| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080209766 | Outsole With Tangential Deformation - An outsole, especially for sports shoes, that can be formed with a large amount of elastic deformability even in the tangential direction towards the front and the back, enabling a good cushioning effect even when the tread of the foot is inclined and somewhat slipping. Beyond at least one critical deformation in the deformed region, the sole remains essentially rigid in relation to tangential deformation. In this way, the runner has a secure footing on the respective tread point. The runner can push off from the tread point without losing ground and a swimming effect on the sole is prevented. The elastic deformability of the sole also in the tangential direction is caused by at least one first element, and the rigidity of the sole in relation to tangential deformation beyond the at least one critical deformation, in addition to the degree of the at least one critical deformation in the deformed region is due to at least one second element. So that the first and second elements can be independently designed, dimensioned and produced, there are extensive structuring, formation and variation possibilities. Certain areas in the heel and/or the ball region of the sole can be varied by the at least one first element, and certain areas by the at least one second element, in the longitudinal direction. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080216355 | Lightweight and Flexible Article of Footwear - An article of footwear with an outer member including slots that increase flexibility is disclosed. The outer member also includes an inner plate including a set of protective strips. The inner plate is disposed along an inner surface of the outer member so that the protective strips are aligned with and cover the slots in the outer member. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080229617 | Article Of Footwear Having A Sole Structure With An Articulated Midsole And Outsole - An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole. The midsole has an upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The upper surface defines a plurality of depressions, and the lower surface defines a plurality of indentations extending toward the depressions. The outsole forms projections that extend into the indentations of the midsole, and the outsole has grooves located opposite the projections. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080244932 | Article of Footwear - An article of footwear includes an upper portion and a lower portion molded integral with the upper portion. The integral upper and lower portions may be formed of a polyolefin. At least one rubber ground contact pad is secured to the lower portion. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080250670 | Shoe Sole - The invention concerns a shoe sole consisting of a multilayer complex provided with: an upper first outer insole surface ( | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080263899 | Article of Footwear - There is provided with an article of footwear comprising a shoe body including a shoe upper and a bendable sole which together define a first cavity, wherein the sole is provided with a second cavity therein for housing at least one pump operable by means actuable thereon located inside said sole, wherein the actuation means contains at least one portion movable within the second cavity against the pump in response to bending or unbending of the sole. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080289223 | Footwear Accessory - The invention relates to a footwear accessory which provides protection against water and moisture. The invention comprises a main part which is made from a water-repellent, moisture-repellent, resistant and flexible material and which is open at the upper part thereof. According to the invention, the main part is tightened around the ankle and fitted to the heel of the shoe by means of an opening through which the heel can extend ( | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080295360 | Footwear Structure with Improved Comfortableness - The present invention concerns a footwear structure with improved comfortableness comprising an upper with which a sole is associated, wherein the footwear structure comprises a container comprising a box-type body, containing at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, provided with at least one inlet, and means for shutting and opening said at least one inlet that is kept, in walking phase, in an active position wherein said at least one inlet is accessible and communicating with the inside of the upper. The present invention further concerns the corresponding container. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090056169 | GOLF SHOE OUTSOLE - The present invention is further directed towards a golf shoe having an outsole comprising of forward and rear base sections that are connected and molded together with an arch support shank. The base sections are relatively soft and made from thermoplastic polyurethane having a maximum Shore A hardness of between 75 to 85. The shank is also made of thermoplastic polyurethane having a minimum hardness of at least 95 Shore A hardness. Each base section has a plurality of openings, wherein a corresponding plurality of relatively hard pods are molded, each pod of a size and configuration to fit within a corresponding opening and extend at least 6.3 mm from the bottom surfaces of the base sections. The shoe provides flexibility both across the metatarsal area and longitudinally at approximately the metatarsal area thereby providing the golfer with improved traction and balance, especially when the golfer executes a golf shot. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090100715 | Shoe | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090113760 | SPORTS SHOE - Arrays of resilient supports provide an energy absorbing shoe suitable for enhancing an exercise regime involving leg-shoe interactions. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090193685 | FLEXIBLE FOOTWEAR - 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. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090193686 | Collapsible Footwear - This new invention makes footwear more versatile and portable by being able to significantly reduce its size. The reduced size of the footwear facilitates storage in small containers. This allows a person to conveniently carry a spare pair of footwear in their handbag or pocket. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090217551 | Footwear with energy accumulation - Footwear with energy accumulation is presented. In a first version, the footwear comprises a sole, back, associated therewith, and fixation means coupled with the sole and back for securing a user's foot on the sole. The sole and back are disposed at an initial angle exceeding 90° therebetween, and form a leaf spring, while being arms of the spring. Alternatively, the leaf spring is made separate from the sole and back, having two arms respectively coupled with them. In a second version, the footwear comprises a sole including a frontal portion and a rear portion, the frontal portion is formed as a console spring downwardly bent out and cantileveredly secured to the rear portion, and fixation means for securing the user's foot on the sole, coupled therewith and depressing the front part of the foot against the spring. The portions are disposed at an initial angle therebetween less than 180°. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090272009 | Roll-Up Shoe - A flexible shoe that can be rolled up for easy carrying is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of this invention are dancing shoes and can, optionally, be made to resemble an expensive, formal shoe a woman might wear to a wedding or other event in which she might dance, but the invention is also applicable to men's dress shoes, and shoes worn by men, women and children in any activity in which the wearer of standard shoes could develop sore feet. In a preferred embodiment, fabric extends around the entire circumference of the sole to create a ballerina type-shoe with zigzag stitching around the opening to allow for expansions and contraction. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090313856 | FLEXIBLE SOLE FOR AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR - 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. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100018080 | FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR - 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. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100031534 | FOOTWEAR WITH EXPANDABLE ENTRY AND EXIT FEATURE - Footwear includes a shaft and a shell connected to the shaft. The shaft includes an expandable portion adapted to expand to facilitate ease of entry and exit of a heel of a foot into and out of the shell. The expandable portion is surrounded by a material forming the shaft. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100058616 | SHOE HAVING AN ELASTIC BODY - Disclosed is a shoe provided with at least one elastic body, which is combined with the outer sole thereof, so that friction induced in the shoe itself can be reduced, thereby enhancing the endurance of the shoe, and the shock absorption efficiency of the shoe becomes excellent, thereby allowing walking to be easier. The inventive shoe provided with at least one elastic body includes a plate-type outer sole protection sheath ( | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100058617 | Elastic Sole And Its Shoes Having Elastic Reaction Force And Shock Absorption - Disclosed are an elastic sole member which optimizes between a shock absorbing function and repulsive elastic force, between which a tradeoff relationship exists, and a shoe with the elastic sole member. The elastic sole member includes a sole body which is upwardly inclined toward a back end thereof, and an elastic member comprised of a fixing piece inserted through and fixed in a space formed through an upwardly inclined back portion of the sole body, and an elastic plate extending from the fixing plate while it is downwardly inclined and having a first end exposed to the outside and a second end spaced apart from the sole body, in which the elastic sole member elastically contracts when external force is applied to a back portion of the sole body while the fixing piece serves as the elastic support axis and provides elastic recovery force when the external force is removed. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100095553 | RESILIENT SPORTS SHOE - An improved resilient shoe includes a heel having a cavity extending under the instep portion of the shoe's upper housing compression springs, a mainspring located at approximately the heelstrike point and two auxiliary springs for stability located forward of the mainspring toward the toe. The action of the springs is distributed throughout the sole by a resilient layer of softer rubber in the bottom pad of the heel portion. In an alternate embodiment, the structural walls of the heel portion are configured such that the heel flexes responsive to the forces of the wearer's weight and the captive springs. The shoe is preferably further configured such that external air enters around the wearer's foot and flows through holes in the sole and into the heel, and is controllably directed out to the exterior of the shoe through a one-air air exhaust valve thereby ventilating the wearer's foot while walking. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100095554 | Collapsible Shoe - 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. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100115795 | PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR - An article of footwear comprising a body portion consisting of a polymer material, the body portion being shaped to resiliently surround a substantial portion of a wearer's foot during use. The article of footwear also comprises a planar insert member locatable within the body portion so as to improve the puncture resistance of the footwear. The body portion may be formed as a single homogenous piece of moulded material and may be deformable between a storage condition and an in use condition. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100146818 | Dance Shoe - An article of footwear configured for use as a dance shoe is provided. The article of footwear can include an upper and a two-piece sole connected to the upper. The article can also include a cage support that surrounds a portion of the upper and aids in flexibility of the shoe. The article can also include a single piece liner with an integrated toe box. In addition, the shoe can include an offset lacing system. In another arrangement, the shoe can include an elastic wrap, connected to the bottom of the shoe on the inside of the upper. The wrap can act as a tongue to minimize contact between the offset lacing system and the dancer's foot. In yet another arrangement, the shoe can include different types of outsole supports. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100199522 | SHOE WITH ELASTICITY - Disclosed is a shoe with elasticity, which can be easily and conveniently put on and taken off a user's food and can always maintain the original shape thereof. The shoe with elasticity, comprising a sole serving as a bottom of a shoe, an upper combined with edges of the sole for covering a top and sides of a user's foot when a user wears the shoe, an elastic member coupled to the counter of the upper for covering the heel of the user's foot, a support, extending backward from the counter of the upper of the shoe and combined with a lower end portion of the elastic member, for supporting the heel of a user, and a fixing member having a first end fixed to one side of the upper and a second end detachably attached to the other side of the upper, for surrounding the exterior of the elastic member and fixing the user's foot in the shoe. Accordingly, a user can easily put on and take off the shoe with elasticity according to the present invention, so that weak and old people and handicapped people can comfortably walk when wearing the shoe. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100242305 | THERAPEUTIC CUSHIONED SOLE - The therapeutic cushioned sole has a base that carries a cushioning material capable of simulating the feeling of walking on grass. The cushioning material may attach to the bottom of the footwear, such as a sandal or an over-shoe, or may affix to an after-market insole designed to replace or complement a stock insole. The cushioning material includes an artificial grass-like material such as field turf, Astroturf, or another like material and may be formed in different densities and lengths depending on the comfort level specific to a particular use or wearer. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100242306 | FOOTWEAR ARTICLE - A footwear article comprising a generally elongate sole for engagement with and support of the foot of a person, said sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first portion being for interaction with at least the heel region of the foot of the person and a second portion for interaction with at least the metatarsal region of the foot of the person; and a foot engagement means for securing the footwear article to the foot of a person. The footwear article being characterised in that a first portion of the sole includes a first material having a first material property and the a second portion of the sole includes a second material having a second material property; and said first portion and said second portion extend at least to the upper surface of the sole and first material property provides for dampening of load imparted to the foot of the person upon contact with a surface. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100275462 | SHOE - A shoe, comprising a sole member having an upper surface configured to receive a user's foot and a lower surface configured to contact a support surface; the shoe being flexible so that that shoe can be folded up and stored in a container. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100281713 | Foldable Sandal - A foldable sandal includes a forefoot portion that is adapted to be disposed under a front portion of a wearer's foot, a rear-foot portion that is adapted to be disposed under a rear portion of the wearer's foot, and a folding member outsole that functions as the folding member and the bottom layer of the sandal. The folding member is operatively coupled to both the forefoot portion and the rear-foot portion wherein the folding member is adapted to enable the foldable sandal to be selectively moved between an open configuration suitable for wearing and a folded configuration suitable for storage. The sandal may also have a retaining member fastened to the folding member outsole or the forefoot portion and/or the rear-foot portion to hold the sandal on the wearer's foot. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100299965 | Article Of Footwear With Multi-Directional Sole Structure - An article of footwear with a multi-directional sole structure including a flex groove system is disclosed. The flex groove system includes a plurality of longitudinal flex grooves and lateral flex grooves that divide the sole structure into a plurality of segments. The flex groove system also includes a plurality of diagonal flex grooves that intersect the corners of the plurality of segments. The flex grooves system can provide enhanced flexibility for the sole structure and can enhance multi-directional flexing. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100313447 | Lightweight And Flexible Article Of Footwear - An article of footwear with an outer member including slots that increase flexibility is disclosed. The outer member also includes an inner plate including a set of protective strips. The inner plate is disposed along an inner surface of the outer member so that the protective strips are aligned with and cover the slots in the outer member. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100325918 | Article of Footwear with a Collapsible Structure - An article of footwear with a sole and a collapsible upper attached to sole. The collapsible upper includes a first portion and a second portion which is below the first portion and extends from the sole to the first portion. Further, the collapsible upper also includes a seam which is positioned above the sole and is not in contact the sole. The seam joins substantially the entire perimeter of the first portion with substantially the perimeter of the second portion. Additionally, when the upper is in a collapsed state, the seam becomes the widest points of the article of footwear and defines the perimeter of the article of footwear. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110078924 | SLIP-ON FOOTWEAR WITH FIT FEATURES - The present disclosure provides a slip-on boot with fit features that enable snug fit while still allowing for convenient foot entry and exit. Related methods of using and manufacturing a slip-on boot are also provided. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110094125 | FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR AND SOLES FOR FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110113649 | Articles of Footwear - An article of footwear including a footwear upper and a sole assembly secured to the footwear upper. The sole assembly has a forefoot portion and a heel portion, and includes an outsole, a midsole disposed on the outsole and an instability insert disposed between the outsole and the midsole in the forefoot portion of the sole assembly. The instability insert causes a forefoot protrusion to be defined by the outsole in the forefoot portion of the sole assembly. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110214312 | FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR - A foldable footwear for easy storage, comprising an upper; an insole having a top surface and a bottom surface; the insole defining a first folding member comprising a U-shaped indentation in the top surface; a padding layer positioned on the top surface of the insole; and an outsole attached to the bottom surface of the insole and the upper, the outsole defining a second folding member, wherein the first and second folding members are positioned at an approximate middle section of the footwear and act together to ease folding of the footwear. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110232133 | JOINT LOAD REDUCING FOOTWEAR - Footwear including a flexible sole having a series of flexure zones positioned to correspond to primary joint axes of the human foot approximating the characteristics of a bare foot in motion. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110277350 | SHOE WITH TRANSVERSE APERTURE AND COVER - A shoe is provided including a sole, an upper with a transverse aperture, and a cover piece, wherein the cover piece covers the transverse aperture and is affixed to the shoe at medial and lateral ends of the cover piece, and wherein the transverse aperture compresses without compression of the cover piece when the sole bends along a hinged metatarsophalangeal portion when transitioning from a stance phase to a swing phase. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20120023779 | Upper Structure for a Shoe - An upper structure for a shoe includes an upper body and an outside upper member that overlaps the lateral side of the upper body to cover the foot's talus and that has a bottom edge portion fixedly attached to a bottom surface of the upper body. A rear end portion of the bottom edge portion is located rearwardly of the calcaneus load centerline. A rear edge portion of the outside upper member is separate from the upper body rearwardly of the talus. An instep edge portion of the outside upper member is connected to the shoelace. The upper structure includes a region that is expandable and contractible in a longitudinal direction. A top end of the region extends to the opening of the upper body, and a bottom end of the region is disposed in front of the calcaneus load centerline and below 55% of the foot's lateral ankle height. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120079745 | Foldable Footwear - A foldable footwear comprising a sole fabricated using a single manufacturing casting, the sole comprising at least two portions, a front portion and a back portion and a groove in the ground side of the sole extending laterally from one side of the sole to the other side of the sole. The footwear can be folded in one direction only where the ground side of the sole is folded into itself. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120167415 | Impact-Attenuation Members and Products Containing Such Members - Impact-attenuation members include body portions, optionally with an arched structure, that define a base orientation and an open space; and a spring member extending across the open space and engaging the body portion(s). When a force is applied to the body portion(s) in at least some orientations and/or directions of incident force, e.g., so as to change the impact-attenuation member out of its base orientation, the spring member may exert a force that urges the impact-attenuation member back toward the base orientation. Various example structures for the impact-attenuation member are described. Such impact-attenuation members may be used in articles of footwear or other foot-receiving device products. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120180339 | FLEXIBLE FOOTWEAR - The present invention relates to flexible footwear that comprises flexing means, either in the sole or in the upper, or in both, and said means in turn comprise a groove placed transversely and 5 recovering means placed transversely to said groove such that, when the footwear flexes along the groove, the action of said recovery means cause the footwear to recover, promoting recovery of the initial form of the footwear upon completion of each step, and thereby enhancing walking comfort. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120186106 | FOOTWEAR WITH EXPANSION JOINT - Footwear includes a sole and an upper comprising an unlaced shaft for covering a portion of the lower leg of the wearer. The shaft includes a forward and rearward portions secured together at substantially vertically extending seams at lateral sides of the upper. An expansion joint is provided in the shaft and is adapted to expand a local circumference of the shaft at the expansion joint when the wearer's foot passes through the shaft at the expansion joint to ease putting the footwear onto the wearer's foot and removing the footwear from the wearer's foot. The illustrated expansion joint includes a substantially vertical slit located along the seam between the forward and rearward portions and an elastic material secured to an inner side of the shaft and covering the slit for preventing passage of undesirable solid materials through the slit. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120222331 | CHARM ATTACHABLE TO AN OBJECT - A charm is received in a hole of an object to provide a decorative appearance. The charm includes a decorative portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion includes a stem, a base located at one end of the stem and a stop located at an opposing end of the stem. The stop has an oval shape. When the charm is attached to the object, the stem is received in the hole, the stop is positioned inside the object, and the decorative portion is outside the object. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120260531 | THERAPEUTIC SHOE - A therapeutic shoe includes a main body, a sole located at one side of the main body, a vibration layer, and a power generating module. The vibration layer is located between the main body and the sole. The power generating module includes a power generating unit, a rectifying circuit and a vibration device, which are electrically connected in series. The power generating unit generates and induces induced current. The rectifying circuit receives, rectifies, amplifies and processes the induced current from the power generating unit. The vibration device is located at the vibration layer and receives the processed induced current from the rectifying circuit to vibrate according to a predetermined vibration frequency in the vibration layer. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120279086 | Ergonomic insoles with electrostatic protection - An insertable shoe insole or shoe integrally formed therewith having electrostatic protection and a method of categorizing and selecting same which provides individual solutions to workplace fatigue and stress by determining the specific support needed for each individual. Specifically, the present invention defines and utilizes an ergonomic interaction factor to enable selection of a proper fitting shoe. Such selection occurs in one embodiment by dividing a person's weight by the contact area of the bottom of their feet. The insole includes an electrically conductive material for the purpose of eliminating the buildup of static charge by conducting static charges from the user's feet to conductive shoes which then transfer the charge to the floor. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120317839 | Rapid-Entry Shoe - A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements having constructed to have a memory of a native position, magnetic elements, and/or elastic elements | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120324760 | Footwear with heel based arcuate panel-shaped impact absorbing resilient concealed tongue - Footwear includes an arcuate, resilient, panel-shaped tongue concealed in the heel to absorb impact forces and facilitate the natural rolling contact of an individuals foot when the individual is walking or running. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130000151 | SHOE ASSEMBLY WITH NON-LINEAR VISCOUS LIQUID - Shoes and shoe sole assemblies and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a shoe and shoe sole assembly made of a non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material that becomes more resilient as more energy is applied. The shoe and shoe sole assembly is configured with a heel and forefoot insert configured to fit within a recess in a midsole. In other embodiments, the non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material is mixed with at least one other polymer in a foam. The midsole is formed with a heel impact region and a forefoot region made of the foam. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130000152 | Article of Footwear with a Midsole Structure - An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of an upper and a segmented sole structure. The sole structure may include an insole portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements disposed within an outsole unit. The insole is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of flexible regions. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130008053 | STRUCTURE FOR FRONT FOOT PORTION OF UPPER OF SHOE - A low rigidity region being more stretchable and bendable than a high rigidity region, includes a main portion, and a medial first flexible portion and a lateral first flexible portion extending from the main portion in the medial and lateral directions. The main portion covers a portion of the area from the shaft of the first proximal phalanx to the shaft of the second proximal phalanx, the medial first flexible portion covers a portion of the area from the shaft of the first proximal phalanx to the head of the first metatarsal bone, and the lateral first flexible portion extends to the lateral side of the foot from the main portion. When pushing off the foot onto the medial/lateral side in a diagonally forward direction, the upper bends along the diagonal bend lines. Therefore, the diagonal portions and the main portion serve as the bend lines. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130019502 | CORRECTING AND BALANCING SHOES HAVING SPRINGS - Disclosed in a spring shoe for a balance correction which comprises a shoe rear side bottom plate which is made from a rigid synthetic resin material and is engaged to a rear side of a lower surface of a shoe outer leather and has an engaging groove which is downwardly open at a rear, lower surface; a shoe front side bottom plate which is engaged to a front side of a lower surface of the shoe outer leather in a shape that the rear side covers the front side of the shoe rear side bottom plate; and a coil spring which is formed with its width being gradually reduced from a lower side to an upper side. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130036630 | SPLIT-SOLE FOOTWEAR - A shoe comprising an upper forming an interior portion for a foot, the interior portion including toe and heel cavities, is provided. The shoe further comprises a midsole having toe and heel ends and inner and outer sides. The midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion. Heel and toe outsole patches are respectively stitched onto the midsole. An insole is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion. A spacing between the heel and toe outsole patches extends from the inner to the outer side and occupies a position intermediate the toe and heel ends thereby permitting the shoe to fold about an axis running through the spacing. The shoe folds between an extended state, in which the shoe is worn, and a folded state in which a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130055593 | SHOCK ABSORBING SHOES WITH IMPROVED ASSEMBLY AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE - A shock absorbing shoe with improved assembly and operational performance is disclosed. The shock absorbing shoe includes: an outsole; an upper sole arranged on the outsole and having a guide portion; a support unit including: a first support body connected to the outsole; and a second support body connected to the upper sole and having a guide part corresponding to the guide portion; an elastic member arranged between the first and second support bodies of the support unit; and a supporting member connected to the first and second support bodies of the support unit, the supporting member being movable upward and downward along the guide portion and the guide part of the second support body. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130061494 | FOOTWEAR WITH SOLE ASSEMBLY HAVING MIDSOLE PLATE AND HEEL INSERT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Footwear sole assemblies including a midsole plate and a heel insert and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a sole assembly includes an outsole coupled to a midsole plate. The midsole plate can include a first plate portion and a second plate portion spaced apart from one another to define a cavity at a heel portion of the midsole plate. The cavity can be configured to receive an insert. The second plate portion can be proximate to the outsole, and the first plate portion can be spaced apart from the outsole. The first plate portion can include an opening extending through the heel portion. The sole assembly can further include a midsole pad coupled to the midsole plate and configured to contact the insert via the opening. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130074370 | BOWLING SHOES - A bowling shoe according to the present invention comprises an upper ( | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130074371 | FOOTWEAR WITH IMPROVED SOLE ASSEMBLY - An article of footwear including an outer sole assembly and a flexible upper, the outer bottom assembly extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, width-wise between a lateral side and a medial side, and height-wise between a surface of contact with the ground and a surface for connecting to the remainder of the shoe, the outer sole assembly having, from the rear end to the front end, a rear zone, a central zone, a metatarsal zone, and a front zone, the article of footwear including a counter which reinforces the upper at least above the rear zone. The counter includes a lateral flange and a medial flange, the medial flange being lengthier than the lateral flange. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130091735 | SHOES, DEVICES FOR SHOES, AND METHODS OF USING SHOES - A shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are located in a forefoot portion of the shoe between an upper and an outsole of the shoe, and one or more springs for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other. A device for a shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are installable in a forefoot portion of the shoe, and an energy return member positioned between the first plate and the second plate. A method of using a shoe includes applying, with a foot, a force on at least one of two plates that is positioned in a forefoot portion of a shoe, so as to move the two plates together and increase a loading of a spring, and launching the foot due to the two plates being moved apart by the spring as the foot is being lifted. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130097888 | IMPACT-ATTENUATION MEMBERS WITH LATERAL AND SHEAR FORCE STABILITY AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING SUCH MEMBERS - Impact-attenuation members include: (a) an impact-attenuating member and (b) a shear resistant member engaged with the impact-attenuating member. Another example impact-attenuation member includes a shear resistant member having a continuous wall that bulges outward on opposing sides when in an uncompressed base orientation. The shear resistant members may be structured and arranged to allow bending or compression against impact forces in one direction (e.g., when landing a step or a jump), but remain highly stable against shear or lateral forces in another direction (e.g., in a side-to-side direction). Such impact-attenuation members may be used in footwear products, including in athletic footwear. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130097889 | IMPACT-ATTENUATION MEMBERS WITH LATERAL AND SHEAR FORCE STABILITY AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING SUCH MEMBERS - Impact-attenuation members include: (a) an impact-attenuating member and (b) a shear resistant member engaged with the impact-attenuating member. Another example impact-attenuation member includes a shear resistant member having a continuous wall that bulges outward on opposing sides when in an uncompressed base orientation. The shear resistant members may be structured and arranged to allow bending or compression against impact forces in one direction (e.g., when landing a step or a jump), but remain highly stable against shear or lateral forces in another direction (e.g., in a side-to-side direction). Such impact-attenuation members may be used in footwear products, including in athletic footwear. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130097890 | IMPACT-ATTENUATION MEMBERS WITH LATERAL AND SHEAR FORCE STABILITY AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING SUCH MEMBERS - Impact-attenuation members include: (a) an impact-attenuating member and (b) a shear resistant member engaged with the impact-attenuating member. Another example impact-attenuation member includes a shear resistant member having a continuous wall that bulges outward on opposing sides when in an uncompressed base orientation. The shear resistant members may be structured and arranged to allow bending or compression against impact forces in one direction (e.g., when landing a step or a jump), but remain highly stable against shear or lateral forces in another direction (e.g., in a side-to-side direction). Such impact-attenuation members may be used in footwear products, including in athletic footwear. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130104420 | DANCE SHOES WITH IMPROVED HEEL AND ARCH SECTIONS | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130104421 | IMPACT-ATTENUATION MEMBERS WITH LATERAL AND SHEAR FORCE STABILITY AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING SUCH MEMBERS | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130118033 | IMPACT ATTENUATING AND SPRING ELEMENTS AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING SUCH ELEMENTS - Impact attenuating/spring systems may include first and second body portions and at least one spring member at least partially included between the body portions. The spring member(s) may substantially enclose and/or be pivotally engaged with the body portion(s). The components of the impact attenuating and spring element may be arranged such that when a force is applied to the body portion(s), the spring member(s) will exert a counter force to urge the impact attenuating and spring element back toward its original orientation. The spring members may include one or more polymeric element that stretches under a tensile force. The impact attenuating and spring elements may be included in a piece of footwear or other device in a manner such that a user or a retailer (or others) can select an appropriate spring member (or portion thereof), e.g., depending on characteristics of the user or the intended use. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130118034 | IMPACT ATTENUATING AND SPRING ELEMENTS AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING SUCH ELEMENTS - Impact attenuating/spring systems may include first and second body portions and at least one spring member at least partially included between the body portions. The spring member(s) may substantially enclose and/or be pivotally engaged with the body portion(s). The components of the impact attenuating and spring element may be arranged such that when a force is applied to the body portion(s), the spring member(s) will exert a counter force to urge the impact attenuating and spring element back toward its original orientation. The spring members may include one or more polymeric element that stretches under a tensile force. The impact attenuating and spring elements may be included in a piece of footwear or other device in a manner such that a user or a retailer (or others) can select an appropriate spring member (or portion thereof), e.g., depending on characteristics of the user or the intended use. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130118035 | CYCLING FOOTWEAR STRUCTURE WITH A COMPOSITE SOLE AND A METHOD TO REALISE SUCH STRUCTURE - Cycling footwear structure including a composite sole formed by at least one base sole and by at least one substantially annular shaped stiffening element, equipped with a front part, and with a back part and that extends progressively upwards until it wraps around at least one portion of the heel of a user and a method for making it. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130125421 | Article of Footwear with an Internal and External Midsole Structure - Articles of footwear having both interior and exterior midsole components may include: (a) an upper that at least in part defines an interior chamber; (b) an interior midsole component within the interior chamber, wherein, at a forefoot region, the interior midsole component includes a longitudinal flexion line and a plurality of transverse flexion lines; and (c) an exterior sole structure engaged with the upper. This exterior sole structure may include: (a) an exterior midsole component in a heel region of the article of footwear that does not extend under the forefoot region of the article of footwear and (b) an outsole component that extends under the forefoot region. If desired, the outsole component may extend under the exterior midsole component in the rearfoot region. The interior midsole component may include a plurality of pod elements separated from one another by the flexion lines. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130125422 | Energy-Return Shoe System - An energy return shoe system has a shoe portion, a flexible lower sole portion and a toe mechanism. The toe mechanism has an upper toe plate, a lower toe plate, and at least two toe arms. The upper toe plate is affixed to the shoe portion, the lower toe plate is affixed to the lower sole, and the toe arms are pivotally affixed at ends to the upper toe plate and the lower toe plate and are substantially parallel to each other. The lower sole is made of a flexible material and there is at least one spring mechanism that urges the shoe portion away from the lower sole. As the wearer steps down, energy of the wearer's mass is stored in one or more spring devices and as the wearer begins to lift their foot, the stored energy is returned to help push that foot off the ground. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130160326 | Article of Footwear with Singular Adjustment Attachment Cord - One embodiment of footwear, in the category of a sandal, which may include a sport sandal, thong, slide-on, clog, or related structured sandal for protecting feet while working or taking part in leisure activities such as walking, hiking, or running. In particular, a sports sandal (FIG. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130180132 | SHOE - The invention relates to a shoe ( | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130212909 | Sole And Article Of Footwear Having A Pod Assemby - A sole for an article of footwear includes: a foam base; a lateral pod assembly haying a plurality of pods fluidly connected in series disposed below the foam base, wherein the lateral pod assembly extends from a heel portion of the sole to a forefoot portion of the sole along a lateral side of the sole; and a medial pod assembly having a plurality of pods fluidly connected in series disposed below the foam base, wherein the medial pod assembly extends from a heel portion of the sole to a forefoot portion of the sole along a medial side of the sole, wherein a portion of the foam base extends between the lateral pod assembly and the medial pod assembly. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130219752 | Energy Return Member for Footwear - In at least one embodiment, an article of footwear includes a sole defining a lateral side and a medial side, an upper attached to the sole, and a resilient member positioned within the sole. The resilient member includes a plurality of arms including a medial arm extending along the medial side of the sole and a lateral arm extending along the lateral side of the sole, wherein an end of the medial arm is connected to an end of the lateral arm. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130219753 | Human Locomotion Assisting Shoe - Embodiments of footwear, in particular, a shoe, sandal or boot, may reduce the effort and improve the performance of walking, running, hiking, marching, and various other gaits as well as jumping, hopping, and other motion involving the ankle and lower leg and Achilles tendon, through integration of force-carrying mechanisms within footwear that manage the forces and energy associated with such motion by productively harvesting and storing energy during dorsiflexion motion and releasing and returning energy during plantar flexion. One structural element of such footwear may comprise a top collar yoke having anterior and posterior gussets forming a channel and a shoe comprising a rotation zone supporting the channel and an elastomeric zone forming a tension spring via an elastomeric overlay or otherwise providing a spring-like member approximately parallel to and to assist the Achilles tendon during locomotion. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130269215 | SKATE BOOT WITH FLEXBLE MIDFOOT SECTION - A skate boot or other piece of footwear is provided with a flexible midfoot section that is not rigidly connected to either a sole and/or base of the boot, in order to adjustably tighten around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer's midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness. The midfoot section is in a “hammock” type arrangement while the bail and heel portions of the wearer's foot rests on the footbed over the respective sole portions. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130276333 | Foamed Parts Having a Fabric Component, and Systems and Methods for Manufacturing Same - The invention relates to parts having a foamed polymeric material attached to a fabric, and systems and methods for forming same. An example method of attaching foamed polymeric material to a fabric layer includes providing a mold having at least one cavity and at least one material injection channel in fluid communication with the cavity, disposing a fabric over the at least one cavity, closing the mold, injecting unfoamed polymeric material into the at least one cavity through the material injection channel, wherein the unfoamed polymeric material penetrates at least a portion of the fabric proximate the at least one cavity to attach the polymeric material to the fabric layer, and foaming the unfoamed polymeric material. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130283640 | ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH BLADDER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper, a footbed, an outsole, and a bladder that is disposed between the footbed and the outsole includes providing a plurality of layers. The layers include a top, outsole, first bladder, and second bladder layer. Also, the method includes molding the layers together substantially simultaneously to form the upper, the footbed, the outsole, and the bladder. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130305566 | Infant Footwear - An article of infant footwear includes a sole made of a flexible, compliant layer of material with a thickness of between about 1 mm and about 3 mm. The article of infant footwear includes an upper attached to the sole, the upper and the sole together define a void to receive a foot. The upper has a heel cap independently movable relative to a remaining portion of the upper. The article of infant footwear further includes lateral and medial expanders. The lateral expander has a first end attached to a lateral heel portion of the upper and a second end attached to the heel cap. The medial expander has a first end attached to a medial heel portion of the upper and a second end attached to the heel cap. Each expander independently moves between a relaxed state and a stretched state to accommodate receipt of the infant foot. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130312287 | MATERIAL FOR MITIGATING IMPACT FORCES WITH COLLISION DURATIONS IN NANOSECONDS TO MILLISECONDS RANGE - Material for mitigating impact forces with collision durations in nanoseconds to milliseconds range is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an object wearable on or against a human body comprises one of a layer of polyurea material and plug of polyurea material, and the layer of polyurea material or plug of polyurea material is positioned within the object or on the object between the human body and an outer structure of the object. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130326910 | SHOE, IN PARTICULAR A SPORTS SHOE - The invention relates to a shoe ( | 12-12-2013 |
| 20130333245 | Lightweight And Flexible Article Of Footwear - An article of footwear with an outer member including slots that increase flexibility is disclosed. The outer member also includes an inner plate including a set of protective strips. The inner plate is disposed along an inner surface of the outer member so that the protective strips are aligned with and cover the slots in the outer member. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20140000128 | Athletic Shoe | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140013623 | Flex Groove Sole Assembly With Biasing Structure - An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly includes a groove that separates the sole assembly into first and second portions. Moreover, the article of footwear includes a flexible cord including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. The middle portion extends through the sole assembly and across the groove between the first portion and the second portion. The article of footwear also includes an adjustment device that is operably coupled to the first end and the second end. The adjustment device is configured to move at least one of the first end and the second end to selectively adjust tension of the flexible cord between a first tension level and a second tension level. The first portion is more rotatable about the groove relative to the second portion at the first tension level as compared to the second tension level. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140033569 | BALLET SHOE WITH ELASTIC RIM - A ballet shoe has elastic in place of a conventional drawstring. The ballet shoe of the present invention eliminates the need for a drawstring, making it easier for children to put on their own shoe as well as making it safer, as untied shoes (or those that become untied) can be a tripping hazard. Without a drawstring, the ballet shoes provide a neat appearance while still fitting on the user's foot and minimize the need for shoe repair due to broken drawstrings. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140033570 | Fluid-Filled Chambers With Tether Elements - A chamber may have an outer barrier and a tensile member. The barrier is formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity. The tensile member is located within the interior cavity and includes (a) a first layer element secured to the barrier, (b) a second layer element secured to an opposite portion of the barrier, and (c) a plurality of I-shaped tether elements that extend through the first layer element and the second layer element. In some configurations, the tether elements may include (a) a first end member located between the barrier and the first layer element, (b) a second end member located between the barrier and the second layer element, and (c) a central member extending through the first layer element and the second layer element and secured to the first end member and the second end member. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140033571 | Collapsible Shoe - 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. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140059890 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INFLATABLE BLADDERS FOR USE IN FOOTWEAR AND OTHER ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE - The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable bladders for use in articles of manufacture. The method includes the steps of providing a first polymer film, applying a curable release coating to the polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of the inflatable bladder, curing the release coating to the first polymer film, providing a second polymer film with the first polymer film to form a layered element such that the release coating is disposed between the polymer films, positioning the layered element between two plies of material, applying heat and pressure to adhere the polymer films together except in the area where the release coating has been applied to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter, and removing the plies of material from the adhered first and second polymer films. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140068970 | Footwear Device - A footwear device including a resilient member having first and second ends. The first end can be configured for being connected to a user's foot, and the second end can be configured for being connected to the user's leg above the ankle joint. The resilient member can be configured and positioned for resiliently and rotatably biasing the user's foot about the ankle joint. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140090275 | SLIP-ON FOOTWEAR WITH FIT FEATURES - The present disclosure provides a slip-on boot with fit features that enable snug fit while still allowing for convenient foot entry and exit. Related methods of using and manufacturing a slip-on boot are also provided. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140090276 | SHOES, DEVICES FOR SHOES, AND METHODS OF USING SHOES - A shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are located in a forefoot portion of the shoe between an upper and an outsole of the shoe, and one or more springs for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other. A device for a shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are installable in a forefoot portion of the shoe, and an energy return member positioned between the first plate and the second plate. A method of using a shoe includes applying, with a foot, a force on at least one of two plates that is positioned in a forefoot portion of a shoe, so as to move the two plates together and increase a loading of a spring, and launching the foot due to the two plates being moved apart by the spring as the foot is being lifted. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140101972 | SHOCK ABSORBING SHOES WITH TRIANGLE SHOCK ABSORBING SPACE - A shock absorbing shoe with a triangle shock absorbing space, the shoe having an outsole and a midsole, wherein the midsole is divided into upper and lower midsoles, a plurality of upper seating holes provided on opposite sides of the upper midsole behind an area corresponding to an arch region of a foot sole, a plurality of lower seating holes provided on opposite sides of the lower midsole. The shoe includes a shock absorbing means having a body member formed longitudinally between the upper and lower midsoles, and wing members provided on opposite sides of the body member. Each wing member includes an upper inclined portion inclined upwards to be received in the associated upper seating hole, a lower inclined portion inclined downwards to be received in the associated lower seating hole, and a connecting portion connecting the upper and lower inclined portions. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140123517 | SHOE STRUCTURE - A shoe structure includes a shoe body and a wearing element installed onto the shoe body. The shoe body includes a first folding slot, a second folding slot, a third folding slot and a fourth folding slot. The first and second folding slots are extended from the center of a first side towards a second side of the shoe body with an included angle defined between the first and second folding slots. The third and fourth folding slots are extended from the second side towards the first side, and the third and first folding slots form a first folding line, and the fourth and second folding slots form a second folding line. The first and second folding lines divide the shoe body into a front stepping portion, a middle portion and a heel portion which can be folded along the first and second folding lines for a convenient storage. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140123518 | SHOCK ABSORPTION FOOTWEAR - The present invention is a piece of shock absorption footwear that includes a base athletic shoe that includes a bottom, a sole disposed on the bottom of the base athletic shoe, the sole includes a heel portion, the heel portion of the sole forms an open wedge, where the open wedge has a top inside surface and a bottom inside surface. The top inside surface and the bottom inside surface are brought closer together when the user steps on a surface and a plurality of magnets on the top inside surface and the bottom inside surface of the open wedge form a magnetic field between the top inside surface and the bottom inside surface. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140123519 | SHOES AND SNEAKERS HAVING HYDROMAGNETIC JOINTS - A shoe or sneaker includes a hydromagnetic joint having a first joint part including a first magnetic element having a first magnetically charged surface, and a first buoyant element coupled with the first magnetic element. The first buoyant element overlies a surface of the first magnetic element that is opposite the first magnetically charged surface. The shoe includes a second joint part including a second magnetic element having a second magnetically charged surface that opposes the first magnetically charged surface of the first magnetic element, and a second buoyant element coupled with the second magnetic element. The second buoyant element overlies a surface of the second magnetic element that is opposite the second magnetically charged surface. A liquid is disposed between the first and second joint parts. The first and second joint parts are moveable relative to one another and are in fluid communication with the liquid. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140137437 | ADJUSTABLE FOOTWEAR SOLE WITH BLADDER - An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole secured thereto. The sole includes a midsole with a receptacle, within which a flexible fluid-filled bladder may be fitted. The bladder is adjustable with respect to the midsole between at least first and second orientations. The bladder provides the sole with a first characteristic when in the first orientation and a second characteristic, different from the first characteristic, when in the second orientation. Accordingly, the sole is readily adjustable between the first characteristic and the second characteristic by movement of the bladder with respect to the midsole. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140165427 | Electronically Controlled Bladder Assembly - An electronically controlled bladder assembly includes an adjustable pressure bladder and a constant pressure reservoir connected by an electronically controlled valve. The electronically controlled valve is operated in a manner that inflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is below a target pressure and in a manner that deflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is above the target pressure. The inflation and deflation of the adjustable bladder are achieved in an iterative manner by controlling the flow of fluid between the constant pressure reservoir and the adjustable bladder over several cycles of heel strikes. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140165428 | SHOE HAVING IMPROVED CUSHIONING AND PROPULSION - The invention relates to a shoe (C) including a shoe portion and a sole (S), the sole including two main portions that are pivotably connected together and being characterized in that the second front portion ( | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140173937 | Article Of Footwear With Fluid-Filled Chamber Lacking An Inflation Channel And Method For Making The Same - An article of footwear is provided having a pressurized fluid-filled chamber in the sole structure having a continuous perimeter weld and lacking an inflation channel. The chamber may be formed from opposing polymer sheets, a continuous perimeter weld lacking a weld channel bonding the sheets and forming an interior void between the sheets, and a fluid disposed within the interior void exerting outward pressure on the sheets. A method for making the chamber can include placing a pair of polymer sheets in an opposing arrangement, pressing opposing perimeter weld portions of the sheets against each other to form an airtight seal along a perimeter region of an interior void, supplying a flow of pressurized air between the opposing sheets into the interior void, and, while maintaining a desired fluid pressure, welding the perimeter weld portions of the sheets to each other. A high-frequency welder for forming chamber is also provided. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140173938 | ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH A HARNESS AND FLUID-FILLED CHAMBER ARRANGEMENT - An article of footwear is disclosed having a structural harness and impact-attenuating structure arrangement that includes a fluid-filled chamber. The article includes an upper, a sole secured to the upper having an impact-attenuating structure including a fluid-filled chamber and a structural harness. The structural harness may extend between the upper and fluid-filled chamber in a tensile arrangement that biases the fluid-filled chamber toward the upper and compresses the chamber. The structural harness may include a first layer, a thread layer bonded to the first layer and a second layer bonded to the thread layer on an opposite side of the thread layer. The thread layer may include threads configured to transmit tensile forces and restrict stretch in a longitudinal direction of the threads. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140173939 | Article of Footwear for Snowboarding - An article of footwear for use in sporting activities such as snowboarding is disclosed. The article of footwear can include a flex notch and a coupled lace loop design. The article can further include an internal harness to enhance stability of the foot. The article can also include a threading layer configured to strengthen the upper and a corresponding connecting layer to bond the threading layer to the upper and to provide protection to other areas of the upper. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140173940 | HEEL-SUSPENDING PROTECTIVE BOOT - A protective boot adapted to be worn by individuals when lying in a reclining position. The boot has leg and forefoot portions that provide foot and lower leg support for a wearer while suspending the wearer's heel. The boot may include low-friction materials at an exterior surface of its leg and forefoot portions and at a continuous rim separating the exterior surface from an interior surface of the body, in which case the boot also preferably includes a system for adjustably closing an anterior opening in the forefoot portion by drawing lateral regions of the forefoot portion inward and together. The boot may additionally or alternatively include an L-shaped backplate having portions located at the leg and forefoot portions of the body and adapted to inhibit buckling of the boot within the leg and forefoot portions. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140173941 | FOOTWEAR WITH EXPANDABLE ENTRY AND EXIT FEATURE - Footwear includes a shaft and a shell connected to the shaft. The shaft includes an expandable portion adapted to expand to facilitate ease of entry and exit of a heel of a foot into and out of the shell. The expandable portion is surrounded by a material forming the shaft. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140182169 | ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR HAVING LINES OF FLEXION - The invention herein is directed toward footwear containing a central flex zone comprised of a novel combination of a central flex channel with a central flex element that imparts either bidirectional or multi-directional flexion to the shoe, according to various embodiments, thereby allowing more natural flexibility and allowing all surface contacting members to independently engage and disengage from the contact surface of the user as the wearer's weight shifts. The flex zones also naturally adapt to the amount of stress put on the sole from ground elements, such as rocks or branches that the sole encounters during wear and to adjust to different terrain due thereby being particularly useful in applications such as construction boots and athletic footwear. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140208618 | Article of Footwear - A flexible article of footwear is comprised of a footwear upper secured to a waterproof sole having a toe portion. The footwear upper has a waterproof toe portion, an arch portion and an ankle portion. A flexible bank is secured between the toe portion and the arch portion. The flexible band has at least a forward angulated section to provide for the arch portion to flex forwardly and laterally to alleviate resistance by the article of footwear on the foot of the wearer person during use. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140215853 | OUTSOLE OF A FOOTWEAR ARTICLE, HAVING FIN TRACTION ELEMENTS - A sole structure can include an outsole with flexure zones that allow relative movement between regions of the outsole bottom surface that are separated or defined by the flexure zones. Such relative movement, together with selected traction elements or combinations of traction elements within the regions, act to provide the needed traction and stability for a number of motions that normally accompany a given activity such as golf. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140230280 | FOOTWEAR INCLUDING HEEL SPRING SUPPORT MEMBERS - A shoe includes spring type support members, optionally for at least a heel area of a foot. The support member includes a primary biasing element in the form of a V-shaped spring assembly and a secondary biasing element provided at least partially within a volume defined by the primary biasing element (e.g., between its base member and its flexing member, beneath the flexing member, etc.). When the primary biasing element compresses beyond a predetermined extent, it will compress the secondary biasing element. This construction allows the degree of ground reaction force attenuation and energy absorption properties of a shoe to be dually controlled to meet the specific demands of the activity for which the footwear is intended to be used. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140230281 | SHOE AND METHOD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION THEREOF - Shoe comprising a sole and at least a part of an upper leather fastened to the sole, distinctive in that the shoe is constructed or adapted so that the resultant force vertically up from the base during walking, in the main, moves along a certain line or path, called SGL (sensory gait line) as the line, for the right foot seen from above, starts from the back, tilting from the outside at the setting down of the heel, the line goes forwards and turns outwards so that it goes under the middle of the calcaneus (heel bone), from where the line further forwards has a shape as an extended S that runs out between the first and the second toe. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140230282 | ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH MULTI-LAYERED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY - An article of footwear including an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper and including a support assembly having an upper member and a lower member spaced from the upper member. A first layer is positioned beneath and in contact with the upper member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of first wave crests and first wave troughs. A second layer is positioned above the lower member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of second wave crests and second wave troughs. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140250726 | Support Members With Variable Viscosity Fluid For Footwear - An article of footwear including an adaptive support system includes a plurality of support members. Each support member includes an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the inner chamber being filled with a magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnet is disposed adjacent to the inner chamber and can be used to vary the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140250727 | COMBINED MIDSOLE/INSOLE - Described herein are devices and techniques for solving the problems, such as high costs and intensive labor, associated with individual cutting and lamination of each component of a multilayered article of manufacture, particularly a footwear article. The combined midsole/insole described herein is cut from a layered composition having a Strobel (or insole board) layer, a cushioning layer, and a textile layer. The Strobel layer, the cushioning layer, and the textile layer are needle-punched or laminated together to form the layered composition. The layered composition may be produced as a sheet of material or be produced as a roll of material without delamination or separation of the layers. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140250728 | Footwear Fluid-Filled Chamber Having Central Tensile Feature - An article of footwear includes a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions around a periphery of the chamber. The sole structure also includes a central structure located in a central portion of the chamber between opposing side portions of the chamber, such that the chamber is devoid of additional structures in a surrounding region around the central structure and extending from the central structure to the side portions of the chamber. On all sides of the central structure, a dimension of the surrounding region between the central structure and the nearest side portion is one third or more of a span across the chamber between opposing side portions. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140250729 | Flex Groove Sole Assembly With Biasing Structure - An article of footwear an upper and a sole structure that defines a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed proximate the medial side of the footwear, and the second portion is disposed proximate the lateral side. The first portion and the second portion are configured to move relative to each other. The article of footwear also includes a flexible biasing member including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. The middle portion extends across the first portion and the second portion. The first and second ends extend out from the outer surface of the footwear from either the medial or lateral side. The middle portion of the biasing member is configured to bias the first and second portions toward each other. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140259780 | SKATE BOOT HAVING A TENDON GUARD WITH A RECESS - A skate boot comprising an outer shell with a heel portion for receiving the heel of the foot; an ankle portion for receiving the ankle, the ankle portion comprising a rear portion for facing at least partially the lower part of the Achilles tendon; and medial and lateral side portions for facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively. The skate boot also comprises a tendon guard extending upwardly from the ankle portion of the outer shell for facing at least partially the upper part of the Achilles tendon, the tendon guard comprising a recess for receiving an insert. The tendon guard has a first flexion mode when no insert is received in the recess and a second flexion mode when the insert is received in the recess. The second flexion mode is different from the first flexion mode. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140259781 | FOOTWEAR INCLUDING RESILIENT SUPPORT MEMBERS - An article of footwear includes an outsole and an upper attached to the outsole. The upper has a heel portion, a vamp portion, and two quarter portions, and defines a foot opening. A resilient heel support member is retained within a first channel that extends through the upper and lines a part of the foot opening in the heel portion of the upper. The heel support member is configured to support the upper such that the article of footwear retains its shape. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140259782 | SOLE STRUCTURES AND ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR HAVING A LIGHTWEIGHT MIDSOLE MEMBER WITH PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS - Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include a relatively soft and lightweight foam midsole component partially covered by at least one more rigid and/or dense cage (protective) component(s) and/or other protective component(s). | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140259783 | SLIP-ON FOOTWEAR WITH FOOT SECURING SYSTEM - The present disclosure provides footwear construction that includes a foot securing mechanism that provides improved fit without resulting in footwear that is substantially more difficult or time consuming to put on and take off. In one embodiment the footwear is a slip-on boot having both an instep hold down system and a heel retaining system. In the depicted embodiment both systems can be activated by a single mechanism exposed on the outside of the boot. Related methods and additional embodiment are also provided. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140259784 | FOOTWEAR WITH PONTOON SOLE STRUCTURE - An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure having an outer periphery and one or more pontoons flexibly and resiliently joined to the sole structure. The pontoons are configured to spread laterally when the footwear is loaded to thereby increase the surface area of the sole structure and elastically retract back to an original position when the footwear is unloaded. The increased surface area of the sole reduces sinking of the footwear in soft, loose or saturated ground. Optionally, the sole structure includes paddle blades. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140259785 | ENERGY RETURN SOLE - A energy sole including a base structure extending a length of a shoe sole, a flexion extending from the base structure, a toe arm extending forward from the flexion, and a heel arm extend rearward from the flexion. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140283412 | ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH TENSILE STRUCTURE - An article of footwear includes an upper having a first area and a second area. The footwear also includes a sole structure that is coupled to the upper. The sole structure includes a bladder that contains a fluid. Moreover, the footwear includes a tensile structure that is coupled to the first area of the upper, that extends through the sole structure, and that is coupled to the second area of the upper. The tensile structure is operably coupled to the bladder. The tensile structure is operable to flex the bladder due to an increase in tension in the tensile structure. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140283413 | Sole And Article Of Footwear Having A Pod Assembly - A sole for an article of footwear includes: an upper sole portion; and a pod assembly having a plurality of pods fluidly connected in series disposed below the upper sole portion, wherein the pod assembly extends from a lateral heel portion of the sole to a medial forefoot portion of the sole such that the plurality of pods compress substantially in sequence through a gait cycle of a wearer. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140290097 | ITEM OF FOOTWEAR - The present invention relates to an item of footwear having a sole, comprising two or more materials of different compressive resistances, flexibility or densities arranged as a frontal/toe region, a mid foot region and a heel region. The item of footwear comprises: a securing means for securing the item of footwear to a foot of a wearer; and a sole having a midsole which has a frontal/toe region, a mid-foot region and a heel region, the mid-foot region of the midsole being formed from a material different to the material used for the heel region such that the mid-foot region has a lower compressive resistance and/or a lower density and/or a higher flexibility than the heel region, wherein the mid-sole is thin and tapered. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140310989 | ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR AND RELATED METHODS - An article of footwear includes an inner contact material operable to provide an interface between the article of footwear and portions of a wearer's foot. The inner contact material defines an inner foot opening through which a foot can be received. The inner contact material extends downwardly about the foot from the inner foot opening. An outer support material at least partially circumscribes portions of the inner contact material. The outer support material defines an outer foot opening through which a foot can be received. The outer support material extends downwardly about the foot from the outer foot opening. The inner foot opening is positioned higher around a periphery of the foot than is the outer foot opening so as to expose portions of the inner contact material above the outer support material. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140317962 | Footwear Upper Having Selectively Located Padding - An article of footwear is provided, which may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may include an exposed outer layer forming at least a portion of an external surface of the upper. The upper may also include a polymer foam material selectively located on an inner side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent portions of the exposed outer layer, thereby forming padded portions of the upper. The padded portions of the upper may be located in areas of the article of footwear that correspond with predetermined bones of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140317963 | Footwear with Power Kick Plate - An article of footwear that includes an upper that secures the article of footwear to a wearer. The footwear also includes a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper. The sole assembly includes an outsole having a plurality of cleats and a groove. The groove includes a first internal surface and a second internal surface. The first and second internal surfaces move away from each other as the sole assembly flexes in a first direction, and the first and second internal surfaces abut each other to limit movement of the sole assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140331523 | FOOTWEAR SOLES INCLUDING AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM CONTROLLINING THE FLOW RESISTANCE OF A MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUID IN COMPARTMENTS WITH INTERNAL FLEXIBILITY SIPES BETWEEN INNER AND OUTER COMPARTMENTS - Devices with one or more internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, to provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability. An internal sipe is formed by at least a portion of two opposing internal surfaces that can move relative to each other in a sliding sideways motion. Siped devices can be used in most existing products, including footwear; orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding and cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and other structural or support elements in mechanical, architectural, or other products. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140345163 | FOOTWEAR SOLE SECTIONS INCLUDING BLADDERS WITH INTERNAL FLEXIBILITY SIPES THEREBETWEEN AND AN ATTACHMENT BETWEEN SIPE SURFACES - A shoe or other footwear, including a footwear or orthotic sole, including a sole section with an outer bladder having a uppermost surface curved concavely in a U-shape relative to an intended wearer's foot location in the device, as viewed upright and unloaded in a frontal plane. The outer bladder forms a component of the sole section. An inner bladder includes a gas located inside and is substantially surrounded on at least the top, bottom and sides by the outer bladder. The outer bladder and inner bladder are separated by an internal sipe. The sipe is formed by an inner surface of the outer bladder and an outer surface of the inner bladder. An attachment is provided between the surfaces of the sipe and located in an upper, central portion of the sipe between sidemost extents of the outer surface of the inner bladder, viewed in a frontal plane cross-section. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140352176 | SHOE CUSHION AND SHOCK ABSORBING SHOE COMPRISING SAME - Disclosed are a cushion for use in a shoe and a shock absorbing shoe having the cushion. The shock absorbing shoe includes: a sole having a lower surface thereof contacted with the ground; a cushion disposed above the sole; and an upper disposed above the cushion. The cushion includes: a rigid frame defining an inner region corresponding to the shape of at least a part of a foot of a wearer; and an elastic member supported by the frame and disposed in the inner region to support the foot of the wearer. The sole has a groove formed on an upper portion thereof in order to provide a deformation space for the elastic member. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150007456 | ENERGY STORAGE AND RETURN SPRING - A spring shoe, and also in particular a spring, as well as a method of returning energy to a user, are provided. In one embodiment, a method and apparatus stores foot strike energy and releases it after a slight delay, when it will exert a force on the user which includes a forward component. This is accomplished in an embodiment by a spring in the sole which has a decreasing spring force, such that the force required to compress the sole decreases for all or part of the compression displacement as the spring is compressed. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150007457 | SHOCK-ABSORBING DANCE SHOE ASSEMBLY - Low-profile dance shoes and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a dance shoe that includes an integrated heel member that provides increased support, stability, and shock-absorption for the dancer. The dance shoe can further include a support member configured to provide lateral support to the foot and/or ankle, and a shock-absorption member. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150007458 | Article Of Footwear Having A Sole Structure With A Framework-Chamber Arrangement - A framework-chamber arrangement for an article of footwear, and an article of footwear having a sole structure including a framework-chamber arrangement, is provided that can cooperate to provide various advantageous features, such as multiple-stage cushioning and specialized attenuation of and reaction to ground contact forces. The framework-chamber arrangement can include a fluid-filled chamber forming laterally extending arms and a framework having corresponding recesses formed therein and receiving a lower portion of the chamber. The fluid-filled chamber can be retained within the framework without a bond being formed between lower regions of the chamber arms and the framework. Peripheral portions of some of the chamber arms can be spaced apart from adjacent portions of corresponding channels while in a relaxed state. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150007459 | SANDAL WITH PNEUMATIC SUPPORT - The sandal with pneumatic support includes an inflatable bladder in the sole, in the area immediately beneath the arch of the foot when the sandal is worn. A manual air pump is provided integrally with the sandal. In one embodiment, the pump is located atop the toe divider of a flip-flop type sandal. In another embodiment, the pump is located in the heel. A pressure relief valve is located along one of the upper straps of the sandal. The arch bladder, air pump, and relief valve communicate pneumatically with one another. The sandal may be devoid of structure extending between the toes when worn, but may include straps passing over and/or around the foot. Other embodiments provide additional air bladders in the straps to better secure the sandal on the foot. The sandal provides greatly improved support and reduces or eliminates muscular problems resulting from the lack of arch support. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150013190 | Contoured Fluid-Filled Chamber - A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150013191 | Quick Change Shock Mitigation Outsole Insert with Debris Shield - An article of footwear has a shock absorbing insert placed between the insole and the outsole thereof, for example at the heel. The insert includes a spring carrier having upper and lower portions, each having a plurality seats for receiving a respective ends of respective coil springs. Each of the springs extends between said upper and lower portions and is captured therebetween. A magnetic spring supplements the mechanical springs. The springs and carrier are protected from environmental elements and abrasive particles by a debris shield. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150020416 | SHOE - A shoe has a coupling element extending between the front and rear portions of the shoe to maintain the shoe in a bent position. The shoe rests stably on the ground in the bent position so that the user may simply step into the shoe. The bent position is overcome by the user's bodyweight, which overcomes a locked position of the coupling element. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150027004 | Flexible Footwear With Puncture Resistant Sole And Reinforced Strap Mounting - A flexible article of footwear, such as a sandal or the like, with a puncture resistant sole and reinforced strap mount. The article of footwear can also have an adjustable forefoot strap, and the sole can have a midsole, outsole and puncture resistant plate that can be integrally molded together. In some embodiments, the insole can be contoured to match the contour of the wearer's foot compete with arch support. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150027005 | ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR, SOLE AND PUMP ARRANGEMENT FOR USE IN SAME, AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - An article of footwear has a shoe upper, a sole connected to the shoe upper and the sole is provided with peripheral walls which together define a cavity therein. A layer of material extends across and is connected to the walls or adjacent to the walls at a perimeter of the layer of material, the layer of material dividing the cavity into at least a first chamber and a second chamber. The layer of material and the walls on one side of the perimeter of the layer of material define the first chamber, and the layer of material and the walls on the other side of the perimeter of the layer of material define the second chamber. The sole is configured such that movement of the layer of material within the cavity causes simultaneous changing of interior volume between the chambers and thus pumping of air into or out of the chambers for air circulation of the article of footwear. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150040435 | SOLE STRUCTURE FOR AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR - A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper element, a lower element positioned below the upper element and a flexure element. The flexure element may be joined to one of the upper element and the lower element. The flexure element may be configured for slidingly contacting the other of the upper element and the lower element when a vertical compressive load is applied to the upper element. A second flexure element may be provided that extends from the upper element toward the lower element (or vice versa). An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150047229 | Shoe With Elastically Flexible Extension - A footwear article includes a foot-attachment structure configured to attach to a foot, and longitudinally opposite front and rear ends. The footwear article further includes a downward-facing exposed sole surface. A cantilever extension, in a natural condition, adjoins the sole surface at a junction, and projects rearwardly and downwardly from the junction. The extension has a proximal end and a distal end that are longitudinally opposite each other. The extension is supported at only the proximal end. The extension is configured to elastically resist upward rotation of the extension toward the sole, and is configured to be pushed upward toward the sole by the upward force. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150047230 | Article With Tensioning System Including Tension Balancing Member - An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes a tension balancing member to balance loads across different portions of the intermediate covering portion. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150059215 | OPEN-TOED SANDAL WITH AN INTEGRATED BLADDER FILLED POUCH HAVING A NON-EVAPORATIVE LIQUID COMPOSITION - Disclosed is an open-toed sandal with an integrated bladder filled pouch having a non-evaporative liquid composition, according to one embodiment. An open-toed sandal includes a sole member and a bladder filled pouch filled with a non-evaporative liquid affixed on a top surface of the sole member on which a wearer of the open-toed sandal rests a foot. A shape of the bladder filled pouch contorts as the wearer of the open-toed sandal walks. The contortion of the bladder filled pouch is triggered by a movement of the non-evaporative liquid within the bladder filled pouch. A securing support member is connected to the sole member. The securing support member wraps around the sole member to secure the foot in the open-toed sandal. The bladder filled pouch may retain a memory of a motion of the foot based on the pressure placed on the bladder filled pouch filled with the non-evaporative liquid. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150068062 | Guitar-Shaped Bladder For Footwear - An article of footwear includes an upper for securing the article of footwear to a wearer. The footwear also includes a sole assembly operatively coupled to the upper. The sole assembly includes a bladder that contains a fluid. The bladder has a posterior portion, an anterior portion, and a middle portion disposed between the posterior and anterior portions. The posterior portion has a heel recess that is approximately coincidental with a center of a heel of the wearer. The middle portion includes a neck chamber that extends between the posterior and anterior portions. The neck chamber is elongate and has a width that is less than both the posterior and anterior portions, and the anterior portion has a plurality of toe recesses that extend generally away from the neck chamber. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150089839 | Article Of Footwear With Adjustable Fitting System - An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150089840 | MULTI-FUNCTION VARIABLE HEALTHCARE SHOE - A multi-function variable healthcare shoe is provided, including a foot pad having an air sack foot pad that obeys pumping principles, an intake valve disposed on an inner side of a rear bottom portion of the air sack, and an exhaust valve disposed on an inner side of a toe portion of the air sack. A plurality of non-slip protrusions are disposed in front of the air sack. A curved and protruded air guide turns to an external portion of a venting slot for guiding air to flow through a slot disposed on a bottom portion and a protection edge to a topline to form a ventilation system. Therefore, air keeps flowing through and ventilating in the multi-function variable healthcare shoe. The foot pad has a massage cover. The foot pad is full-sized or half-sized. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150101213 | HALLUX VALGUS SANDAL - A hallux valgus sandal ( | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150101214 | Sole Assembly For Article Of Footwear With Interlocking Members - An article of footwear includes a sole assembly with a rib that is resiliently flexible, and the rib has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The transverse axis extends at an acute angle relative to the ground surface, and the rib includes a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second longitudinal ends. A height of the first and/or second longitudinal end is greater than that of the middle portion. The rib is operable to axially support a first force applied substantially along the acute angle relative to the ground surface, and the rib transverse axis remains substantially straight in response to the first force. The rib resiliently bends about the rib longitudinal axis in response to a second force applied substantially normal to the ground surface to make the rib transverse axis non-linear. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150135554 | Article Of Footwear Having Chamber Capable Of Holding Vacuum - An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole. The article of footwear also includes an outer surface defined on the upper or the sole. Moreover, the article of footwear includes a chamber wall operably coupled to one of the upper and the sole. The chamber wall defines at least a portion of a chamber operable to hold a vacuum for at least partially conforming the footwear to the foot of the wearer. Moreover, the footwear includes a valve including a passage that extends through the chamber wall to be in selective fluid communication with the chamber. The valve is operable to provide suction to draw the vacuum within the chamber. The valve is partially defined by an outer rim, and the outer rim is flush with the outer surface or recessed inward from the outer surface toward the chamber. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150135555 | Footwear Incorporating Angled Tensile Strand Elements - An article of footwear may include various first strands and second strands. The cutting and second strands may extend from an area proximal to lace-receiving elements to an area proximal to the sole structure. The first strands may have a substantially vertical orientation and the second strands may have a rearwardly-angled orientation. The first strands may be located in a midfoot region of the footwear and the second strands may be located in both the midfoot region and a heel region of the footwear. Angles between the first strands and the second strands may be at least 40 degrees. Additionally, the second strands may have at least fifty percent greater tensile strength than the first strands. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150289580 | Protective Foot Covering Device - A protective foot covering device keeps a wearer's foot dry, particularly while showering. The device includes a boot having an upper end, a lower end and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending between the upper and lower ends. The upper end includes a peripheral edge defining an access opening into a hollow interior of the boot. The boot further includes a shaft and a vamp. The shaft is coupled to and extends downwardly from the peripheral edge. The vamp is coupled to and extends forwardly from the shaft toward a toe of the boot. The boot has a slit extending therein defining first and second overlapping sections extending through the shaft downwardly from the upper end. A sole is coupled to and covers the lower end. A coupler is attached to the boot and removably couples the first and second overlapping sections together to close the slit. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150305434 | Shoe with Divided Ground Contact Surfaces - The invention relates to a shoe and method for making a shoe with divided ground contact surfaces including a toe area covered in part by a toe material; the toe material for contacting a ground; a heel area covered in part by a heel material; wherein the heel material is for contacting the ground. The shoe also has a flex member between the toe and heel areas; the flex member extends both in lateral and longitudinal directions for spreading the toe and heel materials toward a periphery of the shoe and for reducing friction between the ground and the toe and heel materials; and wherein the flex member is contoured for facilitating flexing of the shoe. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150313315 | Article of Footwear Incorporating An Impact Absorber And Having An Upper Decoupled From Its Sole In A Midfoot Region - An article of footwear includes an upper, a sole attached to the upper, and an impact absorber attached to the upper at least along a midfoot region of the upper and capable of absorbing a portion of a lateral impact when the impact absorber is moved into contact with a top surface of the sole. The impact absorber is be integrally formed with the sole and has a width that varies along a length of the impact absorber. The width of the impact absorber decreases in a forefoot region and a heel region. The upper rolls to contact the top surface of the sole upon lateral impact. The sole and the upper may be attached asymmetrically. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150351492 | Article of Footwear - The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear including an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure includes a generally rigid midsole plate spanning the length of the footwear and a compression member depending from the ground-facing surface of the plate. In an embodiment, the sole structure includes a forward compression member and a rearward compression member that is received into a corresponding socket formed into the midsole plate. The compression members include a plurality of compression elements interconnected by linking elements. The compression and linking elements cooperate to attenuate load forces. In an embodiment, the compression and linking elements are further configured to influence the orientation of the foot during a step cycle. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20160000181 | ATHLETIC SHOE WITH ENERGY RETURN SYSTEM - In one implementation, the present invention provides for a shoe comprising a shoe sole assembly and a shoe upper assembly. The shoe sole assembly comprises a midsole, at least one stabilizer plug, and at least one outsole member. The midsole has an upper midsole surface, a lower midsole surface, a midsole forefoot portion, and a midsole heel portion. The at least one stabilizer plug has an upper stabilizer plug surface, a lower stabilizer plug surface, at least one trampoline recess disposed in the upper stabilizer plug surface, and at least one projection extending from the lower stabilizer plug surface. The at least one projection substantially underlies at least a portion of the at least one trampoline recess. The lower midsole surface defines at least one stabilizer plug recess sized and shaped to receive a corresponding stabilizer plug. The at least one outsole member has an upper outsole surface and a lower outsole surface. The upper outsole surface is adapted to complimentarily receive the at least one projection extending from the lower stabilizer plug surface. A shoe upper assembly has a bottom portion that is attached to the shoe sole assembly and extends upward to a central, foot-receiving portion. In operation, when a force is applied to the lower outsole surface during a foot strike, the at least one trampoline recess receives underlying portions of the stabilizer plug to accommodate elastic deflection of the underlying portions of the stabilizer plug and the outsole. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160000182 | Flex Groove Sole Assembly With Biasing Structure - An article of footwear an upper and a sole structure that defines a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed proximate the medial side of the footwear, and the second portion is disposed proximate the lateral side. The first portion and the second portion are configured to move relative to each other. The article of footwear also includes a flexible biasing member including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. The middle portion extends across the first portion and the second portion. The first and second ends extend out from the outer surface of the footwear from either the medial or lateral side. The middle portion of the biasing member is configured to bias the first and second portions toward each other. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160015123 | ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING AN ELEVATED PLATE SOLE STRUCTURE - An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160015124 | RESILIENT AND SHOCK ABSORBING ELEMENT ARRANGEABLE IN OR ADJACENT TO A SHOE - A resilient and shock absorbing element ( | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160044993 | Support Members With Variable Viscosity Fluid For Footwear - An article of footwear including an adaptive support system includes a plurality of support members. Each support member includes an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the inner chamber being filled with a magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnet is disposed adjacent to the inner chamber and can be used to vary the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160073731 | Footwear with Dynamic Arch System - The present invention is footwear having a convex shaped outsole with opposing wedge shaped configurations in the bottom of the front sole section and the back sole section which provide rotation of the front sole section and the back sole section in opposite directions when weight is applied. The present invention is also footwear convex shaped in the longitudinal direction with a split sole having opposing wedge shaped configurations in the bottom of the front sole section and the back sole section that provide rotation of the front sole section and the back sole section in opposite directions when weight is applied. The invention further includes footwear having at least one pair of wedges on the outsole which provide footwear having improved arch support. The invention is also footwear with a flexible, elastic, member between the front sole section and the back sole section of the sole. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160143391 | Sole Structures and Articles of Footwear Having a Lightweight Midsole with Segmented Protective Elements - Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (a) a lightweight foam midsole component for supporting the foot; and (b) a plurality of heavier and/or denser cage components covering selected areas of the midsole component. Spaces are provided between the cage components. These spaces may be sized, shaped, and oriented to define and/or correspond to flexion lines of the foot and/or to produce a more natural flex motion to the sole. The soles additionally may include one or more outsole components, e.g., on bottom surface(s) of the cage component(s) and/or the foam midsole. These sole structures may be engaged with an upper to form a shoe. The uppers may include one or more lace receiving openings supported by elongated wire or textile components. Methods of making footwear including such uppers and/or sole structures also are described. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160192738 | SHOE SOLE | 07-07-2016 |
| 20160374427 | COLLAPSIBLE SHOE HEEL - A collapsible shoe heel is provided. The collapsible shoe heel features a support member having a first end and second end, a substantially u-shaped lifting member having a first end and a second end, an angle, formed by the support member and the lifting member, which has a natural position, a first hinge rotatably connecting the first end of the support member and the first end of the lifting member, and a second hinge rotatably connecting the second end of the support member and the second end of the lifting member. The first hinge and second are configured to retain the natural position of the angle. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20180020774 | Shoe with Flexible Upper | 01-25-2018 |
| 20190142103 | SOLE AND ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING A POD ASSEMBLY | 05-16-2019 |
