Abstract: Shoes, especially sport or leisure shoes, preferably for team sports or for group leisure play, with a central rotary closure which, as much as possible, is not present in preferred kicking areas of such shoes while still being in a location where it can be easily and conveniently operated. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the central rotary closure is located on an upper outer (lateral) side in an area surrounding the lateral side of the ankle. With the central rotary closure so located, advantageously, the tightening element runs from the central rotary closure, alternately between guide elements on the instep cover and lateral side part of the upper toward the toe area of the shoe, across the instep in the metatarsophalangeal joint area and then runs upwardly on the other (medial) side of the upper, alternating between guide elements on the instep cover and medial side part of the upper.

Abstract: A shoe, especially an athletic, leisure or rehabilitation shoe, with an upper part consisting, at least partially, of a flexible material which covers the ankle of the foot (3/4 mid-height) or rises above the ankle (high top) and which is provided with an instep cover coveting the instep of the foot (which is movable like a tongue or forms the tongue or a part of it) on which a central rotary closure is provided, with which at least the instep length of at least one tightening element can be shortened for closing the shoe and can be extended for opening it, and the tightening element is alternately guided respectively from a guide element on the upper side part to a guide element of the instep cover.

Abstract: A shoe having a three-quarter or high top upper that is formed at least partially of flexible material has a central rotary closure on an instep cover in a section between the metatarsophalangeal joint area and the ankle joint area, especially near ankle joint area, and is coupled with at least two tightening elements, one tightening element of central rotary closure acting to close the portion of the throat area extending from the closure toward the shoe tip and the other one or two of the tightening elements running upward, especially at an angle (.alpha.) relative to horizontal which is about 10.degree. to 50.degree., especially about 20.degree. to 40.degree., over a guide element on the upper material at or above the central rotary closure, and ending at an attaching point on the instep cover located approximately at at least the same height as the top of this guide element, so that a tightening action can be produced toward the rear in an area between the top and bottom of the heel portion of the upper.

Abstract: A shoe, in particular an athletic or rehabilitative shoe having a resilient cushioning sole layer within which at least one insert part made of a honeycomb body of elastically compressible material is embedded with its central axes oriented perpendicular to the plane of the sole and honeycomb body. For improved resilience and energy return, the honeycomb body is made so that even the cells on the periphery of the body are closed in a gastight manner. Furthermore, in accordance with certain embodiments, the honeycomb insert is mounted in the shoe in a manner which permits endwise viewing of the cells of the honeycomb insert, while protecting the honeycomb against damaging ground contact during use. The honeycomb body can be embedded as an insert in a midsole, heel wedge layer, or a removable footbed.