Abstract: A footwear assembly has a sole assembly with an insole board having a peripheral edge, a heel portion, a forefoot portion, and an arch portion. The insole board has a lateral side, a medial side, a top surface, and a bottom surface facing away from the top surface. The footwear assembly has an upper with a lower side portion having a lateral forefoot flange, a lateral arch flange, a lateral heel flange, a medial forefoot flange, a medial arch flange, and a medial heel flange. The lateral forefoot flange is stitched to the top surface of the insole board along the forefoot portion, and the lateral arch flange and the lateral heel flange wrap around the peripheral edge along the insole board's lateral side and are attached to the bottom surface at the arch portion and heel portion without being stitched to the insole board's top surface.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure includes footwear with a sole assembly including an abrasion resistant medial arch portion. In various embodiments, a sole assembly can include a primary portion extending across lateral, toe, and heel regions of the sole assembly, and a secondary portion at a medial arch region of the sole assembly. The primary portion can include a first compound having a first durometer and the secondary portion can include a second compound having a second durometer higher than the first durometer. Additionally, the sole assembly can include a dam portion spaced between the primary and secondary portions. The dam portion can include sidewalls that form a recess configured to separate the first compound from the second compound.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: Footwear assemblies including reinforced insole portions and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a footwear assembly includes an upper coupled to an insole. The insole includes a first surface opposite a second surface. The first surface is configured to face a user's foot when inserted in the upper. The upper at least partially wraps around and is stitched directly to the second surface of the insole. The footwear assembly further includes a midsole adjacent to the second surface of the insole, and an outsole adjacent to the midsole.

Abstract: Footwear assemblies including reinforced insole portions and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a footwear assembly includes an upper coupled to an insole. The insole includes a first surface opposite a second surface. The first surface is configured to face a user's foot when inserted in the upper. The upper at least partially wraps around and is stitched directly to the second surface of the insole. The footwear assembly further includes a midsole adjacent to the second surface of the insole, and an outsole adjacent to the midsole.

Abstract: Traction enhancing devices for footwear assemblies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a footwear assembly includes a footwear product with an outsole that has one or more embedded traction enhancing devices. Each traction enhancing device can be a stud that is at least partially embedded in the carrier portion of the outsole and that partially projects from the carrier portion. Each stud can be configured to reduce or eliminate relative movement between the stud and the carrier portion to prevent the stud from loosening or falling out. For example, each stud can include a shaft having an engaging surface, such as a threaded, ribbed, or textured surface, that engages the carrier portion. Each stud can also include a portion having an enlarged surface area, such as an anchor or head, embedded in the carrier portion to improve retention of the stud in the carrier portion.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having a dual density outsole with lugs and non-retractable studs in the lugs. Peripheral lugs are spaced apart from the outsole's longitudinal axis and central lugs are disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis between the peripheral lugs. The peripheral lugs are taller than the central lugs and are made of a denser rubber. The studs embedded in the lugs with a shaft and tip portion exposed. The peripheral lugs having recessed flex grooves circular recesses coaxially aligned with the studs.

Abstract: Footwear assemblies with a light weight sole assembly securely attached to an upper and associated methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a footwear assembly includes an upper connected to a light weight sole assembly, wherein the sole assembly has a durable outsole securely attached to a lightweight midsole, and a lightweight cradle style chassis is attached to the midsole. The chassis has a body and sidewalls extending upwardly from the lateral and medial side portions of the body to define a concave structure that receives a portion of the upper therein. At least a portion of the upper is cemented to the chassis, and edge portions of the upper are stitched to the sidewalls of the chassis.

Abstract: Footwear assemblies including reinforced insole portions and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a footwear assembly includes an upper coupled to an insole. The insole includes a first surface opposite a second surface. The first surface is configured to face a user's foot when inserted in the upper. The upper at least partially wraps around and is stitched directly to the second surface of the insole. The footwear assembly further includes a midsole adjacent to the second surface of the insole, and an outsole adjacent to the midsole.