Abstract: An sports shoe that changes shape in two ways. Firstly, a change of shape occurs when the sports shoe is used to kick a ball with the toes. This change of shape maximizes the area of contact with a ball that is kicked with the toes. Secondly, a change of shape occurs when the front of the sports shoe rotates during contact with a kicked ball.

Abstract: A band (1) comprising, on its inner surface, an irregular array of tacky areas or protrusions (6) that dissipate foci of stress in the skin (of the abdominal wall or other body areas). Wearing such a band around the abdomen is intended to help prevent the occurrence of stretch marks.

Abstract: According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Primarily because of its unique finger configurations, and/or grip enhancers, and/or hand protective properties, as well as providing an strategically located aperture exposing a portion of a user's forefinger, the present invention makes a glove more operable in various sports activities.

Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (a) an outsole component; (b) a midsole component engaged with the outsole component, wherein the midsole component includes at least one opening or receptacle; (c) at least one fluid-filled bladder system or foam system provided in the opening or receptacle; and/or (d) a rigid plate system including one or more rigid plates overlaying the fluid-filled bladder or foam system(s). The rigid plate(s) may be fixed directly to the midsole component or the rigid plate(s) may rest on the fluid-filled bladder(s) or foam somewhat above the surface of the midsole component when the sole structure is in an uncompressed condition. Articles of footwear and methods of making sole structures and articles of footwear including such sole structures also are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved sports helmet including a quick release connector assembly for the faceguard that allows for rapid disconnection of the faceguard from the helmet shell. The connector includes a bracket, and a coupler mechanism featuring an elongated pin, a head component, a spring, a retractable engaging element and a washer. The connector assembly is moveable between a use position, wherein the faceguard is secured to the shell by the bracket and the coupler mechanism, and a released position wherein the bracket and the faceguard are disconnected from the shell. An inwardly directed actuation force that lacks a rotational component is applied to the elongated pin to move from the use position to the released position.

Abstract: Provided is a shoe sole member including: a first foam member containing a first resin; and a second foam member containing a second resin, wherein the first foam member and the second foam member are fused, and the second resin has a melting point higher than that of the first resin by 20° C. or more.

Abstract: A helmet includes a housing sized for use on a human head and having an opening designed to expose a face associated with the human head and a facemask attached to the housing and situated over the opening to cover the face. The facemask has a slightly curved front portion, a slightly curved right side portion, and a slightly curved left side portion. The facemask has a plurality of substantially vertically oriented bars having different widths. The vertically oriented bars include a first type having a first width, a second type having a second width that is larger than the first width, and a third type having a third width that is larger than the first and second widths. The left and right side portions of the facemask include a first type bar and a second type bar, where the second type bar is situated nearer to the housing than the first type bar.

Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (a) an outsole component; (b) a midsole component engaged with the outsole component, wherein the midsole component includes at least one opening or receptacle; (c) at least one fluid-filled bladder system or foam system provided in the opening or receptacle; and/or (d) a rigid plate system including one or more rigid plates overlaying the fluid-filled bladder or foam system(s). The rigid plate(s) may be fixed directly to the midsole component or the rigid plate(s) may rest on the fluid-filled bladder(s) or foam somewhat above the surface of the midsole component when the sole structure is in an uncompressed condition. Articles of footwear and methods of making sole structures and articles of footwear including such sole structures also are described.

Abstract: A shoe embryo tailored from a tubular fabric is provided. The shoe embryo includes a sole portion, a toe cap portion located at one end of the sole portion, a heel portion located at the other end of the sole portion, and an ankle portion located above the sole portion and near the heel portion. The ankle portion includes an ankle opening overlock line formed by trimming the tubular fabric and overlocking. The heel portion includes a heel overlock line formed by trimming the tubular fabric and overlocking, and a sole overlock line formed by folding below the heel overlock line and overlocking. The toe cap portion includes a toe cap overlock line formed by trimming the tubular fabric and overlocking.

Abstract: Spats comprise: a body, one end and the other end of which are attached to or detached from each other; an elastic line extending from the one end to the other end inside of the lower side of the body; and one or more hooks connected to the elastic line and exposed to the outside.

Abstract: A spike is operable to be removably coupled to an article of footwear. The spike includes a first portion that is substantially rigid. The spike also includes a second portion that is resilient.

Abstract: The invention relates to articles of footwear, and portions thereof, including convex and/or concave elements thereon, and related systems and methods for designing and manufacturing same. An example article of footwear including a midsole having a medial side, a lateral side, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the midsole including a sidewall, wherein the sidewall includes a first wall portion having a plurality of convex structures extending out from the sidewall and a second wall portion having a plurality of concave structures extending into the sidewall.

Abstract: A footwear article having a cartridge enclosing a fluid, the cartridge including a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet, and a fluid circulation system for circulating the fluid into the cartridge inlet and out of the cartridge outlet. The fluid circulation system may include a pump having a pump inlet in fluid communication with the cartridge outlet and a pump outlet in fluid communication with the cartridge inlet. Preferably, the cartridge further encloses particulate matter suspendable in the fluid. The pump may be a bellows pump. The cartridge is preferably interchangeable and can be attached and detached from the footwear article.

Abstract: Headwear for partially covering a hat is described wherein the hat has a crown and a headband region. The headwear comprises a piece of material of an irregular shape which has an aperture located closer to a side portion of the headwear material than other sides of the material. The aperture size is adjustable so as to permit the headwear material to be fixable to the hat about the headband region of the hat and to leave the crown of the hat uncovered by the material. The specification also discloses a hood for clothing having an adjustable sized aperture so as to permit the hood material to be fixable to the hat about the headband region of the hat and to leave the crown of the hat uncovered by the material while the hood is still part of the clothing such as a sweat shirt.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically producing a cord structure are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises automatically forming, with at least one robotic arm, a first plurality of loops in a first plane, and automatically forming, with the at least one robotic arm, a second plurality of loops in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, the second plurality of loops slippably engaged with the first plurality of loops. In this way, cord structures may be quickly constructed, thereby reducing labor input and expense.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that includes a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one side wall extending upward from the foot-facing surface. The at least one side wall has a first notch in an upper periphery of the side wall in the forefoot portion. The first notch is configured to be open when the forefoot portion of the sole plate is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range and closed when the forefoot portion of the sole plate is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range greater than the first portion.

Abstract: Systems and devices are described for creating a more effective mechanical ventilation system for footwear. For example, a mechanical ventilation system can include an air reservoir that is almost as large as the entire shoe under the footwear's foot bed. In some examples, the air reservoir can be connected to an area that includes a foot of a user in the footwear. The air reservoir can be compressed using a movable part that circulates air in the footwear with every step. The movable part can be relatively small, extending into the air reservoir, and able to compress and inflate the air reservoir. Movement of the movable part can cause a large effective compressible area of the air reservoir to release fresh air near the toes of a foot to flush stale air out of the footwear.

Abstract: A multi-durometer sole structure includes a sole structure body including a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region between the heel region and the forefoot region, a medial edge, and a lateral edge opposite the medial edge. The sole structure body further includes a first body segment extending along the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, a second body segment extending along the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, and a third body segment extending along midfoot region and the heel region. The first, second, and third body segments are made of different materials having three different hardnesses, respectively, such that a total hardness of the sole structure body varies from the medial edge to the lateral edge.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing uppers for articles footwear that include thermo-forming an upper composed of one or more low melting point thermoplastic polymers. The methods may include disposing a skin for forming an upper over and inflatable bladder. The skin may include at least one of a base layer composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer and a grid layer including a yarn composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer. The skin and inflatable bladder may be placed into a mold cavity and the mold may be heated to a predetermined temperature. The inflatable bladder may be inflated such that the skin is pressed against an interior surface of the heated mold cavity to cause the skin to take on the shape of the internal surface of the mold cavity, thereby forming an upper for an article of footwear.

Abstract: A garment wearable by an individual using a harness system of a vehicle seat has an inner front layer, and an adjacent outer front layer comprising a left panel, a right panel and a coupling member adapted to join or separate the left and right panels. The garment is adapted to receive one or more harness straps of the harness system between the inner front layer and the outer front layer when the one or more harness straps are routed from a shoulder region to a waist region of the garment, and when so routed, the one or more harness straps lie flush against at least a chest area of the inner front layer.