Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure that defines a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The sole structure comprises densified wood and includes an upper midsole cushioning member, a lower midsole cushioning member, an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the lower midsole cushioning member, and a plate positioned between the upper midsole cushioning member and the lower midsole cushioning member.

Abstract: An orthopedic boot has two leg supports connected adjustably to a foot support via two joint assemblies. Each joint assembly has a securing panel, a connecting panel, a guide panel, two limiting members and two holding members. The securing panel is mounted securely on the foot support and has two engaging grooves each having engaging cavities. The connecting panel is mounted securely to one leg support and is pivotally connected to the securing panel. The limiting members has a resilient segment, an engaging pin and a locking tab. The engaging pin is mounted slidably in one of the engaging grooves, engages one of the engaging cavities and selectively abuts the connecting panel. The locking tab is spaced from a periphery of the guide panel to define a locking gap. The holding members are held respectively in the locking gaps and abut respectively against the locking tabs.

Abstract: A structure of areca palm made footwear includes an insole and an outsole. The insole is formed by cutting areca palm leaves to a desired size. The outsole is bonded to the insole. As such, a wearer's foot, when putting on the footwear, is set in contact with the insole made of areca palm leaves, whereby besides being environmentally friendly, the footwear can keep the wearer's sole dry by allowing humidity to be absorbed by the areca palm leaf.

Abstract: A visor and/or sandal straps that are flexible and may be shaped and bent without cracking is provided. A flexible wood veneer layer is positioned over the visor and/or strap. A layer of engineered paperbacked wood veneer is used to cover the visor and/or strap. This single layer of thin wood veneer with the attached adhesive paper is able to flex and bend using a process that involves a breaking down of the natural fibers of the wood through a mechanical tenderizing process. This process produces a flexible, bendable paperbacked veneer. The wood veneer may be obtained from tropical or domestic tree species. The wood veneer layer is then attached to the visor and/or strap with a flexible water-based adhesive that will not crack on bending. The veneer layer may be treated with a waterproofing agent or scented essential oils and may have an ornamental design.

Abstract: Traction on wet slippery icy and/or snowy surfaces is improved by the use bamboo leaves which are disposed on articles which engage the slippery surfaces. The bamboo leaves are disposed on the articles in question with the underside of the bamboo leaves oriented so as to engage the slippery surfaces. The bamboo leaves are preferably cut into shaped forms such as circles, squares or the like, which are releasably secured to the articles in question. The securement can be accomplished with releasable adhesives or releasable hook and loop devices. Articles to which the bamboo leaves can be secured include footwear, gloves, crutches, canes, walkers, vehicle tires and any other articles that would benefit from improved traction on slippery icy and/or snowy surfaces. When the hook and loop securement option is used, one sheet of the hook and loop material will be secured to a surface of the bamboo leaf shaped forms and a complementary sheet of the hook and loop material will be secured to the article in question.

Abstract: Polymer structures having a laminated surface and enhanced physical properties that can be used for packaging, athletic gear (e.g., padding, water sport equipment), gaskets, and protective garments are described. The structures include a core of a relatively high density material and one or more layers laminated to the surfaces of the core material of relatively low density polymer foam. The structures can be stiff or flexible. The foam layers improve the softness of the surfaces of the core material.

Abstract: Polymer structures having a laminated surface and enhanced physical properties that can be used for packaging, athletic gear (e.g., padding, water sport equipment), gaskets, and protective garments are described. The structures include a core of a relatively high density material and one or more layers laminated to the surfaces of the core material of relatively low density polymer foam. The structures can be stiff or flexible. The foam layers improve the softness of the surfaces of the core material.

Abstract: A disposable shower thong including a sole member formed of a flat planar paper material that has a top surface and a bottom surface. The paper material of the sole member has a top layer and a bottom layer with a common sheeting therebetween. Each layer is comprised of a corrugated paper sheet. The corrugated sheet of each layer has an alternating sequence of protruding crests and recessed troughs defining a wave-like filler. The sole member has a front foot section, a heel section and an end step section. Lastly, an elongated strap is positioned around the sole member and attached by an adhesive to the bottom surface of the sole. The strap, when attached to the bottom surface, forms a semi-spherical loop about the top surface of the sole.

Abstract: A shoe sole consists of an upper sole part (1) consisting of wood, and of a running sole (7) found underneath this. The upper sole part (1) is divided in the ball region so that several narrow strips (3) are formed running crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the sole, and the strips are joined together as well as with the front and back sole parts (4, 5) by flexible intermediate pieces (6). In one form of embodiment, a reinforcing layer (8) is rigidly joined on the surface, at least in the region of strips (3) on the under side of upper sole part (1). This reinforcing layer (8) appropriately consists of at least a layer of a wood veneer, which is glued onto the under side of upper sole part (1).

Abstract: A method of making a sole construction for a shoe is disclosed, the sole construction being of the type having at least two independently prefabricated wooden parts which are interconnected at an area beneath the ball of the foot of a wearer by at least one flexible polyurethane intermediate part. The method includes steps of placing the wooden parts in a mold, introducing a polyurethane foaming material into the remaining free space in the mold, allowing the polyurethane foaming material to foam with the mold closed to form the intermediate parts in interconnected relation with the wooden parts, removing the wooden and intermediate parts from the mold and thereafter working the side surfaces of the sole construction and the surfaces thereof facing the foot sole by grinding or milling.

Abstract: The sole for shoes comprises at least a substantially rigid rear portion and a flexible front portion connected with said rear portion approximately at the area of the ball of the foot. One of said both portions, preferably the rear portion, consists of a material having a cell structure, the cells of this portion being at least partially opened at the connecting surface with the other portion. This other portion, preferably the front portion, is formed of a synthetic plastics material being connected with said first portion by foaming thereto. Suitably the portion foamed onto the other portion consists of polyurethane.

Abstract: A flexible shoe insole consisting of strips of narrow bands of wood spaced from each other and fixed to a pliable underlying support. The strips are oriented with the length of the strip being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot and the operative connection to the pliable underlying substrate allows flexure of the insole for beneficial support while the choice of materials associated with the insole allows aspiration of the foot as well as thermal protection.

Abstract: A walking sole to be used under an immobilizing bandage on the lower leg whereby all foot joints are rigid, includes a running surface having three essentially flat parts which are spaced longitudinally and merge into one another with rounded transitions. A forward or toe part is curved upwards from a flat central part at an angle ranging between 25.degree. and 35.degree.. A hindmost or rear heel part slopes upwardly from the central part at an angle ranging between 15.degree. and 25.degree.. The vertical distance between the bottom of the central part and the highest point of the forward part is (11.+-.1)% of a length factor, which factor equals 1.5 times the length of the sole in mm--15 mm. The vertical distance between said bottom and the highest point of the heel part is (3.+-.1)% of said length factor.

Abstract: A sole construction for shoes is disclosed which includes at least two independently prefabricated wooden parts which are interconnected by at least one foamed polyurethane intermediate part. The interfacing surfaces between the wooden parts and the intermediate part are substantially free from sharp edges and the upper portions of the interfacing surfaces taper gradually arcuately upwardly and outwardly to the marginal areas thereof adjacent the surface supporting the sole of the wearer's foot, said marginal areas terminating in tangential relation with the latter surface without forming a step therewith.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a shoe having a bottom of wood or other rigid material, the bottom being divided by means of a transverse section in the region between the sole and the shank of the shoe. The partition section makes an acute angle with the plane of the sole, and a slot is provided in each section surface for accommodating a hinge of flexible material. The edge of the shank is beveled adjacent to the partition section approximately at right angles thereto, a material piece being secured in the thus-formed V-shaped groove by gluing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a segmented clog sole comprising the steps of forming a thick unit sole having a plurality of transverse slots on the mid sole side running across the width of but not through said unit sole, applying an adhesively attached mid and outer sole to the unit sole and then extending or cutting said slots completely through the outer sole and unit sole up to but not through said mid sole.

Abstract: Hard or soft wood of veneer-like thickness, and having the form of footwear insoles, fillers, liners, midsoles, outsoles, and of inserts, is incorporated as a structural component of boots, overshoes, shoes, slippers, and sneakers. These wooden component may extend for the full length of the footwear, or be just an insert disposed at the toe portion thereof, or at the toe and instep. These wooden components may or may not be treated with elastic sealants, or strengthened with heat-bonded thermoplastics, and they may be disposed in footwear with their grains extending laterally or longitudinally of the footwear.

Abstract: A sole construction for shoes is disclosed which includes at least two independently prefabricated wooden parts which are interconnected by at least one foamed polyurethane intermediate part. The interfacing surfaces between the wooden parts and the intermediate part are substantially free from sharp edges and the upper portions of the interfacing surfaces taper gradually arcuately upwardly and outwardly to the marginal areas thereof adjacent the surface supporting the sole of the wearer's foot, said marginal areas terminating in tangential relation with the latter surface without forming a step therewith.