Abstract: A cleat for footwear. The cleat includes a base layer that attaches to the outsole of the footwear, a cushioning layer and a traction element layer. The traction element layer is attached to the base layer solely by the cushioning layer. Each of the cleat layers provides friction with the ground when the cleat engages the ground. The durometer of the base layer and the durometer of the traction element layer are greater than the durometer of the cushioning layer. When a user steps on a surface wearing a shoe outfitted with these cleats, the resilience of the cushioning layer at once both lessens the impact of the traction elements on the ground surface and lessens the reaction force on the user's foot transmitted through the shoe's outsole. The user's comfort is thereby enhanced.

Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear include herringbone type contact surface portions wherein at least two of the herringbone contact surface portions include herringbone traction element components that are oriented in different directions and/or two herringbone contact surface portions separated from one another by an arch area of the sole.

Abstract: A traction cleat attachment system for footwear that engages with a single click. The system comprises a cleat and a receptacle. The cleat includes a central stud with screw threads spaced about the outside surface of the stud. The receptacle includes a threaded annulus on a base for receiving the central stud of the cleat. The cleat also includes a collar coaxially surrounding the central stud with splines projecting from the interior collar surface. The threaded receptacle annulus is surrounded by two sets of alternating teeth projecting from the outside surface of the annulus. One of the set of alternating teeth have an upper surface at an angle with the base. Thus, the user obtains positive feedback that the cleat and socket have mated correctly.

Abstract: The present invention is a sole having an adjustable height mechanism along at least one of the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis whereby the height of the sole can be adjusted creating one or more angles of inclination in the sole. The sole includes, in one embodiment, slidable spacing blocks. In a preferred embodiment, the sole further includes a motor connected to at least one block, the motor connected to a controller communicating wirelessly to a processor providing instructions to the controller for positioning the one or more blocks.

Abstract: A shoe according to the invention comprises an upper assembly comprising an upper portion (10) having an outer material (11) for surrounding a foot and a lower portion (20) having at least a breathable layer (21). The shoe also comprises a sole comprising a ventilating container element (113) having a bottom part (103) and a side wall (102) surrounding said bottom part (103) so as to form an inner space of the ventilating container element (113), the ventilating container element being arranged below and attached to the upper assembly, and a filler structure or material (61; 62; 63; 64; 65; 112) allowing for air flow through it placed in the inner space of the ventilating container element (113).

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a knitted component having unitary knit construction. The knitted component has a base portion configured to be disposed adjacent the sole structure. The knitted component also includes one or more side portions that extend from the base portion. Furthermore, the knitted component can have at least a first edge and a second edge that are joined at a seam to define a void that receives a foot. Additionally, the upper can include a tensile strand that extends through a passage defined between an exterior surface and an interior surface of the base portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting the positioning of cleats on shoes includes a baseplate to apply the arch of the foot, a gauge provided with a stop that can slide freely on the baseplate to be in contact with the calcaneum of the foot, and a wall for wedging the front part of the foot at the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. The stop is fixed on a plate that slides parallel to the baseplate and a support for a shoe corresponding to the foot is fixed to the sliding plate. The support includes a stop to be placed in contact with the shoe counter. A marker is secured to the apparatus base and designed to indicate, on the shoe sole, the location for placing the cleat. The apparatus enables the distance recorded between the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe and calcaneum to be transferred onto the shoe.

Abstract: A pneumatic insole includes airbags, channels, two arch-related chambers, a push-type inlet valve, an inlet channel, a check valve, a recessed portion, a push-type adjustment valve, and an outlet channel. The channels interconnect the airbags. The push-type inlet valve is located in the first arch-related chamber. The inlet channel connects the first arch-related chamber to a leading one of the airbags. The check valve is arranged between the inlet channel and the inlet airbag. The recessed portion is located between the arch-related chambers. The push-type adjustment valve is located in the recessed portion and formed with an upper face that extends lower than that of the first and second arch-related chambers. The outlet channel connects the push-type adjustment valve to another one of the airbags.

Abstract: A skate having a skate boot with a non-lasted boot shell, the shell having a first non-lasted three-dimensional sub-shell and a second non-lasted three-dimensional sub-shell, the second sub-shell being interior to and adjoining the first sub-shell, the first sub-shell comprising a first material having a first density and the second sub-shell comprising a second material having a second density, the second density being less than the first density, the shell being shaped so as to have a heel portion, an ankle portion, a lateral portion, a medial portion, and a sole portion; and a ground-engaging assembly disposed on an underside of the skate. Additional sub-shells are possible. Methods of manufacturing the skate boot shell, including molding and build-up, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an upper. The upper includes a textile component. The textile component of the upper includes a textile element and a tensile element. The tensile element defines a first segment disposed on a first side of the upper. The first segment of the tensile element is configured to attach the securement device to the textile element on the first side of the upper. The tensile element further includes a second segment that is disposed proximate the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The second segment is fixed relative to the lower portion of the upper on the second side. The tensile element further includes an intermediate segment that extends continuously from the first segment, across the heel region, to the second segment.

Abstract: Method for producing a customized midsole and a customized cleat representation for an article of footwear comprising a knit outsole. The method includes obtaining information relating to a customized cleat arrangement in a knit outsole and other information relating to a midsole customized to the user's foot and having cleat reinforcements arranged to match the cleat arrangement on the knit outsole. The information is used to form an article of footwear including the customized knit outsole and the customized midsole.

Abstract: A healthcare footwear article includes an upper shoe body and a sole member provided underneath the upper shoe body and is connected with the upper shoe body to form an integral body. The upper shoe body and the sole member is configured from a material consisting of approximately 70% to approximately 80% of silicon rubber by weight, approximately 5% to approximately 20% of negative ion powder by weight, approximately 2% to approximately 7% of antiwear agent by weight, approximately 5% to approximately 20% of titanium powder by weight, approximately 0.1% to approximately 1.5% of vulcanizing agent by weight, approximately 5% to approximately 10% of infrared ray powder by weight, and approximately 0.1% to approximately 8% of dye by weight.

Abstract: A shoe in form of a slipper or sandal, includes a body 100 adapted to have a first fluid casing 12 and a second fluid casing 14, each having an elastic property, embedded in the front and rear portions of the body, respectively, and an instep strap 120 supported to the body in such a way as to be rotated in a specific section. A rotating shaft 16 is rotated in conjunction with the instep strap, and it includes a first connecting portion connected to the first fluid casing and a second connecting portion connected to the second fluid casing and an internal passage having respective check ball seating portions formed on the inside of the first and the second connecting portions, and with check ball received in the internal passage. When the rotating shaft is inclined by rotation of the rotating shaft, the check ball closely adheres to any one of the check ball seating portions by gravity or buoyancy and regulates a fluid flow to any one of the first and the second connecting portions.

Abstract: A sole structure that includes at least one auxetic structure and methods of making are disclosed. A sole structure includes a sole having an upper surface and a base surface. The base surface includes a ground contacting surface and a base surface. The base surface is closer to the upper surface than the ground contacting surface. An auxetic structure is integrally formed into the base surface.

Abstract: There are disclosed high heel shoes where separate components combine to create load balancing internal footwear technology. A two-piece system includes interlocking toe bed and shank constructed of complex three dimensional curved surfaces which create an intricately sculpted volume to provide structural support down the length of the entire foot. The toe bed provides a wide base and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10° angle). A heel maximizes the surface area of the bottom of the heel at the point of strike with the ground while retaining a minimal and aesthetically appealing silhouette from the side view. The toe bed and shank feature a composition of layered materials which when combined work to provide both stability and shock absorption to the ball of the foot during the foot strike of walking. An internal support structure provides a padded barrier and intermediary between the rigidity of the shank and the softness of the shoe upper.

Abstract: Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices may include an authentication or activation system for providing power or otherwise determining the connection of a sensor in the article of footwear.

Abstract: A foot arch support device includes a base seat, a movable unit, high and low heel members, and an actuating unit. The base seat includes a first base plate. The movable unit includes a movable plate that is movable relative to the first base plate between high and low curvature positions. When the low heel member is coupled to the base seat, the movable plate is at the low curvature position. When the high heel member is coupled to the base seat, a support part of the high heel member abuts against the movable plate, and the movable plate is pushed by the high heel member to the high curvature position. The actuating unit is operable for permitting removal of a selected one of the high and low heel members from the base seat.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a cover that wraps over footwear and is secured in place with a set of attachment tabs wrapped under the arch area of the footwear and secured to each other. Another attachment tab wraps over the arch area and is secured to a corresponding attachment point on the outer surface of the cover. Depending on the material used, once the cover is secured in place, it may provide insulation and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A footbed system (10) for footwear comprises an insole mechanism (14), a midsole mechanism (11), wherein the insole mechanism is positioned on the midsole mechanism, and the outsole mechanism (15) is positioned under the midsole mechanism. The insole mechanism comprises a footbed insole (1), a heel pad (2) and a forefoot pad (3). The footbed insole comprises a pad anatomically shaped to correspond to the sole of a human foot, wherein the heel pad is positioned in the hindfoot portion of the footbed insole, and the forefoot pad is positioned in the forefoot portion of the footbed insole. The outsole mechanism comprises an opening (15A) for exposing a natural gait line groove of the midsole mechanism.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.