Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an orthotic footbed assembly includes a three-dimensional footbed that closely approximates a size and configuration of a particular foot and at least one orthotic feature additively coupled to the three-dimensional footbed. In at least some other embodiments, a method of making the orthotic footbed assembly includes direct printing of orthotic features onto a 3-D footbed. Another method includes indirect printing of orthotic features and applying these features onto to a 3-D footbed. And yet another method includes direct printing of orthotic features onto a 2-D blank footbed and then conducting a three-dimensional forming operation to make the orthotic footbed assembly.

Abstract: Piloted electromagnetic brake for controlling the tension of the weft threads in weaving machines, in particular of a weft thread which has a high number of knots, of the type including a pair of opposite elastic thin plates between which the weft thread runs, an operated thin plate being adjusted in position by an electromagnetically controlled operating piston, and a resisting thin plate being resistant against an elastic contrast unit, in order to control the intensity of the contrast force between the pair of thin plates. The resisting thin plate and the operated thin plate have fulcrum points in correspondence of a central portion thereof, so as to be able to freely oscillate in a plane containing the weft thread, during the passage of a knot between them, and the fulcrum points are offset by a set length along the weft thread running direction.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member. The sole member can include a column of apertures that are formed along the outer surface of the sole member.

Abstract: An article of footwear may comprise an upper and a closure system. The closure system may include a strap, a tensioning cable, and a plurality of pulleys. The strap may have a fixed end fixed relative to the upper, a free end selectively securable to the upper in a fastened position, and an elastic portion between the fixed end and the free end. The closure system may include a tensioning cable anchored to the upper and secured to the strap. The closure system may also include a plurality of pulleys anchored to the upper and engaging the tensioning cable. The tensioning cable may be configured to tighten against the upper when the elastic portion of the strap stretches as the free end of the strap is pulled.

Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer and a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper, the sole structure including a ground-contacting outer member and a removable midsole. The footwear may further include a motorized tensioning system including a power source, a control unit, a tensile member, and a motorized tightening device, the motorized tightening device being attached to an outer surface of the upper, and the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. In addition, the power source and the control unit of the tensioning system may be configured to be removably disposed in the removable midsole.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to secure a primary body to a shoe. Exemplary implementations may include an apparatus with one or more connectors to be engaged with one or more other connectors. The connectors of the apparatus may be engaged with the primary body eyelets and the shoelace eyelets in order to secure the primary body to the exterior side of the shoe.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that includes a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one side wall extending upward from the foot-facing surface. The at least one side wall has a first notch in an upper periphery of the side wall in the forefoot portion. The first notch is configured to be open when the forefoot portion of the sole plate is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range and closed when the forefoot portion of the sole plate is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range greater than the first portion.

Abstract: A shoe embryo tailored from a tubular fabric is provided. The shoe embryo includes a sole portion, a toe cap portion located at one end of the sole portion, a heel portion located at the other end of the sole portion, and an ankle portion located above the sole portion and near the heel portion. The ankle portion includes an ankle opening overlock line formed by trimming the tubular fabric and overlocking. The heel portion includes a heel overlock line formed by trimming the tubular fabric and overlocking, and a sole overlock line formed by folding below the heel overlock line and overlocking. The toe cap portion includes a toe cap overlock line formed by trimming the tubular fabric and overlocking.

Abstract: A method for producing antibacterial shock absorbing shoes is provided. The method includes the following steps of: designing a shoe tree and a shoe style, and selecting a material; attaching paper to an outside of the shoe tree to make a paper pattern; manufacturing a bottom pad, a middle pad and a foot pad, and punching a circular hole in the middle pad; soaking the leather pad with an antibacterial agent, punching semi-spherical protrusions and a connecting groove on the leather pad, forming a circular pinhole in a top end of the semi-spherical protrusion, pasting the leather pad on the middle pad with a glue and cutting the leather pad to manufacture a shock absorbing massage pad; wrapping the shoes, and shaping; and placing the shock absorbing massage pads and the foot pads into the shoes. The shoes manufactured have good breathability, shock absorbing property and antibacterial property.

Abstract: A shoe is provided with a first forming portion provided on a medial side and a second forming portion provided on a lateral side across a central opening formed forward from a foot insertion portion of an upper on each of which a string passing portion is formed; a first support member a tip end of which is fixed to the second forming portion, including a first string passing structure provided at the tip end, and extending downward so as to abut a medial side of a foot; a second support member a tip end of which is fixed to the first forming portion, including a second string passing structure provided at the tip end, and extending downward so as to abut a lateral side of the foot; and a shoelace which passes through the string passing portion and continuously passes through the first and second string passing structures.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to portions of an article of footwear formed from an extruded member. In certain embodiments, a sole or portion of a sole can be formed from one or more extruded members. In certain embodiments, the extruded member can be a single, continuous piece of solid material. In certain embodiments, a sole for an article of footwear can be fashioned from an extruded member formed in a controlled geometric pattern. In certain embodiments, the sole can include one or more layers.

Abstract: Designs and compositions of insoles for footwear are described herein. The insoles may be customized for a given foot. In some examples, the insole (100) includes a base comprising a variable thickness component (205), a directional stiffness component, a stability component, and a reinforcement component. The base may be a single composition that is manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a stowable garment system that allows for quick deployment and donning of an upper-body garment that is stowed within a pouch located on the front of a belt structure configured to encircle the waist of a wearer. The garment comprises at least a front section and a back section, where a portion of the front section is attached to the pouch. The garment further comprises a first tab extending from a bottom margin at a first side of the back section and a second tab extending from the bottom margin at a second opposite side of the back section. When stowed within the pouch, the tabs extend through one or more openings in the pouch. The wearer may exert tension on the tabs to actuate a quick-release mechanism causing the pouch to open, and enabling the garment to be deployed and donned.

Abstract: A shoe sole comprises a first array of interconnected void cells that is oriented adjacent to a second opposing array of interconnected void cells, wherein the second opposing array of interconnected void cells is geometrically different from the first array of void cells and includes at least one void cell with an asymmetrical perimeter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sock for preventing ankle injury of a subject, comprising a sock body which includes a leg section and a foot section, wherein the leg section comprises a fixation band comprising a first zone of high compression, configured to contour the transversal leg subject body, wherein the foot section comprises a second zone of high compression positioned to match the back of the ankle of the subject and configured to minimize subject adduction/abduct ion movements; a third zone of high compression that bounds to the subject leg section and foot section with a X-shape that begins in the fixation band and contours the plant of the foot section and the upper part of the foot section, configured to restrict the movement of subject plantar flexion, namely eversion/inversion movements, wherein the first zone and the second zone of high compression are bound by a vertical band, wherein such vertical band accompanies laterally the peroneal alignment path of the subject ending in the fixat

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a chamber that encloses a pressurized fluid. The chamber includes subchambers laterally extending in a medial to lateral direction of the bladder. A bottom surface of the chamber may include at least one bond that laterally extends across the bottom surface of the chamber from one side edge to another side edge of the chamber in the medial to lateral direction. The bond may cooperate with an indentation in the bottom surface that separates one subchamber from an adjacent subchamber. A diameter of the subchambers may decrease in a direction from a heel region of the bladder to a forefoot region of the chamber.

Abstract: An assistive device for applying and removing a protective shoe cover from a shoe of a user includes a base, a shoe cover application mechanism supported by the base and configured to releasably receive and retain a protective shoe cover in an expanded state for applying the expanded protective shoe cover to a shoe, and a shoe cover removal mechanism supported by the base and configured to releasably grip a portion of a protective shoe cover fitted on a shoe for removing the protective shoe cover from the shoe. The assistive device may be stored in a device holder mountable to a vertical support surface. A protective shoe cover includes a non-rigid body, an elastic portion, and at least one device engagement element on the non-rigid body and configured to releasably engage an assistive device for at least one of applying the protective shoe cover to a shoe or removing the protective shoe cover from a shoe.

Abstract: Improved footwear is disclosed, including an improved foot gripping member and footwear having a resilient and angled or curved sole. The improvements are particularly well adapted for footwear made for beach, street, home, sports, or general casual wear. The various features of the disclosed footwear may be utilized alone, or in combination with each other, in order to improve the comfort and improve the attachment to the footwear to the foot.

Abstract: An article having a panel and a trim piece. The panel may have at least a first panel edge, an outer surface, and a plurality of integrally-formed flaps that extend from the outer surface. The trim piece may be affixed to the panel proximate the first panel edge and may secure an end portion of at least one of the plurality of integrally-formed flaps between the trim piece and the outer surface of the panel. A plurality of panels may form, or be secured to, a garment in different orientations. Each of the plurality of panels may be separated by one or more trim pieces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”) infused mesh material that is molded to form at least a portion of a shoe. The TPU infused mesh may be formed as an upper, a portion of sole or other components of a shoe. The TPU infused mesh is formed, in an exemplary embodiment, through the application of liquid TPU to a surface of a spacer mesh. The liquid TPU infused spacer mesh is then cured, cut to a pattern, and heat molded to form a desired portion of the shoe. The heat molded TPU mesh is coupled to other portions of the shoe (e.g., sole) to form an article footwear in an exemplary embodiment.