Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a foot orthotic including an orthotic base mechanism for underlying a sole of a foot, a first cushioning mechanism, and a second cushioning mechanism. The orthotic base mechanism has a proximal end for underlying a heel of the foot and a distal end for underlying the forefront of the foot. The first cushioning mechanism is operatively connected to the orthotic base mechanism at the proximal end, while the second cushioning mechanism is operatively connected to the distal end of the orthotic base mechanism. Additionally, there is provided a foot orthotic including a first cushioning mechanism and a second cushioning mechanism that are independent of each other. The present invention additionally provides for a method of making the foot orthotic and method of using the foot orthotic disclosed herein.

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 present invention provides an athletic shoe offering an easily adjustable support for the wearer's ankle, a means for the wearer to quickly put on and remove the shoe, protection to the wearer's toes and forefoot from impacts to the upper surface of the shoe, and a unique and attractive appearance. The shoe may be constructed from four basic components: a resilient sole, an ankle surrounding section, an instep enclosing section, and a toe section. The ankle surrounding section begins at the after end of the sole portion and extends forward to a point between the forward end and the after end defining an opening through which a wearer's foot is passed. The toe section extends from the forward end of the sole portion backward and runs from the inner edge to the outer edge of the sole portion. The wearer's toes are inserted into the cavity defined by the toe section. The instep enclosing section extends from the toe section to the ankle surrounding section.

Abstract: Injection molded welted construction footwear according to the present invention includes a perforated midsole welted to an upper. The perforated midsole permits molten outer sole material to flow through the midsole during the molding process and fill the space between the insole and the midsole and thus sandwich the midsole. This technique forms outer soles to be durably and flexibly attached to the upper without use of traditional adhesives.

Abstract: The invention is an article of footwear with a sole that incorporates a lattice structure. The lattice structure includes a plurality of connectors joined by a plurality of masses and may be configured to attenuate and distribute ground reaction forces in a specific manner. In addition, the connectors and masses may be configured to vibrate at a specific frequency or exclude vibrations at another frequency.

Abstract: A shoe includes an upper with a first notched edge, an inner lining disposed inside the upper and having a second notched edge in alignment with the first notched edge, and a sock-like waterproof lining made of a waterproof breathable membrane and disposed between the upper and the inner lining. The waterproof lining has a third notched edge in alignment with the first notched edge. An elastic part spans the first, second and third notched edges, and has an outer layer and an inner layer both of which are elastic. The inner layer has a peripheral edge attached to the second notched edge to form an inner seam. The outer layer has a peripheral edge attached to the first notched edge to form an outer seam. The third notched edge is attached to one of the first and second notched edges along one of the inner and outer seams.

Abstract: A shock absorption and energy return assembly for increasing the stability, shock absorption and energy return capabilities of a shoe. The assembly generally includes lower and upper guide members having a plurality of spring retainers, a plurality of springs positioned within the spring retainers, and a resilient connecting member which fixedly attaches the lower guide member to the upper guide member and serves to limit the separation between the guide members, preventing disengagement of the springs from within the guide members while simultaneously providing a means of allowing the springs to compress below their uncompressed height when a force is applied on the assembly. Alternatively, the assembly could be surrounded by a sealed, transparent encasement, which in one embodiment would comprise a lower portion and an upper portion surrounding the lower guide member and the upper guide member, and a plurality of lower extrusions and upper extrusions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sole with at least one receptacle and at least one stud, which can be releasably mounted within the receptacle by inserting a fastening projection of the stud into the receptacle. The fastening projection includes a first locking member, and the receptacle includes a flexible wall having a second locking member. The flexible wall is deflected when the fastening projection is inserted into the receptacle until the first and the second locking members engage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and shoe for determining the fit of a shoe from outside the shoe wherein the shoe has an outsole with reference marks such that when the bottom of a person's foot is placed against the outsole, the reference marks can be used to determine the proper fit of the shoe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a belt fastening means that can improve fittability of a shoe and that can equally tighten an upper of the shoe to a wearer's foot without hindering the movement of the foot. A belt fastening means for a shoe includes a first belt member disposed mainly on a lateral side portion of an upper and a second belt member disposed mainly on a medial side portion of the upper. The first and second belt members are located at nearly symmetrical positions with respect to an opening portion. A proximal end portion of the first belt member is connected to a sole on the lateral side and a distal end portion thereof extends over the opening portion. The first belt member extends in a direction nearly perpendicular to a ridge line of an instep portion as viewed from a lateral side of the shoe. A proximal end portion of the second belt member is connected to the sole on the medial side and a distal end portion thereof extends over the opening portion.

Abstract: A traction system for use on conventional flexible footwear is provided that includes both toe and heel sections that are independently attached to a wearer's footwear and are connected with a flexible linkage. The flexible linkage allows the traction system to move with the normal movement of the flexible footwear so as to provide a natural walking and running movement. The traction system provides numerous benefits over previously available crampon and other spiked traction systems, including flexibility, light weight, practical usability with a wide variety of footwear types—including highly flexible footwear such as running shoes, compactability, and ready adjustability between different sizes and types of footwear.

Abstract: A stress reduction kit includes a display package holding a pair of perforated reflex pin holders each with a printed foot reflexology chart integrally formed thereon. To facilitate creating pressure points on the feet of a user, the stress reduction kit also includes a bag of reflex pins, where each pin is dimensioned to be received in a friction tight fit into any one of the perforations disposed in the reflex pin holders and a set of instructions that guide a user on the placement of individual ones of the reflex pins in respective ones of the reflex pin holders. In accordance with the method of the present invention, when the user inserts the reflex pins in selected ones of the perforations and places the reflex pin holders within his or her shoes, desired body responses are achieved relative to the pressure points created by the pins against the feet of the user.

Abstract: A double-layer sandal includes a sandal sole, a sandal top, a basic layer, a first netted layer and a second netted layer. The first netted layer is combined on the sandal sole, made of much plastic elastic thread interwoven together forming lots of solid and irregular rings, with numerous gaps formed among the elastic thread. The second netted layer combined on the first netted layer is made of a great deal of plastic elastic thread interwoven forming a great many solid and irregular rings, and having numerous gaps formed among the elastic rayon. The second netted layer has a smaller thickness, greater density and smaller gaps than the first netted layer. The first netted layer has great elasticity and good effect of ventilation and water penetration, and the second netted layer has a flat surface.

Abstract: A shoe sole particularly for athletic footwear for supporting the foot of an intended wearer having multiple rounded portions formed by midsole component as viewed in a frontal plane of the sole when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. The rounded portions approximate the structure of and support provided by features of the human foot. The rounded portions are located proximate to important structural support areas of an intended wearer's foot on either or both sides of the shoe sole or the middle portion of the shoe sole, or at various combinations of these locations. The midsole component also includes an indentation in the sole midtarsal portion, as viewed in a sagittal plane, and midsole component extends into a sidemost section of the solve and above a lowermost point of the midsole component, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

Abstract: A pneumatic inflation device disposed within the sole of a shoe and comprising a pump which is entirely within the sole, a pump actuator which is entirely within the sole when not in use, and an inflatable bladder which is entirely within the sole and is operatively connected to the pump. Such a device can include a mechanism to lock the pump actuator within the sole such that the mechanism's cap is flush with the outer wall of the sole and finger-operable to allow the shoe-wearer to easily operate the inflation device.

Abstract: There are provided a shoe midsole which is light in weight, long life, excellently abrasion resistant, sufficiently air-permeable and well-workable, and shoes using same. The shoe midsole in the form of footprint plate comprising a light metallic skeleton in the form of footprint plate and RB ceramics or CRB ceramics molded around the skeleton.

Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe body, an ozonizer, an ozone discharge pipe, and an air supply unit. The shoe body includes a sole unit connected to an upper and formed with a cavity for receiving the ozonizer. The ozone discharge pipe is connected to the ozonizer, and is in fluid communication with an interior space in the upper. The air supply unit is connected to the ozonizer to supply air for generating ozone and to subsequently force the ozone to flow from the cavity into the interior space via the ozone discharge pipe.

Abstract: A snowshoe having a tubular frame supporting a flexible deck has a molded tail piece connecting the tail ends of the tubular frame. The tail piece has two dowel members which are angled to form a rear apex, such that the tail ends of the tubular frame extend over the dowel members for secure connection. In addition, the molded tail piece has a connecting bracket extending forwardly, with a wide slot in which the tail of the stretched membrane decking is secured. In this way a rear support and connection point for the decking is provided by the tube end connector, while also providing tension on the tail piece retaining it in place without the need for fasteners.

Abstract: Footwear (1) to protect a wearer from landmines including a substantialy non-deformable metal sheet (5) below the foot of the wearer shaped and positioned to effect a redirection of any up-welling result of an exploding landmine to a side of the footwear (1) when being worn. The footwear (1) also including an outer hard shell (2) to deflect and direct any initial shock and pressure waves past the body elements of the wearer, the footwear (1) being pivotally connected to an upper protective surround (13).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe sole, in particular for a sports shoe, where the sole includes a cartridge cushioning system that includes a load distribution plate arranged in a heel region of the shoe sole, at least one cushioning element for determining the cushioning properties of the shoe sole during the first ground contact with the heel, and at least one guidance element to guide the foot into a neutral position after the first ground contact.