Abstract: A shoe having a removable sole is provided. The shoe includes one or more straps that are insertable through corresponding apertures in the soles to attach a sole to a base of the shoe. The removable soles provide a shoe with capability to interchange soles, thereby providing for specialized soles to supply for a single shoe, which allows use of the shoe with various athletic sports.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a midsole for an article of footwear is described that includes a first foaming cord made of a first material and a second foaming cord made of a second material. The first material is different than the second material. The first foaming cord and the second foaming cord are embroidered into a shape of the midsole. The first foaming cord and the second foaming cord may be embroidered to a substrate material by thread. A midsole can include multiple layers of foaming cords. Customized midsoles may be formed by selective placement of one or more foaming cords in different locations or layers to provide different properties or characteristics to the midsole.

Abstract: A helmet for protecting the head of a user. The helmet includes an outer shell, an inner shell having padding that contacts the head and a cavity formed between the inner and the outer shells, wherein the cavity is filled with a fluid such as air. The helmet also includes a plurality of resilient strands located in the cavity and affixed between the outer and inner shells, wherein an impact force on the outer shell causes the head to impact the padding with a reaction force that compresses the cavity. Compression of the cavity pushes fluid through the strands to increase fluid friction and alter a velocity of the fluid. This decreases the energy of impact and consequently reduces an amount of force transferred to the head thereby protecting the head from normal and shear force.

Abstract: A sports shoe includes an instep and a rigid outer sole, the sole having a front portion including a first plurality of studs, a central portion, and a rear portion including a second plurality of studs. The rear portion includes a thickened portion with a flat outer surface on which the second plurality of studs is located, the thickened portion raising the rear portion relative to the front portion; the central portion includes an inwardly curved outer profile.

Abstract: A method of making a knitted shoe includes the steps of: (A) preparing a tube main body having opposite first and second openings; (B) closing the first opening to form a front joined part; (C) cutting an oval shaped opening in the tube main body and closing the same to form a side joined part proximate to the front joined part; (D) preparing and sleeving a three-dimensional rigid foam sleeve on a shoe last; (E) adhering the tube main body to an outer surface of the foam sleeve so as to form a tubular knitted upper; (F) placing the shoe last in an oven for heating; (G) removing the shoe last from the oven; (H) adhering a sole to a bottom side of the tubular knitted upper; and (I) removing the shoe last from the tubular knitted upper.

Abstract: Portions of an article of footwear are formed from an extruded member. A sole or portion of a sole can be formed from one or more extruded members. The extruded member can be a single, continuous piece of solid material. A sole for an article of footwear can be fashioned from an extruded member formed in a controlled geometric pattern. The sole can include one or more layers.

Abstract: A pocket system that integrates a bag and apparel, including a fabric storage compartment when in use as a bag, and a bag component storage compartment when in use as apparel, with a continuous compartment for storing items while as a bag, apparel and through conversion from bag to apparel and vice versa. When in a bag embodiment, the fabric of the apparel is drawn out of the fabric storage compartment, inverting said compartment, forming a new compartment into which the bag components are drawn and stored. When in apparel mode, the process is reversed to complete the transformation, i.e. the bag components are removed from the storage pocket, drawing the apparel material into the newly formed pocket.