Abstract: A combination structure for a shoe shell has a shoe body, a toecap mounted on a front end of the shoe body and at least one connecting part disposed between the shoe body and the toecap. Each of the at least one connecting part has a female connector and a male connector formed respectively on the shoe body and the toecap and is mounted with each other. Connecting the toecap to the shoe body through the at least one connecting part is an improved quick and time saving process. Furthermore, the toecap is attached securely to the shoe body and not easily detached from the shoe body.

Abstract: Traction elements for an article of footwear can include stabilizer elements. An extendable traction element for an article of footwear can include an elongatable extender attached to another portion of a sole structure. An actuator can rest within the extender and cause elongation of the extender in response to a force from the foot of a wearer.

Abstract: Methods of making molded articles and the articles formed by the method, particularly viscoelastic gel articles.

Abstract: The present application relates to an accessory item for temporary manual attachment to, and temporary manual removal from, an item of footwear, the accessory item comprising a first magnetic material part and a second magnetic material part, the first magnetic material part and the second magnetic material part are arranged to temporary attach to a magnetic material part on an item of footwear, wherein the first magnetic material part is spaced from the second magnetic material part.

Abstract: A cover for cleated shoes. The shoe cover has a ball area, a heel area, and a mid-foot area between the ball area and the heel area. At least the mid-foot area is formed of stretchable material and is thinner than the material forming the ball area and heel of the sole. An internal support member is located internally in the ball area and/or heel area of the sole. An upper portion extends upward from the sole portion and defines a toe cup and a heel cup, with the upper portion being formed of stretchable material in at least the mid-foot area, and which has an opening formed therein to allow shoe and/or foot access to the shoe cover.

Abstract: Foot-receiving devices, such as articles of footwear (e.g., athletic footwear, etc.), include a foot-covering member (such as an upper member) and a foot-supporting member (such as a sole member, optionally including insole, midsole, and/or outsole portions) engaged with the foot-covering member. The foot-supporting member may include or define a cavity or void in the heel portion of the foot-receiving device. The foot-receiving device further may include a removable heel pad detachably engaged within the cavity or void.

Abstract: A sole of a shoe for triple time walks and walking reform has a bottom surface which includes a front rolling portion, a middle rolling portion and a rear rolling portion, wherein the front, the middle and the rear rolling portions of the sole are slanted upwards at a predetermined angle of inclination and thereby form a substantially arc shape. The middle rolling portion is made of a rigid material having a rigidity substantially greater than the front and the rear rolling portions and the middle rolling portion protrudes from the bottom surface of the sole beyond the front and the rear rolling portions.

Abstract: A boot includes a lacing system having an upper zone of action associated with an upper portion of the boot body and a lower zone of action associated with a lower portion of the boot body. The lacing system includes a single bootlace, the first end of which is anchored in the upper zone of action and the second end of which is anchored in the lower zone of action. The boot also includes a common lace-tightening device, having a handpiece, for the upper zone of action and the lower zone of action of the lacing system. The common lace-tightening device cooperates with the bootlace in such a way that, on operation of the handpiece, the upper zone of action and the lower zone of action of the lacing system are acted upon simultaneously in respect of lacing up and opening the boot.

Abstract: A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot.

Abstract: Articles of footwear that include a flexible or rigid sole portion with a shape and size as to correspond to a foot of a wearer, a sole portion having a periphery, a toe region in the front area of the sole portion, a heel region in the back area of the sole portion, and an instep region between the toe and heel regions. Also included is an upper portion connected to the sole portion to form a partially open enclosure for receiving and containing a part of the foot of the wearer and a flexible tubular sleeve which is attached to the sole portion's instep region. The flexible sleeve includes an attachment portion for attaching the flexible sleeve to the instep region of the sole portion, an outwardly opened toe portion for containing the front part of the foot and the toes of the wearer, an outwardly opened heel portion for containing the back part of the foot and the heel of the wearer, and an insertion portion for enveloping the ankle of the wearer.

Abstract: Embodiments of footwear, in particular, a shoe, sandal or boot, may reduce the effort and improve the performance of walking, running, hiking, marching, and various other gaits as well as jumping, hopping, and other motion involving the ankle and lower leg and Achilles tendon, through integration of force-carrying mechanisms within footwear that manage the forces and energy associated with such motion by productively harvesting and storing energy during dorsiflexion motion and releasing and returning energy during plantar flexion. One structural element of such footwear may comprise a top collar yoke having anterior and posterior gussets forming a channel and a shoe comprising a rotation zone supporting the channel and an elastomeric zone forming a tension spring via an elastomeric overlay or otherwise providing a spring-like member approximately parallel to and to assist the Achilles tendon during locomotion.

Abstract: A bonded mesh composite panel of an upper includes a substrate layer formed from a substrate material, a mesh material layer and one or more skin material layers. The mesh composite can be fabricated by first arranging panels of substrate, mesh and skin layer material into an assembly corresponding to the locations of those panels in a completed upper. The assembly may include separate layers of hot melt bonding material interposed between the substrate, mesh and skin layers. The assembly is pressed at an elevated temperature so as to melt the bonding material and the skin layers and bond the elements together. Before the pressed assembly completely cools, it is then pressed a second time in an unheated press. A heat-conductive compressible pad can be used in the pressing process to create a surface effect in the skin layers that reveals a patterns of an underlying mesh layer.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the shoe sole (10) comprises at least one main ground engagement section (22) specifically designed to respond to certain modes of solicitation by the foot of the player. Such section is provided with a sculpted pattern having recesses (102) and solid areas (100). The recesses and solid areas are distributed to minimize pressures or stress differences throughout the ground engagement section concerned so as to provide better adherence and lower wear by abrasion in response to such mode of solicitations. Preferably this arrangement is applied to more than one main ground engagement section (22, 24, 42, 44) in the shoe sole, each of which offers a specific response to a particular mode of solicitation by a player in action. According to a preferred embodiment the recesses are made of elongated cells opening (102) in a corresponding solid area through an elongated aperture (101) with rounded ends (108). The application of these principles to the production of a tennis shoe is described.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and an outsole having a bottom surface including a primary ground contacting surface. The bottom surface of the outsole includes a forefoot bulge and a heel bulge which provide the footwear with controlled instability for providing dynamic conditioning of the wearer's muscles during the gait cycle.

Abstract: A snowboard boot incorporating techniques for making the process of tightening and loosening the laces of a snowboard boot more convenient for the wearer is disclosed. The snowboard boot may be provided with at least two independent lacing zones, the tensions of which are separately adjustable by the wearer. The zones may be secured by pulling on two laces, each of which tightens one of the two independent lacing zones. This arrangement allows the wearer to simultaneously tighten each zone, providing the wearer with the “feel” as though he or she is tightening a conventional single lacing zone snowboard boot. The laces may be simultaneously, yet independently secured by a lace lock at the upper and/or forward region of the snowboard boot. Slack may be created to facilitate loosening of the snowboard boot and easy removal of a foot from the snowboard boot by unhooking the lace from the lace guide without a corresponding distance of lace traveling through the lace lock.

Abstract: A shoe sole of the present invention includes a first member 10 including a first deformable portion 11, and a second member 20 including a second deformable portion 21. In a non-worn state, a first lower surface 10d of the first deformable portion 11 and a second upper surface 20u of the second deformable portion 21 are substantially spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. Under a first load, the first deformable portion 11 deflects downward, whereby the first lower surface 10d can approach the second upper surface 20u until the first lower surface 10d contacts the second upper surface 20u. Under a second load, the deformable portions 11 and 21 both deflect downward with the engagement elements 12 and 22 of the deformable portions 11 and 21 engaging with each other.

Abstract: The club head cleaning attachment for a golf shoe is removably secured to a golf shoe to enable the shoe to be used in cleaning the head or face of a golf club during play. The device is formed of a flexible, resilient elastomeric material, and has a toe pocket fitting over the extreme forward end of the toe cap and sole of the shoe. Attachment straps or bands extend rearwardly to secure the device about the horizontal circumference of the shoe. The strap or band may be a continuous, endless component stretched to fit around the shoe, or may have mating first and second ends that secure to one another behind the heel. The toe pocket includes a cleaning element extending outwardly therefrom generally along the forward edge of the shoe sole. The cleaning element may be a non-woven web of plastic material, an absorbent cloth, or a brush.

Abstract: A corrective insole for treating defective positioning in the metatarsal and forefoot areas of the foot which includes an insole including at least two strap mechanisms a toe strap and a metatarsal strap such that the metatarsal strap encircles the metatarsal area of the foot to enable optimum correction of defective positioning associated with conditions such as hallux valgus.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a shoe cover. The shoe cover is useful for muffling sound of the wearer. The apparatus contains a padded sole, an encasing material, vertical straps, an attachment mechanism on the straps, and a replaceable cover. The replaceable cover can be substituted when the replaceable cover becomes worn or when a different type of cover is desirable.

Abstract: A footwear construction including a portion of an upper and/or sole, a strap defining a sleeve, and a cord joined with the upper and/or sole portion, extending toward the strap and slidably housed in the sleeve. An adjustment element is selectively locatable along a part of the cord. By sliding the cord relative to the sleeve and optionally adjusting the location of the adjustment element, the spatial relationship between the strap and the upper and/or sole portion can be selectively adjusted to accommodate a particular dimension of a wearer's foot and/or ankle. A method is also provided for manufacturing footwear including the above components.