon; disposed between the sole and a bearing surface on the projection is a compressible ring member, to produce a cushioning effect.

Abstract: A football boot is provided on its upper portion with strips of leather or like material which extend transversely over the instep of the boot thereby to enhance the frictional contact with a ball to be controlled with the foot. The strips are connected to the boot in such a way that at least the forward edges of the strips can lift away from the upper portion of the boot.

Abstract: The invention relates to an outsole for sports shoes, particularly for shoes used for long-distance running on hard tracks. The outsole consists of a soft elastically flexible material, preferably plastics material, and is thickened rearwardly in wedge formation. In the region of the heel tread surface of the outsole, there is provided a recess which is open towards both side edges of the sole and in which a resilient elongate supporting member is fittingly insertable. Preferably a plurality of supporting members are inserted in corresponding recesses adjacent one another. The supporting members are replaceable and permit the effective sole flexibility in the region of the heel tread surface to be adapted to the individual requirements of the runner and the track.

Abstract: The invention is with respect to a gripping element for athletic and sporting footwear, as for example for football footwear. The gripping element takes the form of a bell, which is made of an elastically yielding material so that the downwardly facing edge of the gripping element may be bent when the element is forced against the ground by the weight of the user. For this reason, the gripping element is such that it may be used not only on soft, but furthermore on hard, as for example frozen ground. More specially, the gripping element may be made part of a compound structure, with a conventional cleat within it, such a structure having better gripping powers, more specially in the case of soft, sponge-like ground.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cross country ski boot comprising a front sole extension by which it is fixed in a ski binding. At its front edge, the front sole extension comprises at least one forwardly open recess of which the lateral flanks come to lie closely against a supporting element of the ski binding upstanding substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski. This provides additional retention of the ski boot in the ski binding helping to avoid play and resultant wobbling of the sole extension in the ski binding.

Abstract: In a outsole for sports shoes, each of a multiplicity of tapered anti-slip cleats is provided over its periphery with a plurality of spaced substantially parallel longitudinal ribs. The blunt tread face of each cleat may have an oblique portion, the oblique portions of at least most of the cleats between the heel and shank being inclined forwardly and those of at least most of the cleats between the toe and shank being inclined rearwardly.

Abstract: A roller skate in which plate-like members having means securable to the foot of a wearer, are longitudinally slidable along a guide rail. The mounting members for the roller pairs are also longitudinally slidable in a recess in the bottom of the guide rail and the plate-like members and the roller mounting members are securable at a desired position along the guide rail. The plate of an ice skate may alternatively be inserted in the recess in the guide rail.