Abstract: An impact absorbing footwear device employs opposed planar sole portions engaged by a selective resistance coupling that biases the opposed planar sole portions in a non-linear manner in response to forces exerted by the wearer against the sole portion in frictional contact with a floor surface. The planar sole portions are disposed in a footwear appliance that takes the form of an athletic shoe sole. The selective resistance coupling includes a plurality of resilient deformation members that engage the planar sole portions in an opposed circumferentially aligned manner, selectively deform in response to pressure exerted by the wearer for preventing ACL and other impact related injuries, and recover to an undeformed rest position without breakaway to allow the wearer uninterrupted usage while dampening forces that surpass an injury threshold from the resilient deformation that allows the planar sole portions to temporarily misalign.

Abstract: The elastic closure for footwear is a releasable closure for an open upper of an article of footwear. The elastic closure includes an elastomeric loop having opposed first and second ends, an anchoring member, such as a button, secured to the first end of the elastomeric loop, and an aglet secured to and covering the second end of the elastomeric loop. In use, the aglet and the second end of the elastomeric loop are inserted from above through a first eyelet of an upper of the article of footwear, so that the aglet and the second end of the elastomeric loop may be drawn through a second eyelet of the upper from below. The button prevents the first end of the elastomeric loop from passing through the first eyelet. The second end of the elastomeric loop is then stretched across the upper and releasably secured about the button.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole, an upper defining a foot cavity, and a brace member. The brace member is comprised of a non-elastic resilient material. The brace member is positioned within a pocket in the upper and extends from a heel portion to above an ankle portion of the upper. The brace member may be provided with a top plate member and a base plate member with a central shaft extending between the top plate member and the base plate member. The central shaft may have a C-shape that curves around an ankle of a human foot positioned within the foot cavity.

Abstract: An article of footwear or another product may incorporate a pressure chamber that includes (a) a bladder at least partially formed from a polymer material that is sealed to enclose a pressurized fluid and (b) a strand wound around the bladder and secured to the bladder. In manufacturing the pressure chamber, a bladder with an elongate configuration may be formed. A strand is wound around the bladder, and the strand is secured to the bladder. When incorporated to a sole structure of the article of footwear, for example, a portion of the bladder that includes the strands may be exposed at an outer surface of the sole structure.

Abstract: A pair of disposable hand coverings has a body formed of a front film layer and back film layer sealed together about a periphery to form a pair of opposing hand coverings each having a finger section at opposite closed ends and each having a wrist section with at least one line of weakening at the wrist sections to ease separating each of the pair of hand coverings.

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: A footwear sole structure may include a plurality of discrete hexagonally-shaped sole elements defined by a plurality of sipes. The sipes may include a plurality of sipes that extend in a transverse direction across the sole structure and a plurality of sipes that extend in an oblique direction relative to the transverse sipes. A plurality of sipes may also subdivide the hexagonally-shaped sole elements into one or more diamond-shaped sole element portions. The sole structure may include additional features such as non-hexagonal sole elements and lugs distributed across a bottom surface of the sole structure.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a knitted component and, in some configurations, a skin layer secured to the knitted component. The knitted component may have a plurality of protruding areas that extend outward and away from a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer. The protruding areas may include one or both of (a) a first tubular structure and an inlaid strand extending through the first tubular structure and (b) a second tubular structure and yarn sections extending across the second tubular structure.

Abstract: A leg garment according to the present invention includes a body portion covering at least an instep, a sole and an ankle of a leg. The leg garment includes a support strip exerting a tightening force larger than that of a portion of the leg garment around the support strip. The support strip is arranged in the shape of an inwardly-wound helix extending from the instep to the ankle through the sole. The support strip includes: a first tightening portion arranged so as to medially extend from the instep to the sole; and a second tightening portion arranged so as to extend obliquely upward from a lateral side to a medial side of a ventral ankle, the second tightening portion compressing the ventral ankle via a surface thereof.

Abstract: A footwear system is disclosed, which includes a shell having an inner cavity and at least one recessed area offset from an inner surface of the shell, and a chassis having one or more components adapted to protect a user's foot from injury. In one embodiment, the chassis is insertable into the inner cavity of the shell, such that the one or more components of the chassis are securely retained (e.g., permanently affixed) within the at least one recessed area of the shell. Methods of forming the aforementioned footwear system using expandable materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber, which may be incorporated into articles of footwear and other products, may include an outer barrier and a tensile element. The outer barrier may have a first portion, an opposite second portion, and an interior surface defining an interior void. The tensile element may be secured to the first portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of first bond areas and may be secured to the second portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of second bond areas. Each of the bond areas may be connected to portions of the tensile element spaced from the interior surface.

Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber, which may be incorporated into articles of footwear and other products, may include an outer barrier and a tensile element. The outer barrier may have a first portion, an opposite second portion, and an interior surface defining an interior void. The tensile element may be secured to the first portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of first bond areas and may be secured to the second portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of second bond areas. Each of the bond areas may be connected to portions of the tensile element spaced from the interior surface.

Abstract: An apparatus including a retaining device and a plurality of flexible memory spike devices for golf. The retaining device may be adapted to be temporarily attached to a shoe. The retaining device may be adapted so that the plurality of spike devices can be attached or detached from the retaining device. The retaining device may be made of an elastomeric material. The retaining device may have a plurality of openings, and each of the plurality of spike devices can be at least partially inserted into a corresponding one of the plurality of openings to attach each of the plurality of spike devices to the retaining device.

Abstract: A system for securing shoes to the feet utilizing a one or two pull fit adjustment set of straps. The embodiments utilize a number of straps, some variable in length, positioned at select points across and around the top and sides of the shoe. At least one strap in the system provides an adjustable length whereby all straps may be drawn together to tighten the shoe, preferably in both a horizontal and a vertical direction across the profile of the shoe. The system utilizes a variety of strong, lightweight, nylon buckles, strips, anchor loops, permitting attachment and motion of the adjustment straps over the top and sides of the shoe. Included are three-point attachment embodiments, as well as two-point attachment embodiments, most with a one pull adjustment structure. Most embodiments are on the medial side of the shoe although some may be implemented on the lateral side.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure engaged with the upper. The sole structure includes a polymeric foam member for supporting an entire plantar surface of a wearer's foot, and this polymeric foam member is formed from a foam material having a density of less than 0.25 g/cm3. The foam material forms an exposed side surface of the sole structure. The sole structure further includes a protective member engaged with the polymeric foam member to cover at least 60% of a surface area of a bottom surface of the polymeric foam member. This protective member constitutes a web base surface with traction elements extending downward therefrom, and a thickness of a majority of the web base surface at locations between the traction elements is less than 2 mm thick.

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: A ballet pointe shoe having a sole, an upper, a toebox, a platform, a shank, and a heel is disclosed. The ballet pointe shoe comprises a more rigid portion and a less rigid portion. The more rigid portion is above the sole and below the upper. The more rigid portion has a graduated increasing thickness at least partially inside the toebox and toward the platform. The more rigid portion diminishes to a remaining thickness toward the heel.

Abstract: A high-heeled shoe is provided that includes a base with a receiving area defined in the ball support portion of the base and a cushioning insert positioned in the receiving area. The shoe further includes a support assembly that includes a first heel and a second heel, and is attached to the bottom surface of the base. The first heel and the second heel can be positioned on the support assembly such that the first heel and the second heel are aligned with one another, or the first heel and the second heel can be positioned on the support assembly such that the first heel and the second heel are angled with the first heel crossing the second heel.

Abstract: A bicycle shoe support includes a rigid support frame and a flexible support member. The rigid support frame has a cleat attachment section, a heel section and a pair of side sections. The heel section is arranged with respect to the cleat attachment section. The side sections longitudinally extend between the cleat attachment section and the heel section to define a foot receiving space therebetween. The flexible support member extends beneath the foot receiving space.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole, an upper defining a foot cavity, and a brace member. The brace member is comprised of a non-elastic resilient material. The brace member is positioned within a pocket in the upper and extends from a heel portion to above an ankle portion of the upper. The brace member may be provided with a top plate member and a base plate member with a central shaft extending between the top plate member and the base plate member. The central shaft may have a C-shape that curves around an ankle of a human foot positioned within the foot cavity.