Abstract: Disclosed is a waterproof shoe with an improved ventilation mechanism, designed to circulate air from the outside environment through the shoe in order to provide convective cooling to a wearer's foot. In a desired embodiment, the shoe may incorporate a pump-ventilation mechanism which, coupled with airflow channels incorporated in the upper, acts to establish continuous substantially one-way airflow through the shoe in a heel-to-toe direction while a user walks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a waterproof shoe with an improved ventilation mechanism, designed to circulate air from the outside environment through the shoe in order to provide convective cooling to a wearer's foot. In a desired embodiment, the shoe may incorporate a pump-ventilation mechanism which, coupled with airflow channels incorporated in the upper, acts to establish continuous substantially one-way airflow through the shoe in a heel-to-toe direction while a user walks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a waterproof shoe with an improved ventilation mechanism, designed to circulate air from the outside environment through the shoe in order to provide convective cooling to a wearer's foot. In a desired embodiment, the shoe may incorporate a pump-ventilation mechanism which, coupled with airflow channels incorporated in the upper, acts to establish continuous substantially one-way airflow through the shoe in a heel-to-toe direction while a user walks.

Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one instance, the device is an external metatarsal protection device for a shoe or boot, having a sole with a first surface for supporting a wearer's foot and a second surface for contacting a ground area, an upper affixed to the sole, and an integral toe cap. An interior surface of the upper and the first surface of the sole define a receptacle for receiving the wearer's foot. The external protection device is incorporated along an exterior surface of the upper and is positioned to protect at least a metatarsal region of the wearer's foot. In an instance, the external protection device has injection-molded first and second layers of material, with the cushioning elements formed on a surface of the first layer and a plurality of grooves defined on a surface of the second layer.

Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc.).

Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc.