Abstract: Footwear includes a sole with a forefoot region, a heel region, and a mid-sole region positioned between the forefoot region and the heel region. A support structure is positioned within the mid-sole region. The support structure is configured to engage an object to facilitate resistance to gravitational pull.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a functional footwear having a shock absorber of an operating member adapted to absorb the shock applied during the wearer's walking, such that as first and second arms and a second magnet are operated by the shock-absorbing operation, a vibration plate having a first magnet is automatically vibrated by the generation of the repulsive force with respect to the second magnet, which makes the wearer excited during walking, thereby providing pleasant walking to him or her. Especially, the magnetic field generated from the first magnet provided on the end portion of the vibration plate stimulates the acupuncture spots on the wearer's foot sole and accelerates his or her blood circulation, thereby greatly improving his or her health.

Abstract: A high-heeled dancer's shoe providing the structural integrity to prevent bowing and to execute energetic character dancing steps and simultaneously maintaining the flexibility necessary to execute jazz steps. The shoe comprises a hard plastic high heel, a partial metal shank extending from a back of the shoe and extending forward over the arch in a middle portion of the shoe, and an open shoe body including a flexible shoe upper shaped for receiving the dancer's foot, including left and right sides that have a flexible insert in an area of an arch, and a continuous layer of leather outer sole spanning a length and width of the shoe including a thinner middle section. In certain embodiments there is a front sole support originating from the front sole area and providing cushioning and support for the toe box.

Abstract: An article of footwear promotes complimentary movement and proprioceptive feedback of a user's foot (e.g., to help an infant learn to walk or an adult balance on an uneven surface) while wearing the article of footwear. The article of footwear includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a mid region substantially in between the forefoot and heel regions. The three regions are configured to provide complimentary movement with respect to the user's foot. The forefoot region of the outsole includes a base portion interconnecting ground contact pads configured to move relative to one another, each ground contact pad moving substantially independently of the other relative to the base portion.

Abstract: Torsion control devices for use in an article of footwear are disclosed. An article of footwear comprises: a sole having a forefoot portion and a rearfoot portion; and a torsion element disposed in the sole, wherein the torsion element allows the forefoot portion to rotate in a first direction relative to the rearfoot portion and restricts rotation of the forefoot portion relative to the rearfoot portion in a second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed are articles of footwear and soles therefor, in particular sports shoe soles that include openings for ventilation and vapor exchange. The soles include an insole layer with a plurality of first openings, a support layer with a plurality of second openings that partially overlap the plurality of first openings, and an outsole layer with at least one third opening that at least partially overlaps the plurality of second openings to provide fluidic communications through the sole from an interior of the shoe to an exterior of the shoe. A substantial portion of the plurality of first openings in the insole are interconnected to provide a path for diffusion. The shoes and soles can include a cushioning layer, a tread layer, a breathable membrane, and additional support elements. In addition, the shoes can be used with climate control socks to further enhance the climate control properties of the shoes.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of footwear that includes an outsole. The outsole can include an articulated heel region, which can have an X-shaped heel articulation. The articulation can be provided by a plurality of intersecting channels or grooves. The article of footwear can be an athletic shoe, and may include cleats.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a pivot portion including a plurality of flex grooves is disclosed. The plurality of flex grooves provides increased flexibility in different portions of a sole of the article. In addition, a periphery of the sole includes sole pods to increase the traction on the periphery of the sole.

Abstract: A sole assembly suitable for use in footwear, the sole assembly including a flexible base (12) having an underside surface (13) which includes a forward region (31), a rearward region (32) and an intermediate region (33) therebetween. The sole assembly further includes a plurality of individual sole elements (14) on the underside surface, each element including a body section (15) and a connecting section (17) which is operatively secured to the underside surface (13) of the flexible base (12), the sole elements (14) being arranged on the underside surface of the flexible base such that at least some of the body sections (15) of adjacent sole elements have overlapping sections.

Abstract: Footwear having an integral compartment in the sole for carrying items, such as, for example, keys, money, identification cards, credit or debit cards, medication, gum and lip balm. The integral compartment may be positioned at numerous different places along the sole of the footwear and may have one or more access points. Additionally, the integral compartment may include one of many different possible access mechanisms and may optionally include a latching mechanism and/or a locking mechanism. The compartment may also be fully removable from the footwear to be carried separately. Furthermore, the compartment may be waterproof and/or provide a watertight seal.

Abstract: An article of footwear configured to drain water away from a foot wearing the article of footwear includes a plurality of drainage holes positioned between ribs formed on the sole. The drainage holes are formed along a centerline of the sole. The drainage holes are substantially vertical channels formed entirely through the sole. The ribs include raised center portions disposed at or near the inlets to the drainage holes to lift the foot away from the drainage holes.

Abstract: A sole and footwear including such a sole is provided with at least one turnable antislip device provided on the tread surface operatively facing towards the ground. The antislip device includes an articulation structure mounted on the tread surface and oscillatable moving away from the tread surface with respect to an oscillation axis; a support element having an antislip side, accommodated in an associated accommodation portion provided for on the tread surface, and rotatingly mounted with respect to the articulation structure around a revolution axis different from the oscillation axis, directing the antislip side selectively in an activated state towards the ground or in an inactivated state towards the tread surface. The rotation of the support element around the revolution axis controls the rotation of the articulation structure with respect to the oscillation axis.

Abstract: The technology described herein provides a graphics plate bearing a graphic and configured for placement on a bottom surface of a sole of a shoe. The graphics plate is removable and interchangeable. In a second embodiment, a shoe is provided having a graphics plate bearing a graphic and configured for placement in a shoe, a sole of the shoe being molded and configured for receipt of the graphics plate. In a third embodiment, a footwear system is provided for imprinting customized messages on a surface below. The footwear system includes a shoe having a molded sole and a graphics plate bearing a graphic and configured for placement on a bottom surface of the molded sole of the shoe. Once inserted into the shoe, the graphics plate leaves an imprint of a surface below the sole of the shoe as a wearer of the shoes walks and runs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe (1) with an electrically conductive sole (2) and with at least one contact electrode (7, 8) inside the shoe (1), which is electrically connected to the sole (2). An improvement of health and personal well-being can be achieved by providing at least one permanent magnet (6) in the middle section of the sole (2).

Abstract: A footwear assembly including footwear including a sole and a map formed on the sole, the map including markings that define an orientation and position for mounting an item on to a bottom surface of the sole.

Abstract: A shoe structure for athletic use includes an upper adapted and constructed to at least partially cover an upper surface of the foot of a wearer of the shoe. A sole element is secured to the upper, and is fabricated from a relatively flexible and cushioned material. A plurality of multi-island platforms are secured to the sole element. The multi-island platforms have varying degrees of stiffness. Stiffer multi-island platforms are located in areas of the foot requiring stiffness to enhance footwear performance, and more flexible multi-island platforms are located in areas of the foot requiring flexibility to enhance footwear performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces.

Abstract: A sandal with one or more adjustable strap where the strap closure or adjustment is hidden below the sole. In one embodiment, two straps are directed through slits in the sole of the sandal so that the straps can come through to the bottom of the sole in front of the heel and can be tightened or loosened via a hook and loop fastener. The adjustment mechanism may be hidden in order to provide an improved appearance of the shoe. The adjustment mechanism may include a hook and loop fastener, a buckle, a snap, a tying of the straps or strings.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shoe with a piece of removable chalk embedded into the front toe portion of a shoe's sole. The forefront sole of the shoe includes an opening sized for receiving a piece of chalk, intended for the wear to go from walking to drawing with a tilt of the foot. The wearer can cause the chalk to make contact with a surface by applying light pressure and tilting the toe of the shoe slightly toward the ground.

Abstract: A method of forming a sole element for an article of footwear includes obtaining a partially-cured substrate having a first surface and an opposed surface opposite the first surface and applying one or more graphic elements to the first surface to create a decorated substrate. The method further includes placing the decorated partially-cured substrate into a mold for a sole element and curing the decorated substrate. During curing, at least a portion of each of the first surface and the opposed surface may contact the mold. Also, during curing, the decorated substrate may substantially fill the mold. Articles of footwear, including sole elements formed by the disclosed methods and uppers configured to retain the sole element to a user's foot, are provided.

Abstract: Running shoe with an outer sole (1) which in a region of the front part of the foot comprises at least one sole element (6) that contributes to a reduced friction each time the shoe hits a surface when the running position is such that said element hits the surface first, said sole element (6) having the form of a material with limited surface friction against hard surfaces like asphalt, concrete and floors. The sole element can typically be made in a wear resistant synthetic material and is typically situated laterally under the front part of the foot.

Abstract: A foldable shoe having a sole comprises a forward sole portion extending from a front toe part of the shoe to an in-step part, a rear sole portion extending from a rear most part of the shoe to said in-step, said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion co-operating to form a substantially continuous sole when the shoe is worn by a user; and said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion being separable from each other when the sole is in a folded condition.

Abstract: Footwear, particularly athletic shoes, that has a sole structure copying support, stability and cushioning structures of the human foot. Still more particularly, this invention relates to the use of the shoe upper portion to envelop one or more portions of the shoe midsole in combination with portions of the shoe sole having at least one concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface, relative to a portion of the shoe sole located adjacent to the concavely rounded outer surface portion, and at least one convexly rounded portion of the inner surface of the midsole component, relative to a portion of the midsole component located adjacent to the convexly rounded portion of the inner surface of the midsole component, all as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

Abstract: A combination that preferably includes at least: a ski boot; a detachable sole detachably attached to the ski boot; and a detachable sole storage rack attached to the ski boot for use in storing the detachable sole when detached from the ski boot is disclosed. The detachable sole preferably includes at least: heel and toe chassis portions each formed from a baffled support matrix and overmolded with tread portions; and a latch assembly for securing the baffled support matrix adjacent the ski boot. The ski boot preferably provides a contoured heel portion and the latch assembly preferably incorporates a catch configured to conform to the contoured heel portion, a catch support interacting with the catch; a chassis attachment member communicating with said chassis; and an adjustment member interposed between said catch support and said chassis attachment member to accommodate a snug conformance of the catch adjacent the heel portion.

Abstract: Footwear includes a sole with a forefoot region, a heel region, and a mid-sole region positioned between the forefoot region and the heel region. A support structure is positioned within the mid-sole region. The support structure is configured to engage an object to facilitate resistance to gravitational pull.

Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper formed of a flexible upper material and a sole formed of a flexible sole material, wherein the sole is rolled, folded, or collapsed onto itself to reduce the volume of the article of footwear. The article of footwear in a collapsed state can then be packaged in a container. This container can be dispensed by a vending machine in a convenient urban area.

Abstract: A combination that preferably includes at least: a ski boot; and a detachable sole detachably attached to the ski boot is disclosed. The detachable sole preferably includes at least: a chassis portion overmolded with a tread portion; and a latch assembly for securing the chassis adjacent the ski boot. The ski boot preferably provides a contoured heel portion and the latch assembly preferably incorporates a latch configured to conform to the contoured heel portion, a latch support interacting with the latch; an attachment member communicating with said chassis; and an adjustment member interposed between said latch support and said attachment member to accommodate a snug conformance of the latch adjacent the heel portion.

Abstract: A combination and methods of making and using the combination are disclosed. Preferably the combination includes at least: an ankle and foot covering; a detachable sole detachably attached to the ankle and foot covering; and a detachable sole storage rack attached to the ankle and foot covering for use in storing the detachable sole when detached from the ankle and foot covering. The detachable sole preferably includes at least: heel and toe chassis portions each formed from a baffled support matrix and overmolded with tread portions; and an over-center latch coupled to an attachment hoop. The over-center latch preferably incorporates adjustment features to accommodate varying sizes of the ankle and foot coverings. Upon latching of a properly adjusted over-center latch adjacent the ankle and foot covering, a holding force transmitted through the attachment hoop secures the detachable sole adjacent the ankle and foot covering.

Abstract: A sole for an article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear defines a lateral edge, a medial edge, a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a heel region. The sole includes an outsole having a thickness and at least one slot in the outsole. The slot extends in a substantially longitudinal direction. A longitudinal centerline is defined midway between the lateral edge and the medial edge. The slot crosses over the longitudinal centerline in at least one of the forefoot region and the midfoot region. An article of footwear having the sole attached to an upper is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to shoe outsoles, for sport and street wear, which exhibit a resistance to the adherence of foreign material. Certain adherence modifying agents, which help resist the adherence of foreign material, can be either incorporated into materials from which a shoe's outsole or outer are formed, or applied as a coating thereto.

Abstract: An article of footwear with flexing portions disposed in an arch portion of a sole system is disclosed. The flexing portions in the sole system increase the curling toe flexibility of the article of footwear. In addition, the sole system includes trapping portions that enhance the ability of a wearer to stop and capture a ball. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes an asymmetric fastening system biased toward a medial side of the article.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antistatic polyurethane which comprises an antistatic additive comprising an ionic liquid and a process for producing such an antistatic polymer. The invention further relates to an antistatic shoe sole comprising an antistatic polyurethane according to the invention and the use of an ionic liquid as antistatic additive for polyurethane.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a shoe assembly having at least an outsole portion and a midsole portion, the midsole portion is removably engaged with the outsole to allow replacement of the midsole with another midsole having different structural features, and at least one projection extends from the midsole through an aperture of the outsole, the projection configured to engage with a corresponding aperture of the outsole to align and secure the midsole to the outsole.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a marking system is disclosed. The marking system is configured to help locate one or more portions of a foot during training of an athlete. The marking system includes markings that extend from a lower surface of a sole system to an outer peripheral portion of a sole system.

Abstract: Various arrangements for an article of footwear including an outsole having grooves forming discrete lugs are presented. The outsoles generally include a plurality of grooves formed in at least a portion of the outsole that extend from a lateral side of the outsole to a medial side of the outsole. The grooves may be linear or curved and generally extend in an angular fashion. The grooves may have a first depth at a perimeter of the outsole and a second depth, greater than the first depth, at the center of the outsole. The grooves form discrete lugs. In some arrangements, the lugs are diamond shaped.

Abstract: An exemplary shoe includes a upper, a sole, an LED (light-emitting diode) and a power supply device. The upper is disposed on the sole. The sole includes a receiving space. The LED is installed on an outside surface of the sole. The power supply module is for providing electric power to the light emitting diode. The power supply module further includes a piezoelectric member coupled to the sole and a electric power storing device. The piezoelectric member is disposed between the upper and the sole. The electric power storing device is received in the receiving space of the sole and electrically coupled between the piezoelectric member and the light emitting diode.

Abstract: Footwear sole structures include: (a) a chassis member including a lateral side, a rear heel portion, and a medial side, wherein the chassis member includes an opening defined between the medial side and the lateral side; (b) an impact-attenuating member engaged with the chassis member, wherein the impact-attenuating member includes a lateral side arm and a medial side arm that extend toward a forefoot portion of the sole structure, and wherein the impact-attenuating member further includes a rear heel portion joining the lateral and medial side arms; and (c) an outsole element extending beneath the impact-attenuating member, wherein the outsole element extends around the rear heel portion of the impact-attenuating member and engages the rear heel portion of the chassis member.

Abstract: A sole assembly suitable for use in footwear, the sole assembly including a flexible base (12) having an underside surface (13) which includes a forward region (31), a rearward region (32) and an intermediate region (33) therebetween. The sole assembly further includes a plurality of individual sole elements (14) on the underside surface, each element including a body section (15) and a connecting section (17) which is operatively secured to the underside surface (13) of the flexible base (12), the sole elements (14) being arranged on the underside surface of the flexible base such that at least some of the body sections (15) of adjacent sole elements have overlapping sections.

Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a connecting portion positioned adjacent the upper and extending along a longitudinal length of the upper. A plurality of discrete sole elements extend downward from the connecting portion. The sole elements define a lower surface, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward from the lower surface and into the sole structure. An outsole may be located within the sipes or grooves and extend between the sole elements, with a lower portion of the outsole extending beyond the lower surface of the sole elements.

Abstract: A footwear apparatus has simulated animal hoof bottoms. More specifically, the footwear apparatus includes a footwear top portion, a footwear sole portion connected to the footwear top portion, and a footwear bottom portion connected to the footwear sole portion. The footwear bottom portion includes a simulated deer front foot portion and a simulated deer rear foot portion which are connected to the footwear sole portion and project downward therefrom. The footwear top portion includes straps. The footwear sole portion can include a stiff flexible inner member layer housed between outer flexible layers. Together, the pair of simulated front deer foot portions and the pair of simulated rear deer foot portions comprise simulated deer hoofs. Preferably, a bottom side of each of the pair of simulated front deer foot portions projects forward from the footwear sole portion at a bottom side forward projection angle of approximately twenty-two and one-half degrees.

Abstract: An article of athletic footwear comprising an upper for receiving the foot of a wearer and a sole structure attached to the upper, the sole structure having a heel portion including a rigid or semi-rigid ground contacting surface having a plurality of ribs located in the heel portion.

Abstract: A device for transmitting a distress signal is provided which includes: an impact surface; a power supply for generating electrical energy resulting from an impact force applied to the impact surface; and a transmitter powered by the power supply for transmitter the distress signal. The distress signal can be an RF signal, which can be polarized. The power supply can include one or more piezoelectric generators, at least one capacitor in which the electrical energy generated by the piezoelectric generators is stored and/or an electronics component for regulating a generated voltage and for charging the capacitors. The device can also include a GPS receiver for receiving position data and providing such position data to the transmitter for inclusion into the distress signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe with a breathable waterproof sole and with a niche or hollow area, at the level of which a plurality of through holes are obtained, which are configured to house at least one substantially flat insert. Such insert includes, on its upper surface and in a position corresponding to said holes, channels or grooves, the inlets of which are obtained on the outer lateral surface of the insert. Said sole may comprise one or more channels or grooves disposed on its lower surface, inside said niche or hollow area at the level of said holes, which have lateral external inlets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sports shoe, with a damping element (3). To improve the spring constant of the damping element, the damping element (3) has an, upper group (4) of damping bodies (5) and a lower group (9) of damping bodies (10), each having a substantial U-shaped cross section. The upper damping bodies (5) have two legs (6, 7) which are connected with a connection section (8). The lower damping bodies (10) have two legs (11, 12) which are connected with a connection section (13). An intermediate carrier (14) is arranged between damping bodies (5; 10) and legs (6, 7; 11, 12). Adjacent legs (6, 7; 11, 12) of the respective damping bodies (5; 10) are connected at a location of conjunction (15, 16) and the locations of conjunction (15, 16) of the upper and of the lower damping bodies (5; 10) are offset in longitudinal direction (L).

Abstract: A shoe sole construction adapted to absorb and store impact energy and including a shoe sole that has a heel portion and a forefoot portion. The forefoot portion includes the toe of the sole. The shoe sole includes a base member and at least one pressure plate for receiving a wearer's foot. A first pivot is disposed between the base member and the pressure plate. The first pivot is disposed at the toe of the sole. A bladder is provided to receive and store impact energy delivered thereto, and is disposed at the heel portion of the shoe sole and positioned to be compressed under the impact energy imposed thereupon by the pressure plate. A locking mechanism is disposed at the forefoot portion, between the base member and pressure plate. The locking mechanism is responsive to a compression of the bladder and released during the propulsive phase of the wearer's gait to return stored energy for release during the propulsive phase.

Abstract: To improve playing feel, a shoe (i) for foot operation of a bass drum in a drum kit has a reinforcement (6) and an abrasion protection (7) for the shoe upper (3), with the reinforcement (6) being arranged in the region of the toe joints in the position of use and the abrasion protection (7) being arranged in the region of the big toe in the position of use. A shoe (10) for foot operation of a hi-hat in a drum kit is characterized in that the shoe (10) has a convexly curved roll-off face (16) in the rear heel region, with the roll-off face (16) extending into the region below the foot in the position of use in order to assist the roll-off movement when playing the hi-hat.

Abstract: An exemplary wheeled footwear or skate is provided that may include footwear with an upper portion, a sole with a forefoot, an arch, a heel with an opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel with at least one wheel that rolls partially in the opening, at least one wheel adjacent the left side of the forefoot, and at least one wheel adjacent the right side of the forefoot. A user may roll on a surface using the wheels in the opening in the heel, and those positioned adjacent or near the left and right side of the forefoot. In other embodiments, the wheeled footwear may include removable wheels such that the wheeled footwear may be used in three configurations that may include: (i.) walking or running, (ii.) heel rolling, and (iii.) skating using wheels positioned adjacent the forefoot and the heel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe chassis. In one embodiment the present invention is a shoe chassis including a board with a first end and a second end, the board having a portion defining a first hole at the second end. The shoe chassis also includes a stabilizing unit beneath the board and a pod beneath the stabilizing unit. A flexible membrane is positioned within the first hole to allow the heel to flex past or through the first hole and compress a cushioning material located within the pod and positioned under the flexible membrane.

Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe upper portion made of flexible material, the upper portion including a foot border, a toe region, front-flex portion, arch region, rear-flex portion, and heel region. A split sole portion is secured to the bottom of the shoe upper portion, the sole portion including a front-sole portion under the toe region of the upper portion, a mid-sole portion under the arch region of the upper portion and a rear-sole portion under the heel region of the upper portion. The front-sole portion folds at the front-flex portion into the mid-sole portion and the rear-sole portion folds at the rear-flex portion into the mid-sole portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a health shoe having an arc type stretching body to be formed apart from a front end and a rear end of a shoe sole with a predetermined distance apart, which is capable of doing stretching exercises at the stable status because 5 the arc type stretching body is supported by the front end or the rear end in contact with the ground when doing exercises in forward flexion or backward extension postures.