Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure having a cushioning component defining an enclosed, fluid-filled chamber. The cushioning component has a top wall, a bottom wall, a medial side wall at a medial side of the article of footwear, and a lateral side wall at a lateral side of the article of footwear. The cushioning component includes a unitary outsole having a bottom portion, a medial side portion, and a lateral side portion. The bottom portion is bonded to the bottom wall, the medial side portion is bonded to the medial side wall, and the lateral side portion is bonded to the lateral side wall. A method of manufacturing includes disposing the first and second polymer sheets and the outsole in a mold assembly and thermally bonding the outsole to the second polymer sheet, and the first and second polymer sheets to one another to form a chamber.

Abstract: A method of forming a traced element is disclosed. The method may include printing layers of a traced element and incorporating a textile strand in overlapping polymer layers of the traced element. In some embodiments, the traced element may be formed on a base layer. The traced element may be incorporated into an upper for an article of footwear.

Abstract: A heel pad for placement within a shoe and a method of use. The heel pad includes a pliable body, a filler element contained within the pliable body, and a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body. In use, the heel pad is positioned in a heel section of the shoe. A longitudinal end of the heel pad is folded along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe. The folded longitudinal end of the heel pad is affixed to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.

Abstract: Embodiments of an athletic shoe of the present invention generally include a cooperating rotor assembly and torque-dampening system, wherein the rotor assembly includes a substantially round rotor equipped with a plurality of cleat members and having a plurality of teeth about the outer circumference thereof, and the torque-dampening system includes a compressible device configured and adapted to interact with the rotor teeth. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of an athletic shoe of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper. The article of footwear also includes a cable lock disposed within the sole structure adjacent to a bottom surface of the sole structure. The article of footwear includes a first cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a first anchor point on the upper and a second section extending from the cable lock to a second anchor point on the upper. The article of footwear further includes a second cable having a first section extending from the cable lock to a grip and a second section extending from the cable lock to the grip, whereby the cable lock is operable to retract the first section and the second section of the first cable when the first section and the second section of the second cable are extended.

Abstract: A tipping bar for preventing toe walking and other gait abnormalities is provided. The tipping bar may be integrated to the sole of a footwear, forcing weight on the heel, preventing toe walking.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes a unitary, open-celled structure. Specifically, the sole assembly includes a lattice structure having an interconnected network of struts and nodes that cooperate to define voids. The struts and nodes are configured to generate predetermined support and flexure properties within the network. The lattice may be configured as a conformal lattice, being contoured to receive accessories or complementary support structures. The sole assembly may further include an insert formed of compression material (e.g., foam). In operation, the lattice and foam insert cooperate to provide stability and cushioning to the article of footwear.

Abstract: A boot storage attachment system includes a boot; a storage attachment, having a body forming an inner cavity; and a strap attached to the body and having a closure; the strap and closure are to secure the storage attachment to a side of the boot with the body being secured within an interior of the boot or on an exterior of the boot.

Abstract: A slip resistant overshoe allowing expansion between a toe section and a heel section to allow a variety of shoe sizes and types to be inserted. The overshoe is formed from a sole having a flexible shank connected to an upper member. The upper member includes a front section and a rear section with opposing side sections therebetween. Each of the opposing side sections and flexible shank includes a corrugated shape to allow expansion of a distance between the front and rear section; a flatter surface resulting in greater slip resistance. Channels formed along a toe section and heel section expand and contract to expel debris providing an anti-clog function to maintain material slip resistance of the overshoe.

Abstract: A footwear component manufacturing fixture secures a component, such as a shoe sole, in a manner that allows for the processing of one or more surfaces of the component without obscuring the surfaces. The fixture has a fixed portion with a first compression surface and an adjustable portion having a second compression surface. The adjustable portion moves in relation to the fixed portion to compress one or more protrusions of the component between the compression surfaces to secure the component to the fixture for processing.

Abstract: A footwear device comprising: a sole assembly comprising at least one connective element; at least one protuberance assembly comprising a base and a cap, said base and cap configured to rotatively align; a locking fixture configured to lock and unlock said alignment of said base and cap; and a fastening fixture configured to fasten said base to said track in a selected position in said track.

Abstract: Presented are footwear sole structures with pressure-mapped midsole topographies and inlaid wear-mitigating outsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. An article of footwear includes an upper for receiving and attaching to a foot of a user, and a sole structure attached to the upper for supporting thereon the user's foot. The sole structure includes a midsole that is formed with a first material having a first hardness, and an outsole that is mounted to the midsole and formed with a second material that is harder than the first material. The midsole has a ground-facing surface with multiple cavities, multiple channels interspersed with the cavities, and ground-contacting land segments that separate the cavities from the channels. The outsole is disposed in the channels and positioned between the cavities such that a ground-contacting outsole surface is substantially flush with the midsole's ground-contacting land segments.

Abstract: A heel protection device for protecting from damage a portion of a heel of a shoe not intended for contact with a walking surface. The device includes a housing including an internal receptacle to accept the heel. The device includes an outer portion and sides to protect the material of the heel from damage. The device housing also includes a latching portion, which includes a lever with an asymmetric head which may be moved from an “open” position, in which the heel can be accepted into the receptacle and positioned on the heel, to a “secured” position in which the device is secured in a position covering a portion of the heel by friction elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear with an improved eyelet system independent of the upper. The article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure, where the sole structure includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral side and a medial side. The article of footwear further includes an eyelet system coupled to the top surface of the sole structure. The eyelet system includes a base structure and a plurality of looped strand portions coupled to the base structure. The base structure is coupled to the top surface of the sole structure such that the plurality of looped strand portions extend outwardly from the sole structure, enabling the looped strand portions to receive a fastening element.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the footwear sector, principally the children's footwear sector, and relates to physiological footwear with dynamic configuration of microparticles used in a chamber between the insole and the sole. The sole has a counter and an irregular arrangement that simulates natural ground.

Abstract: A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper, an outsole and a midsole. The outsole has upper and lower surfaces. The midsole has a midsole lower surface that contacts the upper surface of the outsole. The midsole has at least one cavity located in a heel or a forefoot portion, which cavity opens to a midsole upper surface. A cushion is located in the cavity. The cushion includes resilient balls located in a resilient matrix material. The balls have a first durometer and the matrix material has a second durometer that is different than the first durometer. The midsole has a lower cavity in the lower surface of the midsole, which lower cavity is aligned with an opening in the outsole. Balls are located in the lower cavity. A retainer keeps the balls in the lower cavity and provides a visual indication of the balls in the lower cavity.

Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a shoe, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as a shoe manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a shoe includes providing a three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component and processing the three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component, wherein the processing includes an individually controllable succession of processing steps.

Abstract: Hot melt sequins and methods of applying these sequins are disclosed. A method of attaching two components includes stitching a hot melt sequin to one of the components and heating the hot melt sequin to bond the two components together. Sequins can also be applied to articles to create structural elements such as heel counters, toe covers, and lace cages. Sequins can be applied in 1D, 2D, and 3D patterns as well as in dispersive patterns. Sequins can be applied to vary the abrasion properties of a portion of an article.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole attached to the upper, and an outsole. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed. The outsole has a ground-engaging surface, an inner surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface, and a wall extending from the ground-engaging surface and surrounding the outsole. The article of footwear also includes at least two casings each containing particulate matter and having a thickness extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outsole. The at least two casings are arranged in a layered configuration and received within a cavity bounded by the wall of the outsole and between the bottom surface and the inner surface.