Abstract: An alpine ski boot has a flexible upper and a sole permitting the flexing of the foot during walking. The boot comprises essentially a flexible upper (1), an intermediate sole (2) having rigid extremities (7, 8) extending beyond the upper at the front and at the rear and of a form which enables holding by holding elements of a standard ski binding, and a flexible sole (3) preferably of rubber. The intermediate sole is, preferably, made of a semi-rigid plastic, providing a flexible zone or a joint.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a strap assembly (150) for a sports boot (100), that includes a first strap (151) pivotally connected at one end to the boot heel portion (130), and a second strap (161) pivotally connected to the opposite side of the heel portion. A clasp (159) is provided that allows the first strap to be adjustably connected to the second strap. One or both of the straps are attached to the heel portion with a slider mechanism (180) that allows the proximal ends of the straps to be selectively adjusted. The slider mechanism includes a slider plate (181) attached to the boot upper (120) having a medial channel (184) with an elongate slot (186). A nut plate (200) is slidably disposed in the medial channel, and a screw (210) connects the strap to the nut plate.

Abstract: A multi-sleeve booklet for holding flat objects includes a plurality of sleeves joined in series and folded upon each other in an accordion fashion, and a spine panel forming a spine of the booklet and hingedly interconnecting all the sleeves together. Each sleeve has a pair of front and back panels hingedly connected together. The front and back panels are secured in face to face contacting relationship while the spine panel is joined to one of the opposed outermost sleeves and secured to the other of the outermost sleeves.

Abstract: An item of footwear has an opening 4 for insertion of a wearer's foot and a pair of rigid fastening elements 10 and 11 for drawing together opposite sides of the opening. The first element 10 has a screw thread 14 to receive a bead 15, and the free end of the second element 11 is bent orthogonally and formed into a U-shaped hook 16. When the wearer has placed his/her foot into the boot the element 10 is placed over the mouth of the hook 16. By applying gentle finger pressure the bead 15 is caused to ride over the shank of the second element 11 so that the hook 16 embraces the first element 10 and engages behind the bead 15. The tension in the fastening can be adjusted by screwing the bead 15 along the thread 14. The fastening is easy to engage and disengage when the wearer's fingers are cold or when wearing heavy gloves, yet the fastening is secure enough to be used with snowboarding or ski boots.

Abstract: An assembly for processing blanks comprises a first endless conveyor (1) with locations for holders for the blanks and at least one stationary processing station as well as optionally a second conveyor (6) arranged next to said first conveyor (1). The first conveyor (1) comprises a number of self-propelled vehicles (2), where each vehicle carries a tool (4) and a holding device (3) for the blank device. The first conveyor (1) comprises at least one guiding line (19) marked on the running surface (18). Each vehicle (2) comprises sensors (20) detecting the guiding line, and guiding means (22) guiding the vehicle into the guiding line (19) of the running surface.

Abstract: A method for making shoes comprises the stages of molding a base of the shoe according to a preset curve, folding the edges of the base outwards, folding the flaps of an upper outwards and of joining the upper to the base at the outer edge of the base. The method may also comprise stages of applying a thermoformable element on a first surface of the base, at least at the outer edge of the base and of applying a sole element, on at least a portion of a second surface of the base. A shoe obtained in this way, therefore, comprises a base, molded according to a preset curve and an upper attached to the base at the outer edge of the base by joining the flaps of the upper and the edges of the base which are folded outwards.

Abstract: A construction for a shoe, particularly an athletic shoe such as a running shoe, includes a sole that conforms to the natural shape of the foot, particularly the sides, and that has a constant thickness in frontal plane cross sections. The thickness of the shoe sole side contour equals and therefore varies exactly as the thickness of the load-bearing sole portion varies due to heel lift, for example. Thus, the outer contour of the edge portion of the sole has at least a portion which lies along a theoretically ideal stability plane for providing natural stability and efficient motion of the shoe and foot particularly in an inverted and everted mode.

Abstract: An outsole for a shoe, especially a house slipper, has an outer layer constituted of a fabric material, and a backing layer constituted of a shape-retaining, moldable material. The fabric layer and the backing layer are molded integrally together to provide the outsole with increased slip resistance, quieter usage and increased shape retention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to athletic shoes used in sports that require asymmetric movement of the feet, such as fencing. The asymmetric shoes of the present invention include a trailing shoe and a leading shoe that are each specially adapted to the particular asymmetric movement of the trailing and leading foot, respectively, allowing each foot to perform optimally. The leading and trailing shoes each include an upper and a sole. The trailing shoe sole includes front, rear, lateral, and medial portions, the lateral sole portion having a greater thickness than the medial portion.

Abstract: A variable ratio control shoe with automatic tying and untying shoelace, with automatic lace tying process controlled by a variable ratio control mechanism and untying process controlled by a control mechanism in the laminated layers of the shoe body, its construction comprising a set of tying component, an adjustment mechanism to adjust tension, a modulated sole lamination having at least one assembling space, and a modulated control mechanism assembled in the control groove at the rear of the outsole, to engage the tying shoelace or disengaging the shoelace to take off the shoe, having the advantages of modulated control, mass production, low waste product rate and low costs.

Abstract: An improved composite for absorbing and dispersing impacting forces is disclosed. The composite includes a flexible plastic enclosure defining an internal cavity. The flexible enclosure is generally impermeable to air and capable of having its internal pressure changed. The composite further includes a foam core filling the cavity and retained within the cavity and adhered on substantially all of its external surface to the internal surface of the cavity. The cavity can be pressurized for higher impact absorbance. Methods for fabricating the composites are disclosed, as well.

Abstract: Improvements in footwear for sporting purposes requiring the kicking of a ball on or adjacent to an instep of the footwear, there being provided at least one insert (24) for or addition to the footwear which is attachable to the footwear on or adjacent to the instep such that a concave kicking surface (28) is provided, the radius of curvature of the kicking surface (28) being substantially the same as or slightly greater than the radius of the ball, the at least one insert (24) being of a maximum height at the front of the instep at least as great as the maximum height at the rear of the instep.

Abstract: Disclosed is a slipper having an outsole, an insole and an upper attached to the outsole. The outsole includes a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending from the bottom wall to provide a polymer insole jell receiving area. The insole includes a polymer insole jell and is provided within the polymer jell insole receiving area of the outsole. The polymer insole jell can be formed within the polymer insole jell receiving area, or the polymer insole jell can be preformed and placed within the polymer insole jell receiving area. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a slipper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and shoe for determining the fit of a shoe from outside the shoe wherein the shoe has an outsole that has a reference gauge for placing a person's heel and a reference mark indicating how far a person's toes should extend so that the shoe would fit. The system is adaptable so a decal may be used or a separate foot measurement guide such as a hang tag may be attached to a shoe where the visual fit guide depicted on the hang tag corresponds to the size of the shoe to which it is applied. The hang tag may be printed on both sides to correspond to both a left and right foot.

Abstract: A pad for supporting a portion of the human body is made of two substantially non-stretchable or non-elastic layers that are joined together along a peripheral edge and then are joined together in local regions to form individual capsules in the pad. The layers are “quilted” in the areas defined by the capsules to control where and how much the pad can bulge. The pad is filled with a wax material that is plastic but does not flow readily. By repeated applications of loads the wax will flow or migrate slowly to change the configuration of the wax to conform to and support the surface contacting the pad.

Abstract: A padded shoe includes a shoe upper which is adjoined to a sole. The shoe upper and the sole can have padding material disposed therein. The shoe upper includes a padded tongue, which can have an inner tongue portion and an outer tongue portion. A fastening structure, which can be tightenable to maintain the shoe on the foot of the wearer, can be disposed between the inner and outer tongue portions. Alternatively, a resilient portion can be connected to the shoe upper, whereby a portion of the shoe upper can be outwardly distended to allow insertion of the foot of the wearer. The shoe can include an engagement structure to secure the outer tongue portion to at least one of the inner tongue portion and the shoe upper.

Abstract: The golf shoes of the invention comprise a level-measuring device comprising a transparent square fixed box installed inside the heel of the golf shoes, a ball having a round shape and made of opaque material wherein the ball rolls freely inside of the fixed box according to the movement of the shoes; first and second infrared emitting diodes which emit infrared light signals inside the fixed box where ball rolls; front, back, right, and left photosensors, which each output a signal after perceiving infrared light signal from the diodes; a microprocessor, which outputs a signal indicating the state of the golf shoes according to the signal outputted from the photosensors; a display device which shows the current state of shoes according to the signal for state of shoes outputted from microprocessor; a battery which supplies power to the first and second infrared emitting diodes and microprocessor; and an on-off switch.

Abstract: A fixing tool for temporarily holding a midsole and a shoetree in shoe industry includes a screw base and a screw body. The screw base is formed as a hollow hob screw with both an inner thread and an outer thread. The screw body further includes a screw holder and a screw. The screw has a flat round top portion with periphery notches and is pivoted at a center thereof to allow the top portion able to make a 90° rotation. The screw base is used to be screwed into a proper position at the bottom of the shoetree. The screw of the screw body is then engaged with the respective screw base through the midsole for temporarily fixing the midsole and the shoetree. The screw holder of the screw body can be pushed aside to contact with the midsole. Unlike the conventional nail-fixing, the fixing tool of the present invention can hold the midsole and the shoetree by only screwing the screw of the screw body into the screw base.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing running shoe has a sole attached to an upper, with a carriage in the upper adapted to receive the rear portion of a runner's foot. The sole has a collapsible area below the carriage. A first strut is attached to the medial side of the sole and extends above the carriage, and a second strut is attached to the lateral side of the sole and extends above the carriage. Elastic bands are coupled to the struts and to the carriage so that the carriage is suspended by the bands over the collapsible area of the sole.

Abstract: A removable reinforcing element for a sports boot, particularly a snowboarding boot, of the type including an outer boot and an inner liner, the outer boot including an external sole and an external upper, the inner liner including a close-fitting envelope covering the foot and the leg. The reinforcing element includes a bottom part forming a heel stiffener and equipped with a tightening arrangement exerting a tightening force at the level of the instep. It also includes a top part extending vertically upward from the bottom part and including a rear wall and two lateral walls surrounding the lower leg.