Abstract: The invention relates to footwear comprising a shank and a sole construction having an outsole. The shank is constructed with an upper material and with a water-tight functional layer which at least partially lines the upper material on the inner side thereof. In addition, the shank comprises a shank end area which is situated on the side of the sole and which has an upper material end area and a functional layer end area. The functional layer end area comprises an area which requires sealing, and the outsole is glued to the shank end area by means of an outsole adhesive situated on said outsole. The outsole adhesive is formed by a reactive hot-melt adhesive at least in one outsole partial area located opposite the area of the functional end area which requires sealing. Said hot-melt adhesive leads to water impermeability when complete reacted.

Abstract: A footwear construction including an articulated welt. The footwear includes an upper and an outsole secured together with a welt in the forward portion of the footwear. The welt terminates short of the heel region of the footwear. In one embodiment, the outsole in the heel region is secured to a heel cradle which is further secured the upper. The footwear provides the durability of a welt construction in the forward portion of the shoe and the comfort and cushion of an athletic construction in the heel region of the shoe. A method for constructing the footwear includes securing an outsole to an upper with a welt in a forefoot and/or arch region of the shoe but not the heel region of the shoe. Optionally, a heel cradle is disposed in the heel region of the shoe and the outsole is secured to the heel cradle and/or upper in the heel region.

Abstract: In a cleat connection assembly for replaceable cleats used on athletic shoes, a male engagement member is provided in the shoe-mounted connector element, and a recess in the cleat serves as a female connector element or receptacle for the male member. The male member projecting beyond the shoe sole is made of plastic material and is configured with a broad load bearing distal end to avoid damage to vulnerable surfaces engaged by that member when the cleat is removed from the shoe.

Abstract: An ice crampon for mountain climbing comprising a reinforcement 12B with a metal reinforcement, fitted with anchoring teeth 14, and a fastening device 30 comprising a lateral operating lever 32 forming a toggle joint for locking or unlocking the heel of the shoe along the pivoting direction of the operating lever 32.

Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear and a method for manufacturing the chamber are disclosed. The chamber may be incorporated into a sole structure of the footwear and includes a central area and a plurality of lobes extending outward from the central area. The lobes are in fluid communication with the central area and are formed from a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall. The sidewall joins with the first surface with the second surface to seal the fluid within the chamber, but no internal connections are generally utilized to join interior portions of the first surface with interior portions of the second surface. The fluid within the chamber may be air at a pressure that is approximately equal to an ambient pressure.

Abstract: A shoe including a plate, an arch bridge integral with the plate, and at least one inflated cushion having an exterior sidewall that is curved along the majority of the height of the cushion. In another embodiment, the shoe includes a plate and at least one inflated cushion spaced apart from the plate during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer, during the entire running gait cycle of the wearer, when the shoe is in an unloaded state and at all other times.

Abstract: A shoe including a plate capable of being deflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe, an arch bridge integral with the plate, and a rear sole having an outsole layer with an interior sidewall visible from beneath the shoe that connects an upper surface of the outsole layer with a lower surface of the outsole layer.

Abstract: A boot provided with a tongue, the tongue having a lower portion and an upper portion joined by an intermediary portion. The tongue has a main flexible panel to which a semi-rigid reinforcement is affixed, the reinforcement having an elongated body that extends substantially along a longitudinal median line and over the length of the panel, the reinforcement having at least one lateral extension, each extension originating from the elongated body in the area of the lower and/or upper portion, and extending at least partially up to the area of the intermediary portion.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and a bladder which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces. The bladder comprising sheets of polyurethane attached together via welding. The bladder includes a medial compartment and a lateral compartment attached to each other under the foot of the wearer. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air to the chambers. The inflation mechanism is located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer.

Abstract: Scrap material having both a thermoplastic polyurethane and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol is recycled by blending the scrap material into a thermoplastic polyurethane composition and preparing a barrier membrane from the blended material. The virgin thermoplastic polyurethane and the thermoplastic polyurethane of the scrap material are polymerized using at least about 60 percent by weight, based on the weight of the polyurethane produced, of a polyester diol having a weight average molecular weight of at least about 500 and having from four to five carbon atoms between substantially all of the ester [—O—C(?O)—] groups. The blend material containing the virgin thermoplastic urethane and the scrap material is formed into a layer of a barrier membrane. The resulting membrane has a haze of no more than about 12%.

Abstract: A snowboard boot strap anchor is described. The strap anchor includes a raised portion having at least three mounting locations, and a thin base portion associated with the raised portion for attachment to an upper portion of the snowboard boot. Also described is a snowboard boot strap mounting system. The system includes a first strap anchor having a raised portion containing at least three mounting locations, the strap anchor including a base portion for attachment to the snowboard boot upper, an ankle strap arrangement having a first distal end for attachment to the first strap anchor, and a fastener device for connecting the first distal end of the ankle strap arrangement to the first strap anchor by mating with a selected mounting location.

Abstract: A footwear construction comprising a flexible and resilient outsole having a front portion with a plurality of depending moguls on the bottom surface thereof. A midsole is positioned over the outsole and has a front portion with a plurality of spaced holes therethrough which are substantially vertically aligned with some or all of the moguls to enable air flow through the midsole when the moguls are deformed by the weight and walking action of the wearer. A footbed is positioned over the midsole and comprises a soft flexible and resilient body member having a plurality of spaced, raised cushioning elements on the upper surface thereof. The footbed has a front portion with a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough which are substantially vertically aligned with some or all of the holes in the midsole to enable air flow through the body member. An upper extends over the footbed and midsole, and is secured to the outsole.

Abstract: An inflatable inner sole for footwear has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that preferably includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. This embodiment has an additional upper chamber formed by heat sealing (welding) an outer layer of thermoplastic on top of an inflatable enclosure. The outer layer is preferably bonded only to the edges of the inflatable enclosures to permit free air/fluid flow from pressure points area to the area of least resistance and greatest need. Air pressure of the lower chamber can be adjusted according to a wearer's weight and activities. The upper chamber also has a built-in air pump and relief valve, preferably with lesser air pressure that can be adjusted according to the wearers foot problems or for final comfort tuning. The outer layer may be a laminated material of thermoplastic film, foam and fabric.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a sandal or shoe having an outsole with a socklining on top of and in direct contact with the outsole for directly contacting a user's foot and a cushion having a thickness between approximately ? and 1½ inches, where the cushion is placed between said outsole and said socklining. The sandal or shoe also includes at least one material partially covering a user's foot extending across the socklining for holding the sandal onto a user's foot and a securing mechanism extending from the at least one material through the socklining to the outsole for securing the socklining directly to the outsole.

Abstract: A method of constructing a footwear includes the following features. An outsole having a backpart and a forepart is provided. The forepart has a standing lip around the periphery of the forepart. An upper is provided, which together with the outsole defines a volume for receiving a wearer's foot. The upper is turned inside out and then the upper is stitched to the lip of the forepart. The upper stitched to the forepart is then turned inside in. A back portion of the upper is lasted. The backpart is then secured to the lasted back portion of the upper.

Abstract: The thermal foot cover is an article of footwear to be worn when the wearer's foot is subjected to cold temperatures. The thermal foot cover has an upper cover portion attached to a bottom panel to define a cavity for insertion of a wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or a wearer's foot. The upper cover portion and the bottom panel are made from a material comprising an outer covering, a radiant barrier and a inner covering where the radiant barrier is sandwiched between the outer cover and the inner cover. The radiant barrier is the insulation system of the thermal foot cover, which reflects the wearer's body heat back inside the footwear and keeps the wearer's feet warm. The thermal foot cover is flexible, lightweight and readily washable due to the use of the radiant barrier as the insulation system.

Abstract: A padded shoe includes a flexible, resilient sole having a substantially outer surface. A shoe upper is adjoined to the sole, the shoe upper having closed-cell foam padding disposed therein. The shoe upper includes a padded tongue including an inner tongue portion and an outer padded tongue portion. Fastening structure retains the shoe on the foot of a wearer. Engagement structure is included for securing the outer padded tongue to cover the inner tongue portion. The outer padded tongue portion substantially covers the engagement structure. The wearer can strike a target with the shoe, and the target and the wearer are protected from injury caused by direct impact with the fastening structure and the engagement structure.

Abstract: A shoe including a plate capable of being deflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe, an arch bridge integral with the plate, and a rear sole having a bottom surface with a ground-engaging portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a shoe having an outsole with a bottom surface for contacting the ground, and where the bottom surface has a notch adapted to receive a stitch and hinder premature wear of the stitch. A socklining is also provided on top of and in direct contact with the outsole for directly contacting a user's foot. Moreover, a cushion is placed between the outsole and socklining and a securing mechanism extends from the socklining to the notch, without extending through the bottom surface, for securing the socklining directly to the outsole.

Abstract: A shoe including a plate capable of being deflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe, an arch bridge integral with the plate and a substantially air-tight enclosure having at least two portions that converge toward each other relative to a vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure to form an apex.