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.

Abstract: A decorative accessory fixing structure for shoes with holes, including an upper crossbeam, two vertical connecting members, and two lower crossbeams; the upper crossbeam is located on an outside of shoe holes as a support fixing member for the decorative accessories, or on an inside of the shoe holes as a support limiting member; two vertical connecting members penetrate through holes in the shoe and connecting the upper crossbeam and lower crossbeams; two lower crossbeams, respectively fixedly attached to lower ends of two vertical connecting members, are disposed on an inside of shoe holes as a support limiting member or disposed on an outside of shoe holes as a support fixing member for the decorative accessory. And the invention can be applied to a variety of hole shapes, including circular, rectangular, triangular, polygonal and irregularly shaped holes as well as specific holes such as shoelace holes.

Abstract: Footwear comprises a sole assembly having a ground-contacting side, and an upper coupled to the sole assembly opposite the ground-contacting side. The upper defines a foot compartment configured to receive a wearer's foot. The sole assembly defines a plurality of sole-assembly vents that extend through the sole assembly and that are open both to the ground-contacting side and to the foot compartment of the upper.

Abstract: A sole portion for an item of footwear having a plurality of cleat systems, cleats, or plate structures that dissipate force by deflecting, deforming, displacing or otherwise shifting under selected force, or by facilitating cleat movement around a radial line during ground engagement.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a device that can be worn over footwear to provide traction, such as on slick or slippery surfaces, in snow, or on ice.

Abstract: A protective shoe comprises an upper for receiving a shoe wearer's foot, a sole arrangement connected to the upper, and a toe cap, and also at least one connecting and indicating arrangement, which, in the original, integral state, indicates an integrity of the protective shoe, and, when the protective shoe is at least partially dismantled, indicates the dismantling of the protective shoe.

Abstract: A golf shoe with a plurality of traction elements positioned around a central forefoot region and a central rearfoot region of the outsole of the golf shoe. The plurality of traction elements comprises: (i) a first set of traction elements arranged in a first outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a medial or lateral forefoot region of the golf shoe, (ii) a second set of traction elements arranged in a second outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a lateral or medial rearfoot region of the golf shoe, and (iii) a third set of traction elements arranged along a third outsole zone extending diagonally across a midfoot region of the golf shoe between the medial or lateral forefoot region and the lateral or medial rearfoot region. The third outsole zone includes a plurality of tracks extending across the third outsole zone.

Abstract: A fall prevention footwear accessory device includes a first strap configured to wrap around a footwear upper portion and sole at a ball portion of the footwear. A second strap has an attachment end rotatably connected to a first end of the first strap and a cleat region with a plurality of cleats. A first fastener rotatably connects the first strap and the second strap. A second fastener adjusts the length of a loop portion of the first strap around the footwear. The accessory facilitates temporary relocation of the second strap from a first position arranging the cleat region adjacent to the sole of the footwear to a second position arranging the cleat region over the footwear upper portion away from the sole portion.

Abstract: A bladder including a first barrier element having a first surface formed on a first side of the first barrier element and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first barrier element than the first surface, a second barrier element having a third surface formed on a first side of the second barrier element and a fourth surface formed on an opposite side of the second barrier element than the third surface, and a peripheral seam joining the first barrier element and the second barrier element to define an interior void between the first surface and the third surface, the peripheral seam including a first segment extending along the bladder proximate to the second surface, a second segment extending along the bladder proximate to the fourth surface, and a third segment extending between and connecting the first segment and the second segment.

Abstract: A luminous heel strap includes a strap body, a strip component, and a luminous device. The strap body has a surface. The strip component is coupled to the strap body. The luminous device is disposed between the strap body and the strip component and includes a circuit board module, a battery, predetermined color LEDs, a sensor, and a control chip. The battery, the predetermined color LEDs, the sensor, and the control chip are electronically coupled to the circuit board module. The driving voltages of the predetermined color LEDs are the same. The sensor is configured to detect an external force to generate a control signal. The control chip drives the predetermined color LEDs to emit light according to the control signal. Wherein, the circuit board module a flexible circuit board or a circuit board with a flexible cable.

Abstract: A crampon for ski mountaineering, mountaineering, or hiking boots includes a frame with front and rear portions connected by a longitudinal connecting rod, wherein the front portion includes retention elements and a support surface with a first coupling seat oriented at an angle relative to the crampon's axis, and the connecting rod includes at least one selector extending along an axis forming an angle with the crampon axis, such that by matching the angles of the selector and the coupling seat, the crampon can be configured for either a ski mountaineering boot or a mountaineering/hiking boot, thereby enabling optimal fit and secure attachment for different boot types.

Abstract: A sole structure having a lateral side and a medial side opposite the lateral side. The sole structure has an outsole layer, a first support element including first recesses, a second support element coupled to the outsole layer and including second recesses, and a cushioning element disposed between the first support element and the second support element. The cushioning element has a plurality of pockets and a central pod. A first subset of the plurality of pockets are disposed on the lateral side, a second subset of the plurality of pockets are disposed on the medial side, and a rear pocket of the plurality of pockets extends from the lateral side and the medial side. The first subset, the second subset, and the rear pocket are separated from the central pod by a web area. The plurality of pockets are at least partially enclosed by the first and second recesses.

Abstract: Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

Abstract: A ballet pointe shoe prior to first use by a dancer is disclosed that comprises a toebox, a platform, a heel, an upper, a shank, a sole, a curve on the shank between the heel and the toebox positioned to include a preferred break point. The first curve follows an arch of the dancer's foot when the dancer is wearing the ballet pointe shoe. The ballet pointe shoe also comprises a flexible support member positioned at the curve that elastically sets the shank in the curve at the time of manufacturing of the ballet pointe shoe. The flexible support member enables the ballet pointe shoe to flatten when weight is applied and elastically return to the curve.

Abstract: A heel-cup structure for climbing shoes having increased edge-contact properties and friction on uneven surface where the heel area has a protrusion around the outer sole area under the heel and rimmed indentation between the heel counter and the outer sole. The heel-cup structure with protrusion of the outer sole made of soft, polymeric, synthetic rubber material provides a device to latch onto a thin edge of the rock surface in contact, to effectuate edging and heel-hooking.

Abstract: Example embodiments herein relate to a gaiter device configured with a failsafe design that improves the user experience, provides sanitation and increased durability and longevity of the gaiter. Example embodiments include gaiter configurations designed to be worn inside the shoe, which decreases degradation of the gaiter, and further provides enhanced useability, and enhanced durability. The gaiter may be configured with an elastic stirrup to support the gaiter in a shoe, while providing ease of use, sanitation, and flexibility for the user. The gaiter may include a durable lightweight outer film surface resistant to moisture. The gaiter device may be configured as a smart gaiter device, where the elastic stirrup is embedded with sensors and transmitters enabling biometric monitoring and communication of biometrics with smart computing devices.

Abstract: A rapid-entry shoe having a sole portion and a rebounding portion being comprised of the same material and being a unified structure. The rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration in which a perimeter of the topline is expanded and an uncollapsed configuration in which the perimeter of the topline is unexpanded, and the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the rebounding portion toward the uncollapsed configuration.