Abstract: An active suspension orthotic support system is disclosed. The suspension orthotic support system comprises at least one variable resistance beam extending from a heel section to a mid-arch section of the footwear, wherein rotation of the variable resistance beam from a first position to a second position causes a resistance provided by the variable resistance beam to vary between a minimum resistance to a maximum resistance.

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

Abstract: A smart shoe has a height-adjustable heel having a plurality of co-axially oriented, concentric cylindrical wall sections of progressively different diameters comprising a skeleton framework. The wall sections are extendable from a collapsible position wherein the wall sections substantially completely overlap in an axial direction to an extended position wherein the walls sections are extended in an axial direction. Heel height is determined by the number of uncollapsed wall sections. A controller element provides incremental heel height adjustments through the sequential collapse of one wall section at a time starting with the uppermost wall section. The smart shoe includes reversibly expandable components for automatically modifying its width, length, and arch support height to provide an optimal fit of both shoes comprising the pair of smart shoes at every selected heel height.

Abstract: An adaptor is connected to a bicycle shoe and includes an engaging portion and a base part. The engaging portion is formed on the first side of the base part, and protrudes from the first side of the base part so as to be connected to the underside of the bicycle shoe. A recess is defined in the second side of the base part and includes two first holes defined through its inner bottom. The two first holes are defined through the engaging portion. Two locking members extend through the two first holes and are connected to the bicycle shoe. A cleat is removably connected to the second side of the base part. The bicycle shoes with the cleat are used as mountain bike shoes, and used as road bike shoes by removing the cleats.

Abstract: A shoe device having bimodal structures, configured to selectively snap the device to at least one of a second position and a first position, which selectively snaps the shoe into a first position upon being subjected to a first bending force, apt for placement or removal of a foot, and selectively snaps the shoe into a second position upon being subjected to a second bending force, apt for securement of a foot or having no foot. A forward leaning, flexible stadium arch structure, assembled to form a heel notch mechanism, connects to a sole. A morphing shoe collar portion connects to a heel. These are combined via vector changing devices for greater functionality.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a plate made of a polymeric material and a plurality of cleats each made of a metallic material. Each of the cleats is overmolded onto the plate. Each of the cleats includes an internal portion and an external portion coupled to the internal portion. The external portion is disposed outside the plate. The internal portion is disposed inside the plate. The internal portion includes a lattice framework. The lattice framework defines a plurality of holes. The plate partly extends through the holes of the lattice framework to secure the plurality of cleats to the plate.

Abstract: There is provided a user-dedicated last that can be easily manufactured without using large-scale equipment. A last for forming a footwear upper configuring an article of footwear comprises a foot length forming member defining a shape of the last at least in the lengthwise direction of the article of footwear, and a plurality of foot width forming members defining a shape of the last at least in the widthwise direction of the article of footwear and assembled to the foot length forming member.

Abstract: A skate boot comprising an outer shell with a heel portion for receiving the heel of the foot; an ankle portion for receiving the ankle, the ankle portion comprising a rear portion for facing at least partially the lower part of the Achilles tendon; and medial and lateral side portions for facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively. The skate boot also comprises a tendon guard extending upwardly from the ankle portion of the outer shell for facing at least partially the upper part of the Achilles tendon, the tendon guard comprising a recess for receiving an insert. The tendon guard has a first flexion mode when no insert is received in the recess and a second flexion mode when the insert is received in the recess. The second flexion mode is different from the first flexion mode.

Abstract: A pre-tensioned article and method of making an article of footwear involving pre-tensioning a sole structure during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the sole structure may include a plurality of apertures that provide an auxetic effect. In further embodiments, the upper may also be pre-tensioned in a similar manner as the sole structure.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing shoe using a spring, comprising: a spring for absorbing shock by providing an elastic force; an outsole which constitutes the bottommost sole of a shoe; an upper sole which is fixed to the top of the outsole, has a gap between the heel part thereof and the heel part of the outsole so as to provide a space in which the spring is provided, and is lowed by the weight of a user or raised by the elastic force of the spring; a lower spring seat which is formed on the upper surface of the outsole and supports the lower end part of the spring; an upper spring seat which is formed below the bottom of the upper sole and supports the upper end part of the spring; and a raising and lowering guide for guiding the lowering and raising of the upper sole straightly.

Abstract: A footwear article includes a hinged portion in a heel region that may be biased in various positions to increase or decrease a size of a foot-insertion opening. The hinged portion may be arranged in a first position, in which the hinged portion is more upright and is in position to cup a wearer's heel or Achilles region when the footwear article is worn. In addition, the hinged portion may be hingedly rotated downward or rearwardly (e.g., away from the foot-insertion opening) to a second position, which may increase a size of the foot-insertion opening and/or may change an angle along which a foot can pass through the foot-insertion opening when the footwear article is being donned or doffed. One or more elastic members may be attached to the hinged portion and to some other portion of the footwear article to bias the hinged portion.

Abstract: A self-cleaning sport shoe includes a traction member or plurality thereof, extending downward from the bottom of the shoe to traction the playing field surface below upon contact. The self-cleaning sport shoe incorporates a compressible cleaning structure, smaller in size and less cumbersome than existing cleaning type cushions and which is symbiotically mated, when applicable, to a concave reservoir located in the sport shoe outer sole, and in certain instances of design both the outer sole and accommodatingly shaped mid sole as well. As the structure is compressed and expanded, debris that might otherwise remain attached is discarded. This concave reservoir appreciably enhances the cleaning ability of its compressible cleaning structure and the shoe as a whole.

Abstract: A skate (e.g., an ice skate) or other footwear for a user, in which a skate boot or other foot-receiving structure for receiving a foot of the user may be configured to enhance power transfer of the user (e.g., for push-off and skating straight), agility of the user (e.g., for turns), and/or other aspects of performance of the user, such as by comprising a sole region that is configured to be disposed under the user's foot and includes different materials strategically distributed (e.g., in a longitudinal direction of the skate boot or other foot-receiving structure) or otherwise implements these enhancements.

Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprises a midsole, a sole having a heel region, and a first wave spring disposed within a vacuity located within the heel region. The wave spring includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A plate, resting upon the top surface of the wave spring, is unsecured to the midsole and sized to permit movement within the vacuity along with the wave spring responsive to a rolling foot strike.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a unitary sole with a first cushioning body having a first hardness and a second cushioning having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and the second cushioning bodies are exposed at a periphery of the sole. The second cushioning body may have a wedge surface that interfaces with a lateral extremity of the first cushioning body and angles laterally outward toward a lateral side exterior surface of the sole from a lower extent to an upper extent of the wedge surface. The second cushioning body may underlie the first cushioning body in a portion of a forefoot region of the sole such that the first cushioning body establishes a foot-facing exterior surface and the second cushioning body establishes a ground-facing exterior surface of the sole where the first cushioning body overlies the second cushioning body.

Abstract: An equestrian boot cover for protecting against the elements and extending the life of an equestrian riding boot comprising a cover body and a neck extending the height of the equestrian riding boot for forming a snug fit against the outer surface of the equestrian riding boot and including a spur aperture for allowing passage of the spur from about the equestrian boot cover.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface and an inner surface disposed on opposite sides. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on opposite sides. The bottom surface opposes the inner surface to define a cavity therebetween. The article of footwear also includes a first series of projections extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in a first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a second series of projection extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in the first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a quantity of particulate matter disposed within the cavity.