Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear is provided having a series of interconnected chambers filled with ambient or slightly pressurized air. An impedance is provided between selected chambers, in order to restrict the flow of air between the chambers. The shape and structure of the impedance determines the nature of the air flow between chambers, such that the cushioning member can be tailored for various types of activities and body weights, by offering varying degrees of cushioning.

Abstract: The invention provides a freely detachable insole and wooden mold as well as a method of manufacturing shoes, the method using the freely detachable insole and wooden mold, and the method being characterized in that the operation of attaching the insole to the wooden mold can be done in speedy fashion; the alignment of the insole can be easily adjusted even when the insole is attached to the mold not in alignment; there is no danger of failing to pull out nails; and there is no requirement of any special equipment cost. The method of manufacturing shoes comprises the steps of: providing suckers on a wooden shoe mold, attaching the wooden mold and the insole together by such means of causing adherence by suction between a generally flat surface mating the suckers and being provided on the shoe insole and the suckers being provided on the wooden mold made to be freely detachable, and covering the wooden mold by a shoe vamp to thereafter complete a tucking operation.

Abstract: A sandal construction having ankle and heel straps that are secured to the sandal by a pair of posts. Each of the posts is affixed to the sole at two laterally spaced-apart locations to provide the posts with substantial lateral stability. The posts preferably have a generally “inverted Y-shape,” with an inner leg secured to the sole in a first location and an outer leg secured to the sole at a second location spaced laterally outwardly from the first location. The inner leg of the post preferably extends through a slot in the sole and is adhesively secured to the undersurface of the midsole and the outer leg preferably extends along and is adhesively secured to the side surface of the sole.

Abstract: The invention is an article of footwear having a sole comprised of one or more support elements formed of a resilient, compressible material. The support elements are designed such that impact forces generated by movements of a wearer deflect the support elements in a manner that produces a force directed to center the wearer's foot above the sole. The directed deflection characteristics of the support elements are due to a downward cant of the support elements' upper surfaces and flexion indentations that facilitate bending in one direction.

Abstract: An upper/insole assembly for use in constructing an article of footwear includes an upper and an insole. The upper has an inner surface, an outer surface, a lateral peripheral flange, and a medial peripheral flange. The insole has a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral peripheral edge, a medial peripheral edge, an arch portion, a phalangeal portion, and a heel portion. At least a portion of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper are stitched to the insole in the phalangeal and heel portions but they are not stitched to the insole through the arch portion. Additionally, the lateral peripheral flange of the upper is wrapped around the lateral peripheral edge of the insole in the arch portion and the medial peripheral flange of the upper is wrapped around the medial peripheral edge of the insole in the arch portion. Moreover, the lateral and medial peripheral flanges are secured to the bottom surface of the arch portion of the insole.

Abstract: Improved footwear and accessory devices, such as crampons, are disclosed for enhancing the performance of footwear under different conditions and, thus, providing more versatile footwear. The footwear has an outsole flex zone in a forefoot region that flexes during hiking and climbing in various terrains. The footwear also includes toe and heel attachment points for installation of an accessory, such as a crampon and, additionally, includes a midfoot attachment point for mounting of the accessory. The midfoot attachment point is preferably located between the outsole flex zone and the heel attachment point. A forefoot contact mechanism may also be provided in the footwear outsole that interacts with a rigid forefoot contact mechanism of the accessory to enhance the rigidity of the forefoot region when the accessory is mounted. A crampon accessory device for mounting on the footwear is also disclosed.

Abstract: An assemblage of disposable plastic gloves held firmly in a point-of-sales display to prevent pilferage therefrom and which, during removal from the point-of-sales display after purchase, is slipped off of a cut end of a cardboard length portion contained along with the gloves, such that the grip on the gloves is loosened to the extent that they can be removed one-at-a-time as needed, and the point-of-sales display then serves as a convenient storage organizer for the gloves.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole with a stability element constructed of a material and configured for controlling, in a preselected manner, the rotation of the forefoot portion of the article of footwear around the longitudinal axis with respect to the rearfoot portion.

Abstract: An athletic shoe is provided which contributes to dynamic stability of the shoe during several athletic activities. The athletic shoe comprises a tapered lateral wedge section and may further include a lateral heel stabilizer, a medial heel wedge and a tapered lateral forefoot section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin-plate supporting container 1 having a container body 2, and a thin-plate supporting unit 3 for supporting the semiconductor wafers from both sides thereof in the container body. There are provided a lid 4, and an easy attach/detach mechanism for attaching and detaching the lid 4. The easy attach/detach mechanism 31 is composed of a lid engaging claw 32 provided on the circumference of the lid 4, and object engagement part 28, provided on the container body 2, for engaging with the lid engagement claw 32 so as to secure the lid 4 to the container body 2, an arm 34 for releasing the lid engagement claw 32 from the object engagement part 28; and an elevating mechanism for slightly elevating the lid 4 from the container body 2 when the lid engagement claw 32 is released by means of the arm 34. The thin-plate supporting unit 3, the top flange 5, the carrying handle 6 are detachably mounted. The thin-plate supporting unit 3 is formed with a V-shaped groove 38.

Abstract: A watch-containing shoe for allowing the user to know the time without having to carry or wear a watch. The watch-containing shoe includes a shoe having a top portion and side portions and including a tongue member having a top, a first end and a second end which is securely attached to the top portion; and also includes a watch being securely attached to the shoe.

Abstract: The martial arts shoe is comprised of a sole and an upper attached thereon. The sole has a raised rim. A rib is attached to the sole on an outer side of the shoe for providing better grip and for protecting the outer edge of the foot. A rigid insert is embedded in the rim for additional protection. The rim has gaps on the sides near the front to enable a toe portion of the sole to bend back more fully for front kicks. A tread pattern on the bottom of the sole includes suction cups along the outer edge for grip, transverse grooves at the toe area for grip, longitudinal grooves behind the toe area for fore and aft sliding, and concentric circular grooves at the ball and heel areas for pivoting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spike, which includes a base (2), a claw (4) formed on a tip end of the base (2) and having a trapezoidal tip end portion, and a recess (6) formed in a rear side of the base (2) and extending from the claw (4) to the base (2), the recess (6) being curved relative to a longitudinal direction (7) of the spike (1).

Abstract: A golf cleat of the type having a base member and a plurality of outwardly angled traction teeth with the traction teeth having multifaceted design, and a mounting arrangement on the underside of the base member. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting stud having a multi-start thread and at least one locking post which coact with annular locking formations in the receptacle to thereby provide a stud having a multi-start thread complementary to the multi-start thread of the socket or receptacle whereby a simple quarter-turn of the cleat is fitted in its place with the locking formations on the thread engaged with the quadrant post to retain the cleat in the socket.

Abstract: A midsole comprises a heel cup having a semi-rigid upper plate, a lower plate composed of a material that is softer than the upper plate, and at least one telescopic shock absorber between the upper and lower plates. The telescopic shock absorbers have one portion that collapses into a second portion when the shock absorber is loaded or compressed. On release of the load, the shock absorbers of the invention return only a controlled portion of the compressive load originally applied. A second embodiment has a translucent heel cup and shock absorbers and a lamp for illuminating the heel cup and shock absorbers.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a bladder system providing cushioning and dynamic motion control in a multi-bladder system. The bladder system gives the needed amount of motion control by stiffening a portion of the footwear in response to the individual user's side-to-side motion. When used in the heel, the bladder system takes into consideration a center-of-pressure pathway of the foot to increase medial stiffness in response to lateral-to-medial rotation of the foot, so the more a user pronates, the stiffer the medial portion of the footwear is made. The bladder system provides comfort and control without the extra weight and bulk of prior art support structures. The bladder system dynamically changes the stiffness of a portion of the footwear when pressure is applied thereto, and returns to equilibrium when the pressure is removed.

Abstract: This invention pertains to enclosed footwear in combination with a leg covering or body covering that is storable within a compartment that is integral with an exterior of the enclosed footwear. The leg covering can be either a gaiter or a pants leg portion, and the body covering can be either a sack portion or a suit portion.

Abstract: A spike for an athletic shoe having a ground engaging portion which is generally z-shaped in cross-section A spike according to the invention includes a first elongate portion having second and third elongate portions extending angularly therefrom. The second and third portions are parallel in one embodiment. In other embodiment, the respective angles of the second and third portions with respect to the central portion may vary slightly. The invention is also embodied in a shoe having one or more spikes as described above and arranged in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A sports shoe with an integral tongue and acing system. The shoe includes an upper which is formed of a lateral portion and a medial portion. The medial portion extends across into the lateral side of the shoe and is configured to be placed beneath a longitudinal edge of the lateral portion. A plurality of eyelets or apertures are formed in the shoe and arranged in three rows. Two of the rows are located in the medial portion of the shoe and one row is located in the lateral portion of the shoe. A lining is placed on the interior surface of the medial portion such that the first and second rows of apertures are not exposed to the interior of the shoe. Respective pathways are defined between corresponding apertures of the two rows of the medial portion and between the medial portion and the adjacent lining for the accommodation of a lace therethrough.

Abstract: This invention comprises a plurality of concave pads adapted to be externally attached to the foot or to athletic or other footwear for use in foot game sports.