Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes upper and a sole structure. The upper defines an interior void that is configured to receive the sole structure and a foot. A lower surface of the upper defines a plurality of apertures, and the sole structure includes a plurality of projections that extend through the apertures to form a ground-engaging surface. The projections are connected to a foot-supporting member that remains within the upper. A locking system is incorporated into the upper and sole structure to secure the sole structure to the upper.

Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a plurality of support elements, and each of the support elements include a shell and a core. The shell defines an interior void and is formed from a polymer material that extends around substantially all of the void. The core has a shape of the void and is located within the void, with at least a portion of the core being a polymer foam material. The polymer foam material of at least two of the support elements may have different densities.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a plate, a plurality of cleats extending from the plate, and an auxetic structure disposed between the plurality of cleats. The auxetic structure is affixed to the plate such that an outer surface of the auxetic structure is positioned between a lower surface of the plate and a tip surface of at least one of the plurality of cleats.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper with multiple components. The upper includes a fastening system with a moveable assembly. The moveable assembly may include a flap portion and a throat portion. The moveable assembly is attached to the upper. The moveable assembly may be readily moved to facilitate entry of a foot into the article of footwear, or exit of a foot from the article of footwear.

Abstract: Shoe hole prevention inserts and methods for making same are described. A shoe insert may include a sole pad, a toe guard attached to a first position on the sole pad, and a sidewall guard attached to a second location on the sole pad. The toe guard may be connected to the sole pad such that the toe guard can be moved into a first insertion position. Similarly, the sidewall guard may be movably connected to the sole pad such that the sidewall guard can be moved into a second insertion position. Each of the sole pad, toe guard, and sidewall guard may include an adhesion area for adhering at least a portion of the shoe insert to at least a portion of the inside of a shoe. Thus, when inserted, the insert may prevent holes from forming due to rubbing against the inside of the shoe.

Abstract: A plurality of orthotic systems are provided. One bi-layer system is constructed from a single sheet of fabric that is molded into two layers. One tri-layer system includes a base layer; a mid-layer; and an upper layer. The upper layer is joined to the mid-layer and the mid-layer is joined to the base layer. The coupling of the base layer, the mid-layer and the upper layer create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section and a front spring section in which the upper layer is suspended over the mid-layer and the heel portion is suspended on the proximal heel end of the base layer.

Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. Various warp or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element. The textile element may be removed from a circular-knit tubular structure having two textile elements.

Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction with varying stitch configurations. The upper may also incorporate non-textile elements, including non-textile elements on the lateral side and in the heel region. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper with a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component has a first edge and a second edge. The knitted component also includes a base portion configured to be disposed adjacent the sole structure and to be disposed under a foot. The knitted component further includes a heel portion, a forefoot portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion. The knitted component additionally includes a collar with a rim. The second edge is joined to the first edge at a seam. The seam has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is located generally at the rim of the collar on one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper. The second end is spaced from the first end.

Abstract: Footwear element including a flexible outer sole assembly and a flexible upper, the footwear element extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and height-wise from an outer surface of the outer sole assembly to an upper end, the footwear element having a shoe insertion opening. The footwear element includes spikes projecting from the area of the outer surface of the outer sole assembly. The footwear element includes at least one reinforcement, the reinforcement including a base and a wall, the base extending opposite the outer sole assembly outside of the footwear element, the wall extending from the base toward the upper end, also outside of the footwear element.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, and a sole structure including a midsole structure and an outsole structure, where the midsole structure is located between the upper and the outsole structure. The midsole structure includes a plurality of members arranged in layers within the midsole structure, the plurality of members including a first cushion member formed of a first compressible material, a second cushion member formed of a second compressible material, and a plate disposed between the first and second cushion members, where the plate includes at least one flexure groove extending along a surface of the plate that is transverse a length of the plate such that the plate is configured to bend at the flexure groove.

Abstract: A branched braid member has a central braid portion and one or more tensile strands or small braids at either end of the central braid portion. The branched braid member may be incorporated into a shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe comprising an upper forming an interior portion for a foot, the interior portion including toe and heel cavities, is provided. The shoe further comprises a midsole having toe and heel ends and inner and outer sides. The midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion. Heel and toe outsole patches are respectively stitched onto the midsole. An insole is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion. A spacing between the heel and toe outsole patches extends from the inner to the outer side and occupies a position intermediate the toe and heel ends thereby permitting the shoe to fold about an axis running through the spacing. The shoe folds between an extended state, in which the shoe is worn, and a folded state in which a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity.

Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may have apertures formed by omitting stitches and non-textile elements on the lateral side and in the heel area. Various warp or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting two loose shoelace ends, or for connecting two loose lace or cord ends in any lacing situation. A specific lace or cord orientation is used along with a heat-shrinkable tubular connector in order to easily and securely connect the two ends of the laces or other such cords.

Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction with varying stitch configurations. The upper may also incorporate non-textile elements, including non-textile elements on the lateral side and in the heel region. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is connected to the sole structure. The upper includes a flat knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The flat knitted component includes a trim region that defines a trimmed outer edge of the flat knitted component. The trimmed outer edge is disposed proximate to the sole structure. The trimmed outer edge defines a first dimension of the flat knitted component that corresponds to a first foot size. The trim region further defines a trim line that is spaced from the trimmed outer edge in an inboard direction on the flat knitted component. The trim line defines a second dimension of the flat knitted component that corresponds to a second foot size.

Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may comprise one or more of an inner layer, outer layer, or intermediate layer of the upper. Various warp or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.

Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction with varying properties. In some aspects, the properties comprise different yarn types. Various warp or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.

Abstract: The present invention is footwear having a convex shaped outsole with opposing wedge shaped configurations in the bottom of the front sole section and the back sole section which provide rotation of the front sole section and the back sole section in opposite directions when weight is applied. The present invention is also footwear convex shaped in the longitudinal direction with a split sole having opposing wedge shaped configurations in the bottom of the front sole section and the back sole section that provide rotation of the front sole section and the back sole section in opposite directions when weight is applied. The invention further includes footwear having at least one pair of wedges on the outsole which provide footwear having improved arch support. The invention is also footwear with a flexible, elastic, member between the front sole section and the back sole section of the sole.