Abstract: A footwear assembly has a sole assembly with an insole board having a peripheral edge, a heel portion, a forefoot portion, and an arch portion. The insole board has a lateral side, a medial side, a top surface, and a bottom surface facing away from the top surface. The footwear assembly has an upper with a lower side portion having a lateral forefoot flange, a lateral arch flange, a lateral heel flange, a medial forefoot flange, a medial arch flange, and a medial heel flange. The lateral forefoot flange is stitched to the top surface of the insole board along the forefoot portion, and the lateral arch flange and the lateral heel flange wrap around the peripheral edge along the insole board's lateral side and are attached to the bottom surface at the arch portion and heel portion without being stitched to the insole board's top surface.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: Traction enhancing devices for footwear assemblies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a footwear assembly includes a footwear product with an outsole that has one or more embedded traction enhancing devices. Each traction enhancing device can be a stud that is at least partially embedded in the carrier portion of the outsole and that partially projects from the carrier portion. Each stud can be configured to reduce or eliminate relative movement between the stud and the carrier portion to prevent the stud from loosening or falling out. For example, each stud can include a shaft having an engaging surface, such as a threaded, ribbed, or textured surface, that engages the carrier portion. Each stud can also include a portion having an enlarged surface area, such as an anchor or head, embedded in the carrier portion to improve retention of the stud in the carrier portion.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A footwear assembly comprising an upper connected to a sole assembly, the sole assembly having a midsole fixed to a bottom portion of the upper, the midsole being fixed to an outsole, wherein the midsole is sandwiched between the outsole and the upper, the upper having ankle, vamp, and heel portions defined by a plurality of interconnected panels, a top of the ankle portion defining an opening to an interior area, and a lower part of the ankle portion being connected to the vamp and heel portions; the vamp portion having a waterproof vamp panel securely connected along a bottom edge to the the sole assembly, a top edge portion being connected to one or more reinforcement panels, the vamp panel being a waterproof, co-molded, heat-embossed laminate structure comprising an inner open-cell foam layer sandwiched between inner and outer surface layers and of DWR coated fabric material, wherein the inner surface layer faces inwardly toward the interior area, and the outer surface layer is opposite the inner surface

Abstract: A footwear assembly having a dual density outsole with lugs and non-retractable studs in the lugs. Peripheral lugs are spaced apart from the outsole's longitudinal axis and central lugs are disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis between the peripheral lugs. The peripheral lugs are taller than the central lugs and are made of a denser rubber. The studs embedded in the lugs with a shaft and tip portion exposed. The peripheral lugs having recessed flex grooves circular recesses coaxially aligned with the studs.

Abstract: A footwear system includes a shoe and a footbed. The shoe includes a sole assembly, an upper coupled to the sole assembly, and an interior space that is defined by the sole assembly and the upper. The footbed is movable with respect to the shoe between first and second arrangements. The first arrangement includes the footbed disposed in the interior space and the second arrangement includes the footbed disposed out of the interior space. The footbed includes a flexible layer that has first and second surfaces, and a puncture resistant layer that is coupled to the second surface of the flexible layer. The puncture resistant layer is disposed proximate to the sole assembly in the first arrangement.