Abstract: An insole comprising a shell component and a chassis component. The shell component comprises support bars that define framing apertures and the chassis component comprises undercut channels that define raised pod sections.

Abstract: A shoe comprises a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a top member having an outer surface and an inner surface and mounted on the sole. The top member and sole to together define a space for receiving a foot, and the top member further comprises an opening. A fastener is provided in the top member and extends from the opening and continues over the top member such that a portion of the top member is movable between a first position in which the space is substantially closed and a second position in which a portion of the top member is folded back from the sole to provide access to the space.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar slide that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole including a ground-contacting surface and a foot-facing surface and an upper having a heel region. The footwear article also includes a strobel, the strobel affixed to the foot-facing surface of the sole and a collar elevator comprising a heel structure, the collar elevator connected with the strobel and coupled with the upper in the heel region. The collar elevator includes a collar slide forming a ramp interface during a donning operation.

Abstract: A footwear component that includes a sole including a recessed area and a support member positioned in the recessed area. The support member includes a main support, a front support that extends at least partially over a front end of the main support, and a rear support that extends at least partially below a rear end of the main support. The front support of the support member moves toward the main support when pressure is applied to the front support and moves away from the main support when pressure is released from the front support. Similarly, the rear support of the support member moves toward the main support when pressure is applied to the rear support and moves away from the main support when pressure is released from the rear support.

Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper and a sole secured to the upper, where the sole includes an upper surface. A support member is positioned on the sole, and includes at least one portion positioned a designated distance above the upper surface of the sole to form a space between the support member and the sole, where the portion of the support member moves through the space and toward the upper surface of the sole when pressure is applied to the portion of the support member, and flexes away from the upper surface when pressure is decreased or released from the portion of the support member.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate including a midfoot region and at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole plate has an undulating profile at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate. The undulating profile includes multiple waves each having a crest and a trough. The sole plate has ridges corresponding with the crest and the trough of each wave and extending longitudinally throughout the midfoot region and the at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region.

Abstract: An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper, a sole secured to the upper and including a stabilizing member extending outwardly from the upper, where the stabilizing member includes a groove that separates the stabilizing member into a medial balancing member and a lateral balancing member, and the medial balancing member and the lateral balancing member move independently of each other to provide balance and stability on different terrains, and a support plate is positioned between the upper and the sole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insole containing one or more cavities, wherein said one or more cavities contain a component capable of a physiochemical reaction, as well as articles of footwear containing the insole and methods of making the insole. The invention also relates to methods of heat transfer between an article of footwear and a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear, the method including priming the insole, wherein the priming initiates the physiochemical reaction.

Abstract: A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

Abstract: A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

Abstract: An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper and a sole secured to the upper and including a stabilizing member extending outwardly from the upper, where the stabilizing member includes a groove that separates the stabilizing member into a medial balancing member and a lateral balancing member so that the medial balancing member and the lateral balancing member move independently of each other to provide balance and stability on different terrains. The medial balancing member and a lateral balancing member also include a slot and a plate inserted into each slot.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.

Abstract: A shoe may comprise an upper and a comfort sole attached to an outsole, the comfort sole having a radius of curvature at any point of a line from a heel to a toe and interfacing with outsole, wherein the lowest point of comfort sole and outsole, called the center of mass or balance point of the sole or natural balance point of the shoe, when placed on a substantially horizontal reference plane defines a transition zone of the roll of the foot having the highest radius of the comfort sole and the outsole, and in that the center of mass is behind point (B) of the metatarsals; and a rigid shell interposed between the upper and the comfort sole.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first midsole body and a second midsole body. The first midsole body defines a ground-facing surface and a foot-facing surface opposite the ground-facing surface and includes a first midsole material, which has a first hardness. The second midsole body extends through the first midsole body. As such, the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface of the first midsole body. The second midsole body includes a second midsole material, which has a second hardness, and the first hardness is greater than the second hardness.

Abstract: A sole structure includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a midfoot region disposed between the heel and forefoot regions. The sole structure also includes a first fluid-filled segment disposed within the forefoot region and includes a first portion extending continuously from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. The sole structure also includes a second fluid-filled segment disposed between the heel region and the first fluid-filled segment and includes a first portion extending continuously between the medial side and the lateral side. The sole structure also includes a third fluid-filled segment disposed between the first fluid-filled segment and the second fluid-filled segment and includes a first portion extending along one of the medial side and the lateral side and a second portion extending from the first portion toward the other one of the medial side and the lateral side.

Abstract: A variety of plates for footwear are provided including a polyolefin resin. Sole structures and articles of footwear formed therefrom are also provided. Methods of making the polyolefin resin compositions, plates, sole structures, and articles of footwear are also provided. In some aspects, the polyolefin resin composition includes an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier. The effective amount can be an amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex test, and in particular to pass a flex test without significant change in abrasion loss. In some aspects, the resin composition also includes a clarifying agent to improve optical clarity of the plate. In some aspects, the plates include a textile disposed on one or both of a first side and the second side of the plate. The textile can provide for improved bonding of the plate to other components such as a chassis or an upper.

Abstract: An insole/sole structure contains: a top pad, two massage column modules, a form pad, and a bottom pad. The top pad includes at least one accommodation groove. A respective one of the at least one massage column module includes a holding portion and multiple flexible massaging columns. The respective one massage column module is connected on the top pad by using the holding portion. The multiple flexible massaging columns are held on the holding portion to correspond to a profile of a respective one accommodation groove. A profile of the foam pad and a profile of the bottom pad correspond to a profile of the top pad, such that when the foam pad and the bottom pad are connected, the foam pad and the bottom pad are closed, and the respective one massage column module is limited between the top pad and the foam pad.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprises an upper defining an interior void, a sole structure attached to the upper, a cable attached to the upper and moveable in a tightening direction to decrease a volume of the interior void of the upper and in a loosening direction to increase a volume of the interior void of the upper, and a locking device operable between a locked state to prevent movement of the cable and an unlocked state to permit movement of the cable, the locking having a housing attached to one of the upper and the sole structure and receiving the cable therethrough. The housing includes a pulley rotatably disposed therein, whereby the pulley is engaged by the cable and configured cooperate with the housing to provide audible or tactile feedback when the pulley is rotated by cable.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an interchangeable strap on an opened toed footwear that includes a sole and a strap. Connected to one or more of the ends of the strap is an insert. The sole of the footwear includes housing units that are connectable to the strap inserts found on one or more strap end. The connection between the insert and the housing unit is both connectable and detachable.

Abstract: Footwear or other foot-receiving devices include various conforming fit, stability, and/or “locked down” feel features. The uppers (or foot-covering components) for such articles of footwear (or other foot-receiving devices) may include one or more of: (a) an upper shell defining an interior chamber, wherein the upper shell includes a plantar support surface and sidewalls extending from an outer perimeter of the plantar support surface; (b) a bootie component (e.g., formed as a sock or sock-like garment) received in the interior chamber; (c) one or more foot wrapping bands; and/or (d) an interior midsole within the bootie component. The bootie component and/or the foot wrapping band(s) may be secured to the upper shell at a location inside an outer perimeter of the plantar support surface of the upper shell and beyond the bight line between the sidewalls of the upper and the plantar support surface.