Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shoe, provided with a front region and a heel region. The method comprises the steps of stitching an upper to a piece of fabric in order to obtain an inner shoe which is closed at its lower portion, providing a rubber mid-sole having at least one inner cavity or seat and at least one outer cavity or seat, filling the at least one inner cavity with a lightweight filler, coupling said inner shoe with the mid-sole by a peripheral cover band, vulcanizing and placing one or more inserts in the at least one outer cavity or seat.

Abstract: An outsole for a shoe is formed a thin, flexible, nonporous and inelastic sheet material having a pattern of perforations through it, and a plurality of tread elements of a hard, wear-resistant material molded onto a first side of the sheet material by a process in which the tread forming material is inject through the perforations in a manner such that at least some of the resultant tread elements have anchoring portions extending through the perforations from an opposite second side of the sheet material, a portion of the sheet material around the perforations being held between the tread elements and the anchoring portions. A pattern of treads of various shapes and sizes can be provided in a configuration generally conforming with the sole surface to which the outsole is to be applied, so that a minimum of tread material wastage occurs when the outsole is cut out from the sheet material.

Abstract: Footwear intended primarily for outdoor use, wherein a variety of ground conditions are likely to be encountered, has a sole with traction elements inspired by the hoof of a mountain goat. In several embodiments, an interior region of the sole is provided with a plurality of pairs of relatively soft protruding pods, while a perimetric region surrounding the interior region includes a plurality of relatively hard lugs provided on opposite sides of the pod pairs. The pods extend downwardly below the lugs such that they will make initial ground contact and compress. The compression cushions initial impact and increases the area of ground contact to improve traction on firm smooth surfaces. The compression also brings the lugs into ground engagement, following initial contact, to improve stability and traction on irregular and soft ground surfaces. Other embodiments of the invention implement similar principles, in soles having a more conventional (less goat hoof-like) appearance.

Abstract: Footwear intended primarily for outdoor use, wherein a variety of ground conditions are likely to be encountered, has a sole with traction elements inspired by the hoof of a mountain goat. In several embodiments, an interior region of the sole is provided with a plurality of pairs of relatively soft protruding pods, while a perimetric region surrounding the interior region includes a plurality of relatively hard lugs provided on opposite sides of the pod pairs. The pods extend downwardly below the lugs such that they will make initial ground contact and compress. The compression cushions initial impact and increases the area of ground contact to improve traction on firm smooth surfaces. The compression also brings the lugs into ground engagement, following initial contact, to improve stability and traction on irregular and soft ground surfaces. Other embodiments of the invention implement similar principles, in soles having a more conventional (less goat hoof-like) appearance.

Abstract: An indoor exercise shoe which is lightweight and has an improved traction feature. The outsole of the shoe includes a primary midfoot element positioned to underlie the arch of the foot. Traction inserts of high traction material are mounted in openings in the primary midfoot element. The traction inserts project outwardly from the midfoot element for engaging and gripping a surface, such as the pedal of a stationary bicycle, under conditions when the midfoot region of the outsole is relied upon for traction.

Abstract: A rubber pad construction is adapted for use in making a shoe sole, a shoe pad, a face layer of a table-tennis paddle, a shell of a ball, etc. The rubber pad construction includes a substrate, and a plurality of first and second protrusions which extend outwardly from one side of the substrate at intervals. The first protrusions are thinner and higher than the second protrusions to provide more flexibility. The second protrusions have more bearing ability than the first protrusions. The rubber pad construction provides desirable shock-absorbing and rebounding qualities.

Abstract: Lightweight, inexpensive footwear sole components (14, 18), comprising a midsole portion (14) and an outsole portion (18), are formed by a method that eliminates the need for adhesively attaching the two portions to each other, and comprises the steps of 1) Forming the midsole portion (14) to have a lower surface (17) and at least one opening (26) extending into it through the lower surface (17); 2) Forming the outsole portion (18) on the lower surface (17) of the midsole portion (14) such that the outsole portion has an upper part (28) extending into the opening (26) in the midsole portion; and, 3) Forming a mechanical attachment device (22) between the outsole portion (18) and the midsole portion (14) on an upper end (19) of the outsole portion (18).

Abstract: Waterproof and transpiring sole for footgear including a tread made of leather or similar material which is at least partially covered, in an upward region, by a membrane made of vapor-permeable and waterproof material. The tread is assembled, at least along its perimeter, together with at least one upper part made of rubber or equivalent material which has a central opening in the region affected by the membrane.

Abstract: Spike pins made of hard rubber which may be used on vehicle tires, shoe soles or the shoes of walking sticks or the like and a system for mounting such spike pins made of hard rubber in a mounting surface such as the tread surface of vehicle tires or shoe soles or the shoes of walking sticks or the like, characterized in that the tread surface is formed with recesses in which each of said spike pin is mounted with a GaP between the periphery of the spike pin and the peripheral wall of the associated recess.

Abstract: Footwear which is adaptable for athletic events requiring different sole configurations for different playing surfaces, for example artificial turf and natural turf, by providing the soles of shoes with a prescribed pattern of protuberances which are suitable for one type of event, and altering the pattern to adapt the shoes for another and different type of event. In particular the sole of each shoe can have removable conical cleats for playing on natural turf, and removable stud or square cleats for playing on artificial turf.

Abstract: An athletic shoe (10) having interchangeable components for the customizing to the particular needs of a wearer. The wearer's weight, weight distribution, type and level of activity, and other variables are considered when determining the degree and location of support. The athletic shoe (10) includes a base portion (12) which defines a sole member (14) and an upper (16). A plurality of recesses (24) are defined at selected locations by the sole (14) for the receipt of sole inserts (18). The upper (16) defines a plurality of indicia receiving regions. The sole inserts (18) and the indicators (20) may be permanently attached to the athletic shoe (10) by any selected process such as ultrasonic welding. Additional support members may be placed within the athletic shoe (10) as desired to provide further support for selected portions of the foot, including the ankle and the arch.

Abstract: A legged walking robot such as a two-legged walking robot has a plurality of movable legs and a plurality of foot soles mounted respectively on distal ends of the movable legs by respective foot joints. Each of the foot soles has a curved surface disposed on at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof. The curved surface is shaped such that the foot joint follows a predetermined curved path along a forward direction in which the legged walking robot walks. The foot sole also includes at least one projection on one or each of leading and trailing ends of the foot sole in the forward direction. The projection is movable into and out of a projecting position from the foot sole, but is normally urged into the projecting position to support the foot sole stably on the terrain.

Abstract: A composite outsole for a shoe includes a leather sole piece, an inner sole bonded to the outsole and a back plate interleaved between the inner sole and the outsole and at least partially embedded within the outsole in a region substantially coextensive with the ball support area of the sole. Multiple pockets are formed in the tread surface of the outsole and are spaced apart substantially within the ball support region. Each pocket is filled by a stud which is integrally formed with the back plate. Each stud is characterized by a large diameter portion having an external wear surface disposed substantially flush with the external tread surface of the leather outsole, and a small diameter portion which links the large diameter portion with the back plate.

Abstract: The diversifiable compliance sole structure comprises a sole portion, formed from a thermoplastic material and bonded to a sole element, formed by foaming. The structure has a bottom surface having a plurality of seats, adapted for removably accommodating reinforcing elements proximately to a peripheral region of a heel portion.

Abstract: A lightweight, flexible, resilient sole adapted for athletic footwear including a relatively soft midsole made of a synthetic such as ethylene vinyl acetate, the midsole being wedge-shaped and including a relatively thick heel section and a relatively thin and flexible forepart section, and a plurality of discontinuous independent outsole pieces made of a relatively hard and wear-resistant synthetic rubber, such as styrene-butadiene rubber, the outsole pieces being disposed across the forepart section of the midsole with open spaces between the outsole pieces to maintain the flexibility of the forepart section, with the outsole pieces being vulcanized to the lower surface of the midsole to form a composite sole.

Abstract: A sole for an athletic shoe having an outer sole and a midsole formed of several layers, especially for running disciplines, is improved in such a way that stresses caused by pressure occurring during running and affecting the foot and the ankles are controlled in such a way that injury, especially injury to the ankles and premature fatiguing, is largely avoided. This is achieved by the midsole being comprised of a softly elastic inner part, a hard-elastic stabilizer and a cushioning piece that are formed into a unit and surrounded on all sides by a softly elastic sheathing.

Abstract: A tread for a sport shoe which includes a sole having projections extending outwardly from a tread surface. The tread includes a one-piece, thin-walled, metal part with at least two separate, dimensionally reinforced surface sections bearing the integrally molded projections. The reinforced surface sections may include a plurality of embossed, smooth-surfaced and/or bevelled projections. The metal part is fixedly attached to an inner surface of the shoe sole by either a thin wire grid embedded in the synthetic resin sole or uniformly distributed perforations.