Abstract: An improved slipper sock which conforms to the foot of the wearer is formed as follows: the bottom of the foot portion of a stretchable knitted sock, which is in a stretched condition on a foot form, has temporarily attached to the exposed side thereof a thin and flexible bottom sole by use of dots of adhesive located at the extremities of the heel and toe portions thereof, the knitted sock is then removed from the foot form, and the periphery of the bottom sole is then stitched to the stretched bottom of the foot portion of the knitted sock, this stitching concurrently creating a taper in the thickness of the periphery of the bottom sole.

Abstract: An article of footwear, particularly a ski boot or the like, having an integral one-piece shell molded from a relatively rigid plastic material. The shell has a lengthwise split in the cuff portion to provide overlapping flap members which completely enclose the wearer's foot. The flap members are resiliently spreadable for insertion or removal of the wearer's foot. The front of the shell has a depending skirt portion with a lower free edge which overlies a rearwardly extending vamp. The skirt portion has a downwardly opening slot with adjustable transverse fastener means for flex control at the front of the shell. The cuff portion of the shell is assymetrical at its upper end so that the shell is higher at the inside and the rear than at the outside and the front. An integral one-piece liner of soft flexible material is disposed within the shell. The liner is split lengthwise to permit spreading of the liner when the flap members of the shell are spread apart.

Abstract: A wear resisting member or pad is mounted in the undersurface of the heel of an article of footwear, such as a ski boot, to improve the wearability of the heel. When employed in a ski boot, the heel thereof is formed with a cavity for weight reduction, and an opening is provided in the bottom wall of the heel for receiving the pad. When mounted in the opening in the heel, an upstanding boss on the pad engages a depending boss on the underside of an inclined wall in the heel so that the pad strengthens the heel and supports the heel of the wearer's foot. The pad is releasably retained in the opening in the heel by a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs on the margin of the opening and a groove in the outer periphery of the pad into which the lugs extend. The pad is shiftable to different rotated positions in the opening to compensate for wear and can be replaced when worn out.

Abstract: An athletic shoe which has a light-weight and readily flexible sole construction including shock absorbing portions in the heel and forefoot areas of the sole having different shock absorbing porperties with the shock absorbing portion in the heel area having a shock absorbing property greater than that in the forefoot area. Flexible nubs are included on the sole for traction and cushioning purposes where the spacing between nubs in heavy load bearing areas of the sole is less than the spacing between nubs in light load bearing areas of the sole. The nubs are positioned to facilitate flexing of the sole along normal breaklines corresponding to the joints of the foot of a wearer. The heel portion of the sole may include a cut out forming in part a vertically extending deflection rib surrounding a shock absorbing portion to further enhance shock absorbing, cushioning and propulsion properties.

Abstract: A separable fastener device adapted for use in securing a removable foot support device to an internal portion of a shoe. The separable fastener device is comprised of two engaging elements. Each engaging element has a flexible planar base sheet of resilient material wherein one side of each sheet has a pressure responsive adhesive whereby one engaging element is attached to the removable foot support device and the other engaging element is attached to an internal portion of the shoe. Each of the engaging elements has a remaining side providing releasably interengageable mating surfaces in which one engaging element has a surface comprising flexible resilient hook members and the other engaging element has a surface comprising a loosely arranged mat of interlocking hair-like threads. These releasably interengageable mating surfaces engage when the foot support device is positioned in the shoe thereby preventing slippage of the foot support device.

Abstract: An improved running shoe includes several means for stabilizing pronation and for promoting and maintaining favorable positioning of the foot while running or jogging. The bottom of the sole has cleats which resist inward rotation of the shoe during certain phases of weight bearing. The sole provides basic support through a wide shank, rigid longitudinal shank reinforcement and relative incompressibility in the medial arch region. The central part of the foot is contained and directly supported by a strong lateral counter and an insert which cooperates with the foregoing elements. A primary purpose of the invention is to provide stable support for the rear half of the first metatarsal bone in a practical and novel manner.

Abstract: In a pulling over and toe lasting machine, the pincers first grip the lasting margin above the wiping plane, whereafter the upper is tensioned about its last by upward movement of the last support, from an initial, lowered, position to a position in which the last bottom is in the wiping plane, and by downward movement of the pincers. The machine also comprises auxiliary means by which any wiper remaining in the wiping plane after the upper has been tensioned as aforesaid can be moved downwardly out of said plane so as not to impede the in-wiping movement of the wipers. When the auxiliary means is actuated, furthermore, the gripping force applied by the pincers to the upper is reduced to allow slippage of the upper in the pincers.

Abstract: A baseball shoe comprised of an upper shoe body, a unitary molded sole and heel affixed to the bottom of said body, metal blade-like spikes projecting from said sole in triangular pattern, and a cluster of blunt plug-like cleats molded integrally with said heel and adapted to be relatively noninjurious to peronnel or base bags when engaged by said cleats.

Abstract: A sports shoe has an extension to the sole of the shoe projecting rearwardly at the heel end, which extension is springily resilient or can be supported by resilient means on the shoe. A stiffener, for example, a metal plate can be provided to enable the resilience of the extension to be controlled. Also a separate interchangeable spring member can be provided to control the resilience of the projection.

Abstract: This invention is an orthopedic shoe particularly characterized by special configuration, both on the portion of the shoe which is in contact with the foot and the portion which is in contact with the surface to be walked upon. It is particularly characterized by special openings with various types of removable closures to the openings to accommodate unusual problems and by removable build-up layers for foot contact. It is further characterized by rigidity and a "rocker" configuration with a fully adjustable and removable upper fastening member.

Abstract: The specification discloses a synchrotilt chair control in which a heavily loaded toggel linkage or slide arrangement between the rear of the seat support member and the chair back support member is eliminated by providing a slide and track arrangement between the front of the chair seat support and the front of the stationary housing. The front location is relatively lightly loaded as compared to the rear of a chair to which the control is mounted.

Abstract: The cross country skiing boot fitting into a device carrying a plate (8) with preferably one, two or more parallel longitudinal ribs (9) has corresponding parallel depressions (10) in the sole (5). These ribs engage in the depressions and provide lateral guidance for the long distance skiing boot, specifically during descents. The relative movement of the boot (3) with respect to the ski (1) is not impeded during cross country skiing, neither special engagement nor disengagement being unnecessary.

Abstract: A device to facilitate locomotion of a person moving by foot on the ground and adapted to be used in shoes worn by the person, wherein each shoe has a forward portion and a rearward portion, includes a first storage device for storing a certain amount of energy when one of the portions impacts with the ground, and a second storage device which communicates with the first storage means for receiving at least a portion of the energy stored in the first storage device, and for releasing at least a portion of the energy stored in the second storage device as the other portion is about to leave the ground, so as to aid the leaving motion.

Abstract: A ski binding adapted to be used to maintain a boot onto a ski. The binding comprises a latching element adapted to be mounted on the boot which comprises at least one transverse bit. The binding further comprises a support element adapted to be mounted on the ski as well as a retention system which, by virtue of an elastic element, serve to maintain the transverse bit held between the support element and a moveable pressure element of the retention system when the binding is in the locked position. The boot itself comprising the transverse element also forms part of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cross country ski boot comprising a front sole extension by which it is fixed in a ski binding. At its front edge, the front sole extension comprises at least one forwardly open recess of which the lateral flanks come to lie closely against a supporting element of the ski binding upstanding substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski. This provides additional retention of the ski boot in the ski binding helping to avoid play and resultant wobbling of the sole extension in the ski binding.

Abstract: A shoe is provided including a standard upper and a sole, with the sole comprising a base extending from the toe of the shoe to the heel of the shoe with a plurality of cleats subtending from the sole. The forward edge of the cleats subtends from the sole rearwardly at a predetermined angle from the vertical of the basic sole surface. Preferably, the rearward edge of the cleat is substantially flat. This provides an action whereby, when the wearer is running, the foot will strike the ground and the cleats will bend backward allowing the foot to continue its forward motion until it reaches a more gradual stop than normally occurs in any other running shoe. Additionally, there is provided a means for continually venting a shoe while it is being worn, and which may be used with the above described shoe or independently in other shoes.

Abstract: A stitched-down shoe in which the upper or the upper material has an outwardly-turned edge which is sewn directly to a base. The base has a lateral seam groove extending around the periphery thereof and near the top of the base, and pre-formed stitch holes directed essentially perpendicular to the seam groove. The upper is stitched to the base through the stitch holes. In another embodiment, air holes are provided through the shoe base to allow "breathing" and interior grooves are provided connecting the air holes.

Abstract: The invention refers to a ski boot made from synthetic plastic material, with separate boot and leg portions.The ski boot according to the invention presents a leg portion separable from the boot, comprising a part higher than the ankles and a lower part rigidly bound to the sole. The two parts of the leg portion may be built in a single piece or separately. In the latter case, the two parts are articulated to each other in the ankle region by means of pivotal pins.The ski boot according to the invention overcomes the drawback presented by the previously known ski boots, wherein the boot's articulation area dilates as a consequence of the fore rocking of the leg portion, and thus reduces the clamping action of the boot on the skier's foot, just when the skier's leg is expected to transmit the strongest thrust to the ski, through the ski boot.

Abstract: A shoe of natural shape having a flexible material forming the upper part of the shoe, replacing the insole, and extending all over the sole surface to comprise a stocking-like part which extends over the last to envelop the foot on all sides, there being a recess in the heel portion of the footbed with a bearing surface rising from this recess on a forward rising angle to the arch, the bearing surface being cup-shaped with a peripheral edge connected to the stocking-like part.

Abstract: A receptacle that can be incorporated into a molded body includes a metal receptacle and a case in which at least part of the metal receptacle is imbedded. The receptacle made in accordance with the present invention can be embodied in sport shoes, particularly golf shoes, to receive cleats. Such a receptacle is particularly suited to direct incorporation into relatively soft molded materials, such as polyurethane.