Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a shoe assembly having at least an outsole and an upper, and a foot-bed removeably provided with the shoe assembly, the foot-bed includes a plurality of layers or regions with the densities of the material forming the plurality of layers or regions differing from each other, and a layer of the foot-bed being formed by spaced-apart regions extending upwardly from one or more of the other layers.

Abstract: An insole and outsole construction is provided which is particularly applicable to athletic shoes, but which has general utility in a wide variety of boots and shoes. The insole construction includes three pads formed on its upper surface for engaging the bottom of the foot and which will be designated herein as the tri-plane heel pad, the lateral heel pad and the buttress pad. The outsole construction includes the provision of inserts of relatively dense material directly under the lateral and tri-plane pads. The pads and inserts cooperate to provide adequate stability, particularly to the foot and ankle during violent movements thereof; and to minimize movement of the foot within the shoe, thereby to cut down to a large extent generation of frictional heat. The insole pads also serve to minimize foot elongation and thereby decrease movement of the forefoot and thereby prevent injury to the toes.