Abstract: The application relates to a sole (20) for footwear (10) which has a toe part (70) being made of a substantially inflexible material, a ball part (80) being made of a flexible material, and an instep-heel part (90) being made of a substantially inflexible material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the substantially inflexible material is carbon fiber in a thermoplastic epoxy resin and the flexible material of an aramide fiber in a thermoplastic epoxy resin. The application also teaches a shoe made with this sole and a method for the manufacture of the shoe.

Abstract: A shoe structure specifically designed to more securely fit a wider range of feet widths and proportions by providing an integrated resilient heel device in the rearfoot region of the upper. The heel device extends upward and rearward toward the back of the foot to avoid the bulbous end of the calcaneus but also to engage the area just above the heel bone. The heel device has opposing portions that are biased toward one another and provide a secure but comfortable engagement of the shoe onto the wearer's heel. The heel device is smaller than the size of the shoe into which it is incorporated to enhance the biasing effect of the opposing portions.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper and having a support assembly. The support assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate spaced from the upper plate. The lower plate has a peripheral edge and a plurality of spring arms, with each spring arm curving initially outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly from the peripheral edge to the upper plate.

Abstract: An energy-return shoe system includes a shoe portion for containing a user's foot, an upper sole with an upper toe sole area and an upper heel sole area, the upper sole affixed to a bottom surface of the shoe portion and the upper sole capable of bending at a point between the upper toe sole area and the upper heel sole area. A lower sole has a lower toe sole area and a lower heel sole area; the lower sole is also capable of bending at a point between the lower toe sole area and the lower heel sole area. The upper toe sole area is linked to the lower toe sole area by linkages that hold the upper toe sole area is held parallel to the lower toe sole area. The upper heel sole area is linked to the lower heel sole area by linkages that hold the upper heel sole area is held parallel to the lower heel sole area and the upper heel sole area is held in a same horizontal position with respect to the lower heel sole area.

Abstract: A child resistant drug package. The package includes a blister layer having at least one blister and a plurality of backing layers covering the blister layer. The backing layers include tabs that require sequential removal in order to gain access to the contents of the blister.

Abstract: A pouch for holding cards, flat sheets, photos, pictures and also a disc such as a CD or DVD: the pouch having lateral seams defining lateral sides, a bottom seam defining the bottom side of the pouch, and a downward recess in the bottom seam for nesting of a disc in the recess. A top flap above the upper open end of the pouch. Laterally inwardly extending upper and lower sets of seams holding the flap to the backing strip. The upper seams are of a longer length inward in the lateral direction. The upper and lower seams define a nest area at the top region of a disc and cooperate with recess at the bottom to hold the disc against lateral shifting. Single and plural arrays of the pouches on the backing are possible.

Abstract: A technique is provided in which a shoe is decorated by placing a stick-on tattoo on the outer surface of the shoe. The present invention also provides a shoe having an outer portion made from one or more base materials, as well as a plain smooth plastic strip which is stitched around its entire circumference to the one or more base materials, so as to be surrounded on all edges by the one or more base materials. The present invention still further provides a method for decorating a shoe in which a first decal is applied to an outer surface the shoe, the first decal is then removed from the shoe, and a second decal is applied to the outer surface of the shoe. According to this aspect of the invention, the first decal is less than one millimeter thick, adheres well to smooth portions of the shoe, and can be removed with no more than moderate effort by only scratching with a fingernail even after adhering to a smooth portion of the shoe for more than one month.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer retaining structure includes a container made of a conductive material in which a plurality of semiconductor wafers is stacked and contained, spacer sheets put between the semiconductor wafers, and end-cushioning materials put to the upper and bottom end portions of the semiconductor wafers thus stacked and contained. Slits are formed in the container for transferring the semiconductor wafers in and from the container by a robot.

Abstract: A sharps bagging apparatus has an access member with one or more conforming openings which conform to the profile of a retracted medical device to allow bagging collected retracted medical devices with a satisfactory degree of assurance that all or virtually all the devices are in the safe retracted condition. The access member is used with a collapsible disposal bag which may removably fill a disposal container or in one embodiment be fixedly secured to the access member. The access member is adapted to fit plastic or wire containers removably or lockedly. Sloping sides in the access member create a centering well which tends to center a retracted device and may include a triggering wall which can activate the retraction mechanism of an unretracted device. When the access member is provided with an attached collapsible bag, they can be stacked for economical transport and storage.

Abstract: According to the invention, this footwear part (1) comprises a structural part (2) formed by a rigid sole (10), an enclosing edge (11) integral with the front part of this sole (10) and a sleeve part (12) integral with the rear part of this sole (10) and shaped so as to enclose the ankle and the lower leg of the user. This sleeve part (12) is separate from the edge (11) and has walls offset toward the inside of the sole (10) relative to the wall of the edge (11), in such a manner that there are, on either side of this structural part (2), two slots (20), oriented substantially in a longitudinal direction, in which an upper (3) made from flexible or semi-flexible material may be engaged.

Abstract: A child's sandal, having removable and interchangeable soles that may be attached to a permanent upper sole, where the bottom of the removable soles has any desired textured graphical design, such as an animal paw print or the like. A removable ornamental design may be added to an upper portion of the sandal, on top of a wearer's foot, to correspond to the underside of the removable sole. For instance, if the underside of the removable sole includes a design that resembles a bear claw track, then the removable ornamental design may resemble a bear's face and head. Similarly, if the underside of the removable sole resembles the footprint of a rabbit's foot, then the removable ornamental design may resemble a rabbit's face, head, and ears. This arrangement allows a child to choose from any number of available soles and ornamental designs to be attached to a single pair of sandals or flip-flops.

Abstract: A midsole assembly for an athletic shoe includes a midsole formed of soft elastic material and a corrugated sheet disposed in a heel portion to a forefoot portion of the midsole. The upper midsole has a different hardness than the lower midsole. When the upper midsole has a lower hardness than the lower midsole, foot contact feeling and cushioning properties can be improved. On the other hand, when the lower midsole has a lower hardness than the upper midsole, shock load on landing is relieved and the cushioning properties can be improved. Moreover, in this case, when the load from the sole of a foot is applied to the upper midsole having a relatively high hardness, the corrugated sheet functions in such a way that the lateral deformation of the upper midsole can be prevented and running stability can be secured.

Abstract: An improved binding for use with snowshoes and like sport apparatus is disclosed which employs a novel mounting arrangement similar to the calcanean wrapping technique used by athletic trainers to wrap the ankles of athletes, thereby resulting in an ambidextrous binding which comfortably and securely fits a wide variety of sizes of feet in an ergonomic manner while enhancing the performance of both the binding and the snowshoe to which it is attached. The binding has left and right side members pivotally mounted on a base member between the front and an intermediate longitudinal position thereupon, and left and right calcanean wrap members pivotally mounted on the base member near the rear thereof.

Abstract: A therapeutic shoe for shifting the weight exerted on the foot of a wearer in a frontward or rearward direction as required has a sole and an upper portion configured to retain the foot of the user in contact with the sole. A recessed track, formed in the lower surface of the sole, extends parallel to the length of the sole and along a major portion of its length. At least one support block is provided for attachment to the lower surface of the sole at any of a plurality of positions along the entirety of the recessed track. Also provided is a heel protection configuration.

Abstract: The invention provides a footwear article that may be worn in a first mode which permits easy removal, or may be worn in a second mode that provides a secure fit. The article includes an elastic region and a locking component on at least one of its sides. When worn in the first mode, the elastic region is capable of stretching which may increase the wearer's comfort and facilitates the removing the article and putting on the article on at a later time. When worn in the second mode, a fastener, such as a shoelace, is engaged with the locking component prior to tying. The engagement between the locking component and the shoelace restricts the stretching of the elastic material, thus, maintaining a tight securement of the article on the foot. A variety of footwear articles are contemplated by the invention including shoes and boots.

Abstract: A shoe with air valve for air refreshing system which includes an air inlet valve and an air outlet valves. The sole has a lateral wall that defines an air chamber and air channels in an inner portion of the sole, and there is an isolating wall separating the air chamber and air channels. The lateral wall has a through hole or bore therethrough and the isolating wall has an angled through hole or bore therethrough. The air valve has a mounting portion with a movable diaphragm and the air valve can be inserted in the lateral wall bore of the air chamber in the sole so as to provide a unidirectional air inlet valve. The unidirectional air valve can also be installed in the bore in the isolating wall. The upper portion of the through hole is formed with an expanding portion and a diaphragm is placed in the expanding portion. Thus, an air outlet valve is formed.

Abstract: A sandal is formed as a one-piece construction and includes a sole incorporating toe dividing structure that can be shifted to a position wherein toes of a user can be arranged between dividers to enhance the ability of the user to obtain a pedicure. This toe dividing structure is preferably formed by making perforations or cuts in the sole such that the toe dividing structure can be popped out of the sole. The cuts are made to form a number of discrete dividers, with each divider being adapted to be placed between adjacent toes of the user. A strap is also preferably cut out of the sole to aid in securing the sandal to a user's foot. The sole is made of a cushion material to make the sandal comfortable to wear.

Abstract: The boot has a cuff (4) articulated to a shell (1) and means for retaining the cuff which counteract the rearward tilting of the cuff but give way when the force tilting the cuff exceeds a specific value. These means consist essentially of a ramp (12) which is integral with the shell or the other component of the boot and against which a bearing element (8) integral with the cuff bears. The ramp and the bearing element can push one another against the action of a spring (9). An escape position allows the cuff to tilt. Such a boot is intended to prevent tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee.

Abstract: A sandal having an active, self-adjusting harness and method therefore typically used in the out-of-doors for rigorous activities includes rubber and synthetic materials and exhibits a lightweight robust, high-strength, flexible construction including an elongated sole for supporting a foot where the sole has a toe end and a heel end. A center toe strap is anchored in the toe end and includes a distal end fixedly connected to a front buckle. A rear strap is anchored in the heel end and has a first end and a second end extending above the sole. The first end and the second end of the rear strap are respectively connected to an inside rear buckle and an outside rear buckle. A self-adjusting harness comprised of a single strap is anchored in the toe end. The single strap includes an inside end and an outside end each extending above the sole.

Abstract: A device for adjusting at least lengthwise a shoe as a function of growth of the size of the foot of the wearer, the shoe comprising a sole, with a front portion (28) and a rear portion (30), a lower insole (12) and an upper insole (14) and an upper (16) comprising an instep (20) and a rear quarter (22). The instep (20) is secured to the front portion (28) of the sole, the rear quarter (22) is secured to the rear portion (30) of the sole. The sole comprises a region of elongation (24) interposed between the front portion (28) and the rear portion (30) with elements for blocking as to length.