Abstract: For virtually any kind of shoe, regions at the front and/or back of the heel and/or forsesole can be raised or lowered relative to the remainder of that bottom surface. In this manner, one or both of a friction or pronation adjustment can be made at the front, back, or lateral side of the foresole or heel. An adjustment device is operatively associated with one region in one of a first (foresole) or second (heel) weight bearing bottom surface, for raising and lowering the region relative to the bottom surface surrounding the region, thereby adjusting the overall texture of the weight bearing bottom surface.

Abstract: The effective friction of a shoe is adjusted by changing the angle of a portion of the sole, relative to the shoe centerline. In one embodiment, the heel is effectively hinged and an adjustment device is spaced from the hinge axis, whereby the wearer can hold the shoe in one hand and manually adjust an actuator connected to a drive member that increases or decreases the angle of the hinge. The hinge axis can be perpendicular to the centerline, either in the front of the heel with the drive member embedded in the back of the heel, or in the back of the heel, with the drive member embedded in the front of the heel. Angulation can be effected in the foresole, about an axis perpendicular to the shoe centerline, or about an axis that is parallel to but offset from the centerline.

Abstract: A footwear outsole includes a base portion defining a tread attachment surface, and a plurality of tread members. The tread members are coupled to the tread attachment surface and protrude away from the tread attachment surface to define a tread member height. Each tread member includes a plurality of pointed arm members that extend away from a center portion of the tread member in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the attachment surface. The arm members include a pointed tip that defines a maximum height of each tread member. The tread members include a primary surface facing away from the tread attachment surface. The primary surface includes a recessed portion that is reduced in height from the height of the plurality of edges. The tread members may be arranged in a pattern across the tread attachment surface.

Abstract: A footwear outsole includes a base portion defining a tread attachment surface, and a plurality of tread members. The tread members are coupled to the tread attachment surface and protrude away from the tread attachment surface to define a tread member height. Each tread member includes a plurality of pointed arm members that extend away from a center portion of the tread member in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the attachment surface. The arm members include a pointed tip that defines a maximum height of each tread member. The tread members include a primary surface facing away from the tread attachment surface. The primary surface includes a recessed portion that is reduced in height from the height of the plurality of edges. The tread members may be arranged in a pattern across the tread attachment surface.