Abstract: A high-heeled shoe having a sole with a heel portion and a forefoot portion, a shoe upper affixed around the periphery of an upper surface of the sole, a compressible high heel, fixed to the under surface in the heel portion of the sole, and a compressible forefoot mechanism, fixed to the under surface in the forefoot portion of the sole. The compressible forefoot mechanism has upper and lower forefoot members, with the upper surface of the upper forefoot member fixed to the under surface in the forefoot portion of the sole, and lower forefoot member having a lower contact surface. A plurality of compressible forefoot springs are positioned between the upper and lower forefoot members. The compressible high heel has a cylinder housing a compressible heel spring and a piston having a stem extending through an opening in the bottom of the cylinder that provides a contact surface.

Abstract: Articles of footwear include upper components and/or sole components. In some examples, the articles of footwear and/or sole structures may include features making them well suited for obstacle course type athletic events (e.g., by providing enhanced traction for various obstacle course events, such as wall climb events, rope climb events, etc.). As some more specific examples, articles of footwear and/or components thereof may include one or more of: (a) a ground-contacting surface having a plurality of large grooves, a plurality of small grooves, and relatively flat and/or smoothly curved base surfaces between the grooves; (b) a medial sidewall having a concave exterior surface, e.g., in the midfoot area; (c) a medial sidewall having enhanced traction features, e.g., in the midfoot area; and/or (d) a medial instep component (e.g., medial eye stay reinforcing component) having enhanced traction features.

Abstract: A heel stabilizer apparatus for a shoe comprises a shell with a base, at least one slot in a sidewall, a rod movably arranged relative to the shell, and a leg movably coupled to the rod. Movement of the shell relative to the rod from a first to second position moves the leg to protrude through the slot. A leg resilient element biases the leg to protrude through the slot. A compression post couples to the shell, with a spring positioned between the leg and compression post. The shell has a shell bore with interior surface, and the leg has an exterior contact surface contacting the shell bore in the first position. A resilient element between rod and shell biases them to the first position. The shell comprises a foot pad, and the leg comprises a leg foot pad.

Abstract: The ergonomic high heeled footwear is intended to provide users with a footwear design that addresses the common issues associated with traditional high heel wear, such as foot pain, forward foot slippage, excessive forefoot loading, metatarsalgia, neuromas, bunions, hammertoes, the risk of chronic injuries, and the risk of chronic injuries. To accomplish this, a unique combination of metatarsals indents, arch outdents, toe indents, and a specially designed heel indentation and heel structure, tailored to the natural contours of the foot, represents a breakthrough in ergonomics are applied to high heel design. Further, a layered insole layer made of different flexibilities having specific shapes and made of specific materials provide a combination of support and comfort that matches a variety of foot shapes and contours. An outer covering around the whole structure provides aesthetic appeal and more comfort.

Abstract: An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components such as a lighting apparatus. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include a chamber designed to receive the lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus can be installed in the chamber after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the lighting apparatus can include provisions for facilitating the installation of the lighting apparatus in the chamber, including a removable handle portion that can help guide the lighting apparatus within the chamber.

Abstract: A waterproof, breathable, and shock-absorbing shoe sole. The shoe sole includes a midsole and an outsole compositing at the lower end of the midsole. A cavity and a spiral channel corresponding to the cavity are provided between the midsole and the outsole, and the spiral channel expands from the edge of the cavity from inside to outside to connect with the outside. The top wall of the cavity is provided with a through-hole. There is a cavity between the midsole and outsole.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear can include an outsole, a spring plate, a first midsole member, one or more cushioning elements, and a second midsole member. The spring plate includes an inferior segment and a superior segment. The inferior segment and the superior segment each include an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The inferior segment and the superior segment are piviotably coupled together at their anterior portions. The inferior segment and the superior segment are spaced apart from each other in the anterior/superior direction at their posterior portions. The first midsole member is disposed between the inferior segment of the spring plate and the superior segment of the spring plate. The one or more cushioning elements are disposed between the first midsole portion and the superior segment of the spring plate. The second midsole member is disposed on superior segment of the spring plate.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear including an upper. The sole structure includes a midsole having a first surface opposing the upper, a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface, and an aperture formed through a thickness of the midsole and including a first opening at the first surface and a second opening at the second surface, a first fluid-filled chamber abutting the second surface of the midsole and extending over the aperture at the second opening, and a strobel attached to the upper and extending into the aperture at the first opening, the strobel opposing the first fluid-filled chamber at the aperture.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, shoes having elastic tongue-securing straps.

Abstract: A skate tongue for a skate boot is formed by additive manufacturing. The tongue has a body comprising a lattice structure having a plurality of different lattice configurations so as to collectively occupy a majority of an internal volume of the tongue body. Different regions within the tongue body may have lattice configurations that differ from one another by one or more of lattice pattern, cell size, density, and beam diameter such that the performance characteristics of the tongue body vary in one or more of toughness, strength, durability, density, porosity, flexibility, weight, impact resistance, and heat dissipation. The additive manufacturing process allows the skate tongue to be readily customized according to user selections related to desired performance characteristics and/or personalized three dimensional indicia.

Abstract: A bladder for an article of footwear includes a first barrier having a first series of peaks and a first series of valleys, a second barrier having a second series of peaks and a second series of valleys, peaks of the second series of peaks being aligned with peaks of the first series of peaks and valleys of the second series of valleys being aligned with valleys of the first series of valleys, and a peripheral seam joining the first barrier and the second barrier to define an interior void.

Abstract: An adjustment system for an article of footwear includes a body attached to an outer surface of the article of footwear and including a plurality of segments cooperating to define a chamber, the body movable between an elongated state and a collapsed state and a bladder attached to the article of footwear and defining an interior void in fluid communication with the chamber, the bladder movable from a relaxed state to a constricted state when the body is moved from the collapsed state to the elongated state.

Abstract: A sole system for an article of footwear can include a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole member includes outwardly and inwardly facing surfaces, a plurality of spaced apart first apertures extending though the sole member, and a plurality of first protruding members extending outward from and fixed to a base surface of the outwardly facing surface. The protruding member assembly includes a plurality of second protruding members that are interconnected by connecting portions, where the connecting portions are received on the inwardly facing surface of the sole member, and where each second protruding member is vertically movable within a corresponding first aperture of the sole member.

Abstract: The shoe crease abatement system may include a pair of shoe stretchers and shoe conditioner. The pair of shoe stretchers may be inserted into toe boxes of a pair of shoes and may stretch the toe boxes in a vertical direction to prevent creases from forming at folds across the tops of the pair of shoes. The shoe conditioner may be applied to the pair of shoes to soften the pair of shoes in preparation for stretching. As non-limiting examples, the pair of shoes may be sneakers, running shoes, or leather shoes.

Abstract: A three-dimensional curved surface air cushion module includes a first air cushion portion and a second air cushion portion pivotally connected to each other along a pivot fold line. The first air cushion portion and the second air cushion portion open, so that a first outer surface and a second outer surface tilt relatively. A first height between a first upper edge and a first lower edge is less than a wall height of the first outer surface. A second height between a second upper edge and a second lower edge is less than a wall height of the second outer surface. A curved surface air cushion product includes the three-dimensional curved surface air cushion module. The first air cushion portion and the second air cushion portion are fixed by a fixing means, so that the first curved surface and the second curved surface form a continuous curved surface.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first annular group of traction elements arranged along a first annular zone and a second annular group of traction elements arranged along a second annular zone concentric with the first annular group. The first and second annular groups of traction elements include a plurality of directional traction elements arranged in a first rotational direction about a common rotation zone. Optionally, the first annular group of traction elements may include an omnidirectional traction element arranged at a location associated with a relatively low degree of alignment between radii of rotation corresponding to different torsional movements of the sole structure during use. The directional traction elements may include unidirectional traction elements or bidirectional traction elements at locations associated with moderate to high degrees of alignment between radii of rotation corresponding to the different torsional movements.

Abstract: Sole structures and articles of footwear include: (a) a foot support bladder chamber; (b) a fluid reservoir chamber; (c) a fluid line extending between the foot support bladder chamber and the fluid reservoir chamber and placing the foot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid line extends outward from a heel area or a midfoot area of the foot support bladder chamber and/or the fluid reservoir chamber; and (d) a closure element for changing the fluid line between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The closure element may comprise a switch that is pivotally engaged with the footwear upper or sole structure. The fluid line may extend through a flap that projects outward from the heel or midfoot area of the foot support bladder chamber and/or the fluid reservoir chamber.

Abstract: Bladder systems include a fluid line formed between layers of thermoplastic elastomer. The fluid line may include: (i) a first fluid line region extending in a direction away from a main interior bladder chamber, (ii) a second fluid line region extending from the first fluid line region and in the direction away from the main interior bladder chamber, and (iii) a third fluid line region extending from the second fluid line region. The first and third fluid line regions have a larger transverse cross sectional area than that of the second fluid line region. The fluid line may connect a foot support bladder portion and a fluid reservoir portion in a sole structure/article of footwear. Also, the fluid line may be formed within a flap that extends outward from the main interior bladder chamber (e.g., one of the foot support bladder portion or the fluid reservoir portion).

Abstract: An adjustable modular shoe system includes interchangeable structural sole portions and an expandable expanding portion for enabling incremental resizing across both width and length vectors. Rigid sole portions in an array of sizes feature attachment points for securing locking mechanisms that couple to opposing plates arrayed along the bottom of an inherently stretchable expanding portion. Selectively positioning customized locking mechanisms having adjustable fixtures influences expansion forces applied to the coupled upper plates. This allows actively and continuously modulating expanding portion fit even after securing a given sole size. Different locking mechanism number, location, and bridging configurations transmit vectors parsed across zones needing more growth allowance compared to areas better retaining proportional shape. Incrementally tuning shoe sizing avoids one-size-fits-all industry increments dictated independent of anatomy.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first conical traction element disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure. The sole structure also includes a first elongate traction element, a second elongate traction element, and a third elongate traction element arranged in a radial pattern around the first conical traction element within the forefoot region.