Abstract: An enforceable property right and a system for controlling the manner of use of an item in accordance with usage rights. The enforceable property right includes an item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein and specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed and a license associated with the item ticket. The license includes usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking said security mechanism.

Abstract: A shoe includes a hollow insole component which has a horizontal part with an inner peripheral end confining an opening and an upward flange extending upward from a top face of the horizontal part, an upper having a bottom open end attached to the horizontal part; and a lining mounted within the upper and having a bottom open end attached to the upward flange, wherein the hollow insole component is made by forming an elongated strip into a loop, and the insole component has a connection joint extending transversely of the hollow insole component.

Abstract: A shoe includes an upper which has a substantially U-shaped first notched edge, a first cutout confined by the first notched edge, and a connection seam spaced apart from and extending around the first notched edge, an inner lining which is disposed inside the upper and has a second notched edge corresponding in position to the first notched edge; and a tongue which is waterproof and which has a marginal end. The marginal end of the tongue is attached to the upper along the connection seam and is attached to the inner lining along the second notched edge.

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: A shoe includes an upper with a first notched edge, an inner lining disposed inside the upper and having a second notched edge in alignment with the first notched edge, and a sock-like waterproof lining made of a waterproof breathable membrane and disposed between the upper and the inner lining. The waterproof lining has a third notched edge in alignment with the first notched edge. An elastic part spans the first, second and third notched edges, and has an outer layer and an inner layer both of which are elastic. The inner layer has a peripheral edge attached to the second notched edge to form an inner seam. The outer layer has a peripheral edge attached to the first notched edge to form an outer seam. The third notched edge is attached to one of the first and second notched edges along one of the inner and outer seams.

Abstract: A shoe includes a hollow base fixed in a through-hole formed in the shoe. The hollow base provides a fluid passage for ventilation or drainage. A lid is attached removably to the hollow base to block the fluid passage. In an embodiment, a solid stud is mounted on the shoe adjacent to the hollow base to retain the lid when the lid is removed from the hollow base. The lid may be elongated and has two closure parts attachable removably and respectively to the hollow base and the stud in a bridging manner. Preferably, the lid is capable of being press-fitted to the hollow base and/or the solid stud. The lid not only functions to close the hollow base but also serves to hold a logo.

Abstract: A shoe includes a shell to cover the wearer's foot and a pocket provided at an inner surface of the shell to receive a filling material so that the pocket and the filling material project into an interior space of the shoe and provide better fit for the wearer. The filling material is removable from the pocket for replacement and may be configured to have any shape and thickness so as to fit the foot of an individual. The filling material may be a foam, a fluid, a moisture absorbent, a heat-generating element, or a stiffener.

Abstract: A shoe includes a waterproof shell which has at least one vent hole provided between upper and lower ends of the shell. A screen member which is porous to provide ventilation is disposed across the vent hole and attached to an inner surface of the shell. A ventilating sheet is disposed inwardly of the screen member and attached sealingly to the shell to cover the screen member. The ventilating sheet is made of a waterproof breathable membrane. Due to the screen member and the ventilating sheet, the shell is both waterproof and breathable.

Abstract: A shoe includes a hollow base fixed in a through-hole formed in the shoe. The hollow base provides a fluid passage for ventilation or drainage. A lid is attached removably to the hollow base to block the fluid passage. In an embodiment, a solid stud is mounted on the shoe adjacent to the hollow base to retain the lid when the lid is removed from the hollow base. The lid may be elongated and has two closure parts attachable removably and respectively to the hollow base and the stud in a bridging manner. Preferably, the lid is capable of being press-fitted to the hollow base and/or the solid stud. The lid not only functions to close the hollow base but also serves to hold a logo.

Abstract: A boot includes a shell having a foot portion and an upper. The shell is composed of a waterproof first part and at least one non-waterproof air-pervious second part. The second part includes upper and lower margins, and two opposite side margins connected to the upper and lower margins. The second part is connected to the first part at least along the side margins and the lower margin. The first part is made of a waterproof stretchable material at least in the upper. A waterproof air-pervious lining is attached to the second part along the upper, lower and side margins. Waterproof seam sealing members are disposed along connection seams between the first and second parts and the lining.

Abstract: A shoe includes an ergonomic insole unit, and an upper with a bottom margin connected directly to a periphery of the insole unit. The insole unit has a heel part which includes a planar bottom face, a rear upward flange extending upward from the heel part and a concave inner surface which extends gradually upward and outward from a mid part of the heel part to the upward flange. The thickness of the heel part decreases gradually from the upward flange to the mid part and thus substantially conforms to the contour of the bottom face of the wearer's heel. The ergonomic insole unit contacts and supports sufficiently all part of the wearer's heel for better distribution of the weight of the wearer.

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: An upper of a shoe is made by sewing together a plurality of sheet parts. The sheet parts have adjacent marginal ends sewn to each other, thus forming a stitch seam along the adjacent marginal ends. A seam spacer is disposed between and stitched to the adjacent marginal ends so as to provide a spacing between the adjacent marginal ends at the stitch seam. The seam spacer is made of a material which is pliable and which has water passages for draining water. The seam spacer may be a porous mat made of a filament material, or a sheet formed with through-holes.

Abstract: A shoe includes an ergonomic insole unit, and an upper with a bottom margin connected directly to a periphery of the insole unit. The insole unit has a heel part which includes a planar bottom face, a rear upward flange extending upward from the heel part and a concave inner surface which extends gradually upward and outward from a mid part of the heel part to the upward flange. The thickness of the heel part decreases gradually from the upward flange to the mid part and thus substantially conforms to the contour of the bottom face of the wearer's heel. The ergonomic insole unit contacts and supports sufficiently all part of the wearer's heel for better distribution of the weight of the wearer.

Abstract: A shoe includes an ergonomic insole unit, and an upper with a bottom margin attached directly to the insole unit via a lasting process. The insole unit has a heel part which includes a bottom face, a rear upward flange extending upward from the heel part and a concave top surface conforming to the heel of the wearer's foot. In order to permit the bottom margin of the upper to be lasted over the heel part, the bottom face is coplanar at least in a peripheral region which extends along a corner defined by the bottom face and the upward flange.

Abstract: An upper of a shoe is made by sewing together a plurality of sheet parts. The sheet parts have adjacent marginal ends sewn to each other, thus forming a stitch seam along the adjacent marginal ends. A seam spacer is disposed between and stitched to the adjacent marginal ends so as to provide a spacing between the adjacent marginal ends at the stitch seam. The seam spacer is made of a material which is pliable and which has water passages for draining water. The seam spacer may be a porous mat made of a filament material, or a sheet formed with through-holes.

Abstract: A boot includes a shell having a foot portion and an upper. The shell is composed of a waterproof first part and at least one non-waterproof air-pervious second part. The second part includes upper and lower margins, and two opposite side margins connected to the upper and lower margins. The second part is connected to the first part at least along the side margins and the lower margin. The first part is made of a waterproof stretchable material at least in the upper. A waterproof air-pervious lining is attached to the second part along the upper, lower and side margins. Waterproof seam sealing members are disposed along connection seams between the first and second parts and the lining.

Abstract: A shoe includes, in combination a sole having a main wall and a side wall upwardly extending from the periphery of the main wall, an upper secured to the sole side wall and arranged to form a foot receiving cavity with the sole, and a plurality of drain ports on opposite sides of the sole and communicating the cavity to exterior space outside the shoe to drain liquid within the cavity to the exterior space. The drain ports extend through the sole side wall and are at least partially located below a top surface of the sole main wall. The sole has drain channels laterally extending between pairs of the drain ports which direct liquid toward the drain ports. The shoe also includes an insole located within the cavity and supported by the sole and a liner located within the cavity and between the insole and the sole. The liner is secured to at least one of the upper and the sole and is provided with openings at the drain channels so that liquid in the cavity can pass through the openings to the drain channel.

Abstract: A shoe component for a shoe includes a composite part which has a vulcanized rubber matrix and a woven fabric sheet bonded integrally to the surface of the rubber matrix during the vulcanization of the rubber matrix. In an embodiment, the composite part is shaped as an outsole, and the surface of the rubber matrix is formed with a tread surface. The fabric sheet includes warp and weft yarns, and pores having a size smaller than 1 mm2 so as to limit the amount of the material of the rubber matrix which penetrates through the pores and covers the fabric sheet during vulcanization. A large part of the fabric sheet uncovered at the surface of the rubber matrix can provide the surface of the rubber matrix with a woven texture and different tones of colors.