Abstract: Footwear with an enhanced three dimensional design.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes at least one panel including a first edge and an opposing second edge. The at least one panel includes an auxetic structure defining a primary elongation direction and a secondary elongation direction. A plurality of lace coupling pairs are positioned along the first edge and the second edge of the at least one panel. Each lace coupling pair defines a lace pull direction that is perpendicular to a line extending through two adjacent lace couplings of the lace coupling pair. Each lace pull direction is defined by the plurality of lace couplings substantially in alignment with either the primary elongation direction or the secondary elongation direction of the auxetic structure between the two adjacent lace couplings of the lace coupling pair.

Abstract: A shoe insert liner or no-show sock configured to detachably adhere to an interior cavity of a shoe is provided. In one embodiment, the shoe insert liner includes a liner having an exterior surface and an adhesive bonded to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the liner. The liner includes a longitudinal portion, opposing first and second lateral portions extending in a first direction from opposite sides of the longitudinal portion, and opposing front and rear portions extending in the first direction from opposite ends of the longitudinal portion. Together, the longitudinal, lateral, front, and rear portions of the liner define an interior cavity and an opening configured to receive a user's foot.

Abstract: A shoe with a sole and an upper with closed eyes extending radially from the sole on each side near the front portion of the upper. Decorative accessories, such as straps having open-ended hooks are selectively engageable with the eyes for changing the appearance of the shoe.

Abstract: An article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may further include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device. The tensile member, the motorized tightening device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment,, a utilitarian garment cover is provided. The utilitarian garment cover may have a first main section for covering at least part of neck, torso, shoulders, at least a part of arms, pelvis region and at least a part of legs of a human body. The first main section may have an access opening positioned at the front side of the first main section. The access opening may be at the upper part of the torso for allowing a user to slip in and out of the utilitarian garment cover.

Abstract: An item of footwear comprises an upper having a first overlap area and the bottom having a second overlap area. The upper is attached to the bottom by stitching high frequency adhesive tape to the overlap area of the upper and separately to the overlap area of the bottom. The upper and the bottom are brought together so that the two overlap areas are in solid contact with one another when the footwear is subjected to the high frequency signal which turns the solid adhesive tapes into a molten liquid. When the liquid cools, the upper and bottom are welded to one another. The seal between the components is waterproof.

Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.

Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed having at least one elongated heel support member. The elongated heel support member may be angled and extend from a heel region to a midfoot region, in order to disperse forces applied by a wearer's heel during movement. The heel system may include two heel support members, each associated with a side of the article of footwear. The article of footwear may also include a series of ribs in the midfoot region, which may abut a front edge of the heel support members. Finally, the article of footwear may include asymmetric side flaps extending downward from an upper plate so as to overlap a midsole.

Abstract: Footwear as inserts to shoes or integral parts to shoes is made of rigid form with a sole portion to be placed in compression and an upper portion to flex in tension in response to foot motion and constructed to enable triangulation forces for sustaining a user's foot in motion.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to footwear and methods for making the same, and more particularly to an athletic shoe with a reactive midsole. In one aspect of the invention, the midsole provides a continuously increasing offset between a heel center of pressure and a ball-of-foot center of pressure between the loading and a toe off gait phases.

Abstract: A footwear, footwear vamp, footwear vamp fastening element, footwear-vamp assembly and processes for production and/or assembly of a footwear. A footwear (10) comprising at least one vamp (1), at least one outsole (6) and at least one fastening element (2), the fastening element (2) comprising at least one base (5) and at least one projection (4), defining a confinement region (7) for mounting the vamp (1.1).

Abstract: Sporting footwear can include a buckle system to secure the footwear to the user's foot. The footwear may also include additional other types of fastening systems. The buckle system can include a base plate attached to the shoe and a buckle housing attached to the base plate. The buckle housing and base plate can be assembled without tools, such as having a snap fit interface.

Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper and including a support assembly having an upper member and a lower member spaced from the upper member. A first layer is positioned beneath and in contact with the upper member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of first wave crests and first wave troughs. A second layer is positioned above the lower member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of second wave crests and second wave troughs.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided and includes an insole and an outsole. The outsole includes a ground-contacting surface and an inner surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole from the ground-contacting surface. The outsole further includes a first aperture extending through the outsole and between the ground-contacting surface and the inner surface. A midsole is disposed between the insole and the outsole and includes a second aperture at least partially aligned with the first aperture. A window is disposed between the midsole and the outsole and extends over the first aperture and the second aperture. A bladder is disposed between the insole and the midsole and is visible through the window.

Abstract: A sole for an article of footwear including a first part having a bottom surface with a plurality of first protrusions increasing in thickness from a medial side to a lateral side, where each adjacent pair of the first protrusions define a first recess therebetween, and a second part having a top surface with a plurality of second protrusions increasing in thickness from a lateral side to a medial side, where each adjacent pair of the second protrusions define a second recess therebetween. When the first part and the second part are attached together, the plurality of first protrusions and recesses on the bottom surface of the first part matingly engage corresponding ones of the plurality of second protrusions and recesses on the top surface of the second part to form a midsole that deflects and absorbs impact forces resulting from multiple running conditions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a costume style shoe body and a manufacturing method thereof, the costume style shoe body comprising a main body, an insole, and an outsole. The main body is formed by designing the shoe style and then making a new mold, and cutting the shoe material into a predetermined shape, wherein a main body sole is formed to be fully waterproof by machine sewing the insole and the outsole together, the shoe surface of the main body having a plurality of flaps around the main body and extended upward from the main body sole, wherein the plurality of flaps forms a container portion with an opening by machine sewing, the opening is disposed with a fastening portion having buckles designed with a costume style or a shoe lace of a selected color.

Abstract: An half shoe includes an upper part, a lower part, an insole part, a bag main part, a first annular elastic part, a covering part, and a second annular elastic part. The insole part, which is attached an upper side surface of the lower part, has elasticity and deodorant effect. The bag main part is constituted by sewing up edges of the upper and lower parts to provide an opening in end part sides of the upper and lower parts. The first annular elastic part is sewn on the opening by the upper part of the bag main part. The covering part is sewn by gathering on the upper part to cover a whole part located in the opening of the first annular elastic part. The second annular elastic part is sewn on the opening by the lower part of the bag main part by gathering.

Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper, including a skin layer forming at least a portion of an external surface of the upper. The upper may also include a reinforcing material selectively located internal and adjacent to portions of the skin layer, thereby defining reinforced portions of the skin layer and unreinforced portions of the skin layer. The reinforcing material may be selectively joined with the skin layer at a bonded area by welding, the bonded area having an externally exposed surface that defines a portion of the external surface of the upper. In addition, the skin layer may have a first color and the externally exposed surface of the bonded area may have a second color that is different from the first color.

Abstract: An article of footwear for increased athleticism utilizing independently articulating toe platforms. The footwear includes a first toe platform and a second toe platform disposed in a toe portion of the footwear that are either physically separated from one another via a cut in the toe portion or a flexible segment extending through the toe portion. A toe post is configured to engage between a first toe of a user's foot and a second toe of the user's foot. The first toe is configured to contact the first toe platform and the second toe is configured to contact the second toe platform. Additional toe platforms and/or toe posts may be utilized. The footwear may include a topsole, a midsole and an outsole. A stiffening agent may be disposed between the midsole and the outsole for resisting bending of the footwear and/or for helping protect the user's foot from external objects.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.

Abstract: Waterproof, breathable, stretch-recoverable composites are described herein. They are utilizable within footwear assemblies and exhibit stretchability in at least one direction by at least about 35% at 4 lbs force and exhibit at least about 80% recovery. The composites also exhibit a minimum compression of about 1 mm under a 10 kPa load and recovery of at least about 90% when load is removed.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for rapidly securing and obscuring footwear laces includes a strap having a cinching device such as a cord lock; a plurality of tubular lace restraints along the length of the strap; and a means for connecting one end of the strap to the other, so as to secure the device around a wearer's ankle with the laces obscured beneath. Laces travel the majority of the length of the strap, and can stay engaged with the laces even when footwear is not being worn. A user can insert foot into footwear, tighten laces by pulling on ends, cinch laces in tightened position by engaging cinching device, wrap strap with laces around ankle, and secure in place around ankle or ankle of footwear.

Abstract: A bladder assembly for an article of footwear includes a main body. The main body defines a first chamber and a second chamber, and the second chamber includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface. The bladder assembly also includes a viscous fluid contained in the first or second chamber and a gas contained in the other of the first or second chamber. Furthermore, the bladder assembly includes a fabric member that is fixed to both the first and second inner surfaces. The fabric member limits movement of the first and second inner surfaces away from each other.

Abstract: A binding system for use with a shoe has an elastic strap. A ratchet block is coupled to an end of the strap with a through slot, a cantilever tab capable of pivoting with a tooth thereon. A rack is adjustably coupled to the ratchet block, and has an array of teeth extending into the through slot, and a keyhole. An anchor posts extends through the eyelet of the shoe and the keyhole.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a chamber that encloses a pressurized fluid. The chamber includes subchambers laterally extending in a medial to lateral direction of the bladder. A bottom surface of the chamber may include at least one bond that laterally extends across the bottom surface of the chamber from one side edge to another side edge of the chamber in the medial to lateral direction. The bond may cooperate with an indentation in the bottom surface that separates one subchamber from an adjacent subchamber. A diameter of the subchambers may decrease in a direction from a heel region of the bladder to a forefoot region of the chamber.

Abstract: A boot includes a lacing system having an upper zone of action associated with an upper portion of the boot body and a lower zone of action associated with a lower portion of the boot body. The lacing system includes a single bootlace, the first end of which is anchored in the upper zone of action and the second end of which is anchored in the lower zone of action. The boot also includes a common lace-tightening device, having a handpiece, for the upper zone of action and the lower zone of action of the lacing system. The common lace-tightening device cooperates with the bootlace in such a way that, on operation of the handpiece, the upper zone of action and the lower zone of action of the lacing system are acted upon simultaneously in respect of lacing up and opening the boot.

Abstract: Waterproof footwear having a liner material, insole, and sealing carrier are described herein. The sealing carrier includes one or more layers containing a flowable polymer adapted to flow upon application of energy in order to impart a waterproof seal.

Abstract: An orthotic foot brace for a person wearing a footwear includes: a lower leg holder; a lower leg strut extending downwardly towards the footwear; a foot strut having a rear section secured to the vertical strut, at least one of a median section and a lateral section located on a respective side of the footwear and extending outwardly thereof, and a front section securable to an instep section of the footwear; and a brace retaining member secured to the foot strut juxtaposed to the footwear, and extending from the median side of the footwear to the lateral side of the footwear, outwardly thereof, and restraining a rearwardly pivotal movement of the brace.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper having an anterior area, a posterior area, a medial area extending between the anterior and posterior areas, and a lateral area extending between the anterior and posterior areas and that is opposite the medial area. The article of footwear also includes a sole assembly operatively coupled to the upper. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes a bladder having a base operably supported by the sole assembly, an anterior portion that extends from the base toward the anterior area, a posterior portion that extends from the base toward the posterior area, a medial portion that extends from the base toward the medial area, and a lateral portion that extends from the base toward the lateral area. The anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral portions are operably supported by the upper.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may have material layers and a plurality of strand segments. The material layers are located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration; and the material layers are located in a lace region and a lower region of the upper. The strand segments extend from the lace region to the lower region. The strand segments may be located and secured between the material layers in the lace region and the lower region. The strand segments may form both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in an area between the lace region and the lower region. The material layers may define an opening between the lace region and the lower region; and the strand segments extend across the opening.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an article of footwear includes a sole and an upper attached to the sole. The upper and sole and configured to envelop at least a portion of human foot. The upper further includes a forefoot member attached to a forefoot portion of the sole and a heel member attached to a heel portion of the sole. The forefoot member and heel member are detached from each other at a location above the sole to enable individual adjustment of the forefoot member and the heel member.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may have material layers and a plurality of strand segments. The material layers are located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, and the material layers are located in a lace region and a lower region of the upper. The strand segments extend from the lace region to the lower region. The strand segments may be located and secured between the material layers in the lace region and the lower region. The strand segments may form both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in an area between the lace region and the lower region. The material layers may define an opening between the lace region and the lower region, and the strand segments extend across the opening.

Abstract: Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper.

Abstract: A surface element including a recycled polyurethane and a glycol or polyol additive is provided. The surface element has an increased tearability as compared to the recycled polyurethane. An article of footwear and methods of preparing an article of footwear are also provided.

Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed and includes an upper and a support assembly positioned beneath the upper. The support assembly may include a top member, a chamber assembly positioned beneath the top member, having a base member and a plurality of hollow support members extending upwardly from the base member. A bottom plate may be secured to a bottom surface of the chamber assembly, sealing the hollow projections and forming at least one closed chamber. An outsole may be positioned beneath the support assembly.

Abstract: A textile arrangement that includes at least one flexible circuit board integrated with a textile and a fixedly-integrated electronic component in the flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board includes a flexible and/or tensile substrate, which is configured to bend and/or stretch at least in one direction. In addition, the flexible circuit board includes at least one electrically-conducting trace, at least one end of the trace being coupled with the component. The electrically-conducting trace is configured to bend and/or stretch with the flexible and/or tensile substrate of the circuit board at least in said one direction, when the circuit board is bent and/or stretched.

Abstract: An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.

Abstract: Articles of footwear may include an upper with a forward lace-receiving element and a plurality of strands that extend forward from the lace-receiving element. In some configurations, the strands are located between a pair of material layers and lay substantially parallel to the material layers. In other configurations, the material layers form a loop structure, and the strands may extend at least partially around the loop structure.

Abstract: An article of footwear, or shoe, including an outer sole assembly and an upper, the upper including a vamp extending lengthwise from a rear zone to a front zone, widthwise between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and heightwise from the outer sole assembly to an apex, the shoe including a first device for tightening a first subdivision of the vamp and a second device for tightening a second subdivision of the upper. For at least one of the first and second subdivisions, the tightening device includes a linkage extending from an anchoring point in relation to the upper to a blocking point in relation to the upper, the anchoring point being located in the area of the vamp, the blocking point being located in the area of the vamp.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole. The article of footwear also includes an outer surface defined on the upper or the sole. Moreover, the article of footwear includes a chamber wall operably coupled to one of the upper and the sole. The chamber wall defines at least a portion of a chamber operable to hold a vacuum for at least partially conforming the footwear to the foot of the wearer. Moreover, the footwear includes a valve including a passage that extends through the chamber wall to be in selective fluid communication with the chamber. The valve is operable to provide suction to draw the vacuum within the chamber. The valve is partially defined by an outer rim, and the outer rim is flush with the outer surface or recessed inward from the outer surface toward the chamber.

Abstract: An article of footwear having a shoe upper and a sandal type sole are made from an upper having a lower marginal edge with a plurality of spaced tabs extending from the lower marginal edge, a footbed having a peripheral edge, the tabs are folded over the edge onto the lower surface of the footbed, an outsole secured to the footbed and a welt strip cemented on a welt formed above the outsole and to the lower marginal edge of the upper. The welt strip is co-molded with the footbed, and thereafter separated from the footbed. In a preferred embodiment the welt strip is wrapped in fabric.

Abstract: Articles of footwear having both interior and exterior midsole components may include: (a) an upper that at least in part defines an interior chamber; (b) an interior midsole component within the interior chamber, wherein, at a forefoot region, the interior midsole component includes a longitudinal flexion line and a plurality of transverse flexion lines; and (c) an exterior sole structure engaged with the upper. This exterior sole structure may include: (a) an exterior midsole component in a heel region of the article of footwear that does not extend under the forefoot region of the article of footwear and (b) an outsole component that extends under the forefoot region. If desired, the outsole component may extend under the exterior midsole component in the rearfoot region. The interior midsole component may include a plurality of pod elements separated from one another by the flexion lines.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a medial contact portion disposed on the medial side of the article is described. The medial contact portion includes a plurality of raised elements that extend outwards from the surface of the upper on the medial side. The raised elements are configured to contact a ball during passing or trapping to absorb and dampen forces associated with the impact of the ball with the article to provide cushioning. The sizing and spacing arrangement of the raised elements on the medial contact portion provide sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the surface of the upper to contact a ball. In one embodiment, the upper is made from a synthetic leather material that has substantially the same coefficient of friction under dry conditions and wet conditions.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes first and second midsole layers and first and second outsole layers. The second midsole layer defines a plurality of bores. A first outsole layer is translucent. A second outsole layer includes a plurality of non-contiguous abrasion-resistant members that correspond in shape and size to one or more of the bores in the second midsole layer.

Abstract: A method and system harnesses human movement and activities into a renewable resource to generate electricity by wearing a plurality of electricity generating devices on articles of apparel, such as footwear. The generated energy can be stored in an energy storage device, such as a battery or a bank of ultra-capacitors, or the like. This stored energy can be periodically transferred to charge small devices and appliances. The technologies used, separately or in combination, include electromagnetic induction, piezoelectric, solar, and thermopiles. When used in footwear, as a person walks, they can generate electricity without noticing anything different from conventional walking, where electricity is not generated.

Abstract: A lacing system for an article of footwear may include a lateral series of lace-receiving elements and a medial series of lace-receiving elements. A first lace extends consecutively through a first lateral lace-receiving element, a second lateral lace-receiving element, a fourth medial lace-receiving element, a fifth lateral lace-receiving element, a third medial lace-receiving element, and again through the first lateral lace-receiving element. A second lace extends consecutively through a first medial lace-receiving element, a second medial lace-receiving element, a fourth lateral lace-receiving element, a fifth medial lace-receiving element, a third lateral lace-receiving element, and again through the first medial lace-receiving element.

Abstract: An automated tightening shoe with a single crisscrossed laces or closure panel and a tightening mechanism which operates in one direction to cause automatic tightening of the crisscrossed laces or closure panel to tighten the shoe about a wearer's foot, and which can be released easily so that the shoe can be removed from the wearer's foot. An actuating wheel partially projecting from the rear sole of the shoe provides a convenient and reliable actuating means for movement of the automated tightening mechanism in the tightening direction.

Abstract: An article of footwear is constructed from moldable foam and includes a sole portion and an upper. The upper includes a woven portion that is constructed by interweaving a number of vertical bands with a number of horizontal bands. The vertical bands can have beveled edges to reduce a bulging effect resulting from the interwoven bands.