Abstract: An article of footwear provided with snap-fit replaceable ground-engaging members, particularly snap-fit tips, and a kit and method for altering ground-engaging characteristics of an article of footwear such as an athletic shoe. An article of footwear according to the present invention includes a sole (and/or a footplate) having at least one ground-engaging member in snap-fit engagement therewith. In particular, the ground-engaging member is engageable under the application of a non-rotational force (especially a manual force). According to one aspect of the present invention, a clearly discernible feedback (especially an audible feedback, such as a click or a snapping sound) is provided to clearly indicate engagement between the ground-engaging member and the sole.

Abstract: Described are shoes, orthodic appliances, and anatomic braces containing superelastic support members for enhanced performance. The superelastic supports provide dynamic response to deflection. As such, the superelastic supports incorporated in the soles of shoes enhance walking, running, jumping, kicking, or other motion involving the foot. The superelastic supports may be incorporated in the body of shoes to reinforce the ankle joint. The embodiments of the invention also provide superelastic supports in braces to reinforce or stabilize the knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, shoulders, back, neck, hips, or other anatomy commonly associated with a degree of twisting, rotation, bending, or other desired motion. The braces also intensify the motion of anatomic structures, apply a specific resistance at the joint to strengthen the muscles during training or rehabilitation, and/or immobilize or stabilize joints, bones, or other anatomic structures during healing of an injury.

Abstract: A shoe has an ergonomic foot pad disposed inside a cavity formed at an upper side of an outsole and connected to a bottom margin of an upper. The foot pad has a heel part which has a concave upper surface conforming to the contour of the bottom of the wearer's heel, and an upward flange extending along the periphery of the heel part. The thickness of the heel part decreases from the upward flange toward a mid part of the heel part.

Abstract: Disclosed are unidirectional support devices and articles incorporating such devices. The devices are substantially flexible in one direction while substantially rigid in an opposing direction. The devices can be manufactured in essentially any shape or size and can be incorporated into a variety of articles of sports equipment, such as sport shoes, elbow braces, gloves, etc. The devices disclosed are typically made of polymeric materials, such as polyurethanes, silicones, polyethylenes, nylons, polyesters, and polyester elastomers, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sole, used as a throughsole, inner sole or insole for a shoe, e.g, a football boot with a flexible outsole. The sole ensures that when shooting on the volley in football or with similar loadings, the entire force can be transmitted to the ball or similar sports equipment by means of a special stiffening of the sole by tension elements attached to raised walls of the edge area of the sole.

Abstract: A construction for a shoe, particularly an athletic shoe such as a running shoe, includes a sole that conforms to the natural shape of the foot, particularly the sides, and that has a constant thickness in frontal plane cross sections. The thickness of the shoe sole side contour equals and therefore varies exactly as the thickness of the load-bearing sole portion varies due to heel lift, for example. Thus, the outer contour of the edge portion of the sole has at least a portion which lies along a theoretically ideal stability plane for providing natural stability and efficient motion of the shoe and foot particularly in an inverted and everted mode.

Abstract: A dance shoe is provided that includes a flexible upper and a toe box configured to surround at least a portion of a dancer's foot. The dance shoe further includes a viscoelastic padding layer that is provided between the toe box and the dancer's foot to shield the foot from the rigidity of the toe box. The viscoelastic padding layer dissipates the pressure and friction exerted upon the dancer's foot, particularly when the dancer is executing a “sur le pointe” dance step, without decreasing the dancer's ability to “feel” the floor. The viscoelastic padding layer is also capable of lubricating, softening and medicating the dancer's foot. The viscoelastic padding layer may also be used in other areas of the shoe to provide additional comfort for the dancer.

Abstract: An inner lining for waterproof shoe includes a lining body made of waterproof material which has a full side wall forming a complete enclosure except for the top and bottom, the body being made to conform to the shape and size of the interior of the shoe; an insole board with its edge connected with the lower end of the side wall of the body; a bridging strip made of waterproof material having an upper end joined to the lower end of the side wall and a lower end that is turned back so that the strip encloses the seam of the body and forms a folded portion below the under side of the insole board; and the contact surfaces between the strip, the side wall and the insole board being sealed.

Abstract: A footwear exercising device for use by a wearer in improving various aspects of the wearer's physical condition, health and overall appearance. The footwear exercising device of the present invention includes a reverse wedge for wear below the sole of a wearer's foot, and may be worn with a wide variety of fashion. Prolonged use of the device of the present invention has been shown to improve the tone of the muscle groups of a wearer's body which have to do with the wearer's posture. Prolonged use of the instant invention has also been shown to improve the blood circulation in a wearer's legs and to strengthen significantly the muscles supporting a wearer's knees. The design of the device is such that prolonged wear of the invention is neither strenuous nor taxing.

Abstract: Waterproof, water vapor permeable shoe construction including an exterior upper, a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional-layer upper, a lining upper, and a sole. Both the waterproof, water vapor permeable functional-layer upper and the lining upper are in the shape of a sock and introduced separately into the shoe. The functional-layer upper and lining upper are preferably joined to the exterior upper only at a top opening of the shoe construction through which a foot is inserted. The functional-layer upper can be composed of individual pieces that are joined together by seams that are sealed, or it can be seamless.

Abstract: A spike shoe has a cushion mounted on the outer sole thereof. The cushion has spike-accommodating bores defined therein and each spike is accommodated in a bore. The cushion compresses as the wearer of the shoe places his or her weight on the sole of the shoe. The spike-accommodating bores are sized and shaped so the cushion adjacent to each bore contacts the spike accommodated in the bore during the compression of the cushion and prior to the cushion being fully compressed whereby each spike is wiped by the cushion every time the wearer places his or her weight on the shoe during a walking or running movement.

Abstract: An outsole for a shoe, especially a house slipper, has an outer layer constituted of a fabric material, and a backing layer constituted of a shape-retaining, moldable material. The fabric layer and the backing layer are molded integrally together to provide the outsole with increased slip resistance, quieter usage and increased shape retention.

Abstract: Device for clamping together two parts of a sports article, including: a rectilinear notched tongue (6), integral with a first part of the sports article; a guide (30) integral with the second part of the sports article, said guide having two walls (33) between which said tongue (6) is able to slide; a pawl (40) articulated on the guide (30), capable of interacting with the notched tongue (6) in order to immobilize it in position relative to the guide (30); characterized in that it also includes a complementary piece (20) interacting with at least one part of the outer faces of the guide (30), and of which the portion located on the side with the opening of the guide (30) via which the tongue (6) is inserted includes two divergent walls (25, 26) which flare out and extend beyond the opening of the guide (30).

Abstract: A metatarsal arch support is described, in which the support has a raised section of such a size and shape as to roughly match and fill the open space that exists between the insole of the shoe and the portion of the foot that spans the second, third, and fourth metatarsals, which normally constitutes an arch when the foot is supporting body weight. Shoes typically exert pressure, causing the metatarsal arch to flatten. Use of the arch support prevents this undesirable effect.

Abstract: A harness for a snowshoe has straps, buckles and strap slip connections configured such that a single pull will snug the harness down to the boot, both at the toe and at the top of the arch, firmly engaging over the shoe or boot. The straps, which may be formed as a single strap, extend up from one side of the toe end of a footbed secured to the snowshoe, and pass through loops and buckles of the harness assembly in such a way that the ends of the straps, or a loop of the single strap can be pulled from between the buckles to tighten the harness at toe and arch areas simultaneously. Mechanical advantage preferably is provided at the toe end, by the strap looping back once before it reaches the buckle. The strap or straps are arranged and connected such that a flexible harness shell that extends up from one side of the footbed “floats” in position, accommodating a wide range of shoe or boot sizes.

Abstract: A binding for a snowshoe has a base secured to a footbed connected to the snowshoe frame, and a tongue piece above the footbed, connected at front to the footbed in a flexible hinge and positioned to engage the top of a user's boot, from the toe to the arch. At each side of the binding, between the tongue piece and the footpad, lacing extends in zig-zag configuration from the front to the back of the binding, passing through lacing eyes and slidable through the eyes with relatively low friction, for drawing the tongue piece down onto the boot. At the back of the binding, a heel strap is positioned to extend around the heel of the foot, and this heel strap is connected to the lacing at both sides, such that when the heel strap is tightened via slip-through type adjustment buckles, this pulls on the lacing to tighten the lacing at both sides and snug the tongue piece down against the boot, firmly engaging the boot in the binding.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a midsole assembly for footwear which includes medial and lateral unsymmetrical stabilizing pods disposed between shock absorbing upper and lower deflectable plates positioned at the heel portion of the midsole. The bottom surface of the heel portion of the midsole includes an axially aligned deflection platform defined by a concave surface. The upper shock absorption plate is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the midsole and includes an aperture therethrough which is adapted to receive the deflection platform. The bottom plate includes a deflectable concave segment which is aligned with and adapted to engage the deflection platform of the midsole and be urged downwardly upon the imposition of force upon the midsole by the user's foot.

Abstract: A shoe having an upper and a sole, the sole including a wear sole and an intermediary sole. The intermediary sole includes an upper surface and a bottom surface, a rear zone provided to support the user's heel zone, and a front zone provided to support the user's forefoot zone. In the front zone, the upper surface includes a plurality of top protuberances and the bottom surface includes a plurality of bottom protuberances, each top protuberance of at least one portion of the plurality of top protuberances is vertically aligned with a bottom protuberance so as to constitute shock-absorbing cylindrical studs that are linked to one another only by their central portion.

Abstract: A step-in binding system (20, 220) including a binding (24, 224) and an engagement member (26, 226) for securing a snowshoe to footwear (22). In one embodiment, the binding includes a pivotable latch (78) and a fixed latch (80), each having a pair of catches (116) for engaging a corresponding receiver (110) on the engagement member. The pivotable latch is pivotable between a closed position (CP) and an open position (OP) and is biased into the closed position by a helical rotational spring (100). The binding further includes an adjustment mechanism (32) extending between a toe member (28) and a heel member (30) that allows the distance between the toe and heel members to be selectively changed by a user. In another embodiment, the binding includes a pair of pivotable latches (278, 280), each biased into its closed position by two torsional rotational springs (300).

Abstract: A disposable protective foot pad, composite and its method of manufacture including a resilient planar foam base, an adhesive layer on one side of the base, carried by a film having another adhesive layer on its opposite side covered by a protective sheet. The foot pad composite is manufactured by feeding a web of elastomeric foam in contact with a double-sided film after one of two protective sheets is removed from one side of the film and thereafter simul- taneously die cutting a plurality of protective foot pads from the foam web, film and protective sheet composite.