Abstract: A belt including a belt portion, a bottle connector integrated into the belt portion, the bottle connector defining a receiving opening, and a bottle including a bottle hook, wherein the bottle hook is configured to be inserted into the receiving opening of the bottle connector, thereby mounting the bottle on the belt. A bottle mounting system for a belt includes a bottle having a spout and a removable cap, a hook configured to be disposed over the bottle spout and retained on the bottle by the removable cap, and a connector integrated into a belt to define a receiving opening for the hook.

Abstract: A removable traction device for wearing over an article of footwear includes an outer peripheral band; a traction area defined within the outer peripheral band; and a plurality of resilient connecting strands extending between the traction area and the outer peripheral band.

Abstract: A removable traction device for wearing over an article of footwear includes an outer peripheral band; a traction area defined within the outer peripheral band and including a removable traction member; and a plurality of resilient connecting strands extending between the traction area and the outer peripheral band. The traction area includes an exterior ground engaging surface and an interior surface opposite thereto and the interior surface includes a peripheral flange defining a traction member receiving pocket, such that the removable traction member is insertable into and removable from the traction member receiving pocket.

Abstract: A removable traction device for wearing over an article of footwear includes an outer peripheral band; a traction area defined within the outer peripheral band and including a removable traction member; and a plurality of resilient connecting strands extending between the traction area and the outer peripheral band. The traction area includes an exterior ground engaging surface and an interior surface opposite thereto and the interior surface includes a peripheral flange defining a traction member receiving pocket, such that the removable traction member is insertable into and removable from the traction member receiving pocket.

Abstract: An overshoe traction device includes a flexible strap for attaching to a shoe, and front and rear cleat members attached to the strap. The rear cleat member includes a metallic rear plate. The front cleat member includes metallic fore and aft plates, and an elastically flexible material molded to, and interconnecting, the fore and aft plates. The fore and aft plates are spaced from one another to form a gap therebetween. Cleats extend downwardly from the rear plate and each of the fore and aft plates. The cleats of the fore and aft plates extend in a pattern around a central region of the front cleat member. The elastically flexible material forms a topside of the front cleat member, and a central region of the underside of the front cleat member and defines a horizontal pivot zone between the fore and aft plates, enabling the fore and aft plates to pivot up and down relative to one another.

Abstract: A removable walking attachment for a ski boot includes an elastomeric body defining a toe pad and a heel pad interconnected by a flexible connector. The toe pad includes a toe base and an upright wall, the latter forming a rearwardly open cavity for receiving a toe portion of a ski boot. The toe base includes a toe underside and an upwardly facing toe support surface. The heel pad includes a heel base and an upright wall, the latter forming a forwardly open cavity for receiving a heel portion of a ski boot. The heel base includes an underside and an upwardly facing heel support surface. The undersides of the toe pad and the heel pad define a common plane when the attachment is not being worn. When attaching the attachment to a ski boot, the undersides of the toe and heel pads will be flexed upwardly to enable a more natural walking motion to be achieved.

Abstract: A shoe insole element includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a plurality of upper projections and a plurality of voids located alongside the upper projections. The lower portion includes a plurality of lower projections which extend into the voids to resist flexing of the upper projections toward one another under the action of a wearer's foot. The lower portion can be made selectively separable from the upper portion by the wearer to release the resistance to such flexing, or the lower portion can be permanently bonded to the upper portion. The stiffness of the upper and lower projections can be mutually different. The insole element can be configured for use in different regions of a shoe, such as the heel and/or arch regions, or it can constitute the entire insole.

Abstract: An athletic shoe support structure may include a midsole constructed to resiliently support a foot and a cradle positioned underneath the midsole. The cradle has a bottom and a sidewall upwardly extending from the bottom, where the cradle is arranged to receive the midsole in nesting relation. The cradle sidewall has at least one aperture and the midsole has at least one protrusion, where the protrusion is sized and shaped to engage the at least one aperture in the sidewall. The cradle and/or the midsole may be made of a foamed material.

Abstract: Shoes and shoe package assemblies include a scent-generating material for emitting a scent unusual to footwear, e.g., for attracting consumers and/or creating an impact in marketing.