Abstract: The invention is a lacing system for shoes employing a plurality of strips, wherein the lower ends of the strips are rigidly attached to the lower portion of the shoe and the upper portion of the strips have a lacing ring fixed thereto. The upper ends of the strips are slideably retained by loops on the upper of the shoe, and the middle portion of the strips are unattached to the quarter of the shoe. The strips transfer the lacing force evenly along the quarter to mold the quarter of shoe evenly to the wearer's feet.

Abstract: The invention is a lacing system for shoes employing a plurality of strips, wherein the lower ends of the strips are rigidly attached to the lower portion of the shoe and the upper portion of the strips have a lacing ring fixed thereto. The upper ends of the strips are slideably retained by loops on the upper of the shoe, and the middle portion of the strips are unattached to the quarter of the shoe. The strips transfer the lacing force evenly along the quarter to mold the quarter of shoe evenly to the wearer's feet.

Abstract: A shoe has a device to provide an audible message such as a song or a word message. In one form, a shoe such as a child's shoe of the hook and loop variety has a stored audible message such as a micro circuit mounted on the shoe, or may receive an audible message such as an audible radio message. The audible message is activated in a suitable manner, and in a preferred embodiment the message unit is activated by opening or closing the shoe. In one form a switch is connected to the shoe opening device as, for example an electrically conductive member attached to the shoe closure, and opening and closing the shoe completes or interrupts an electrical circuit. In another form, a magnetic member on the shoe closure moves to make or break the circuit.

Abstract: An air shoe has a sole having a plurality of channels longitudinally and laterally in the upper surface of the sole, forming a multiplicity of sections at least partially surrounded by such channels. This sectionalized structure improves air flow beneath the wearer's foot as he walks, runs, or exercises, increases massagic action, and makes the shoe lighter and more flexible. An air flow slip sole is also placed on the sectioned sole, simultaneously contacting both the channels and the wearer's foot to increase air flow to the foot.

Abstract: Outsole for a shoe including a first sole component molded of a relatively dense natural or synthetic rubber composition and having a cut-out shank region and a second sole component of a relatively less dense organic plastic material filling the cut-out shank region of the first sole component.