416results about "Inserts" patented technology

An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) a sole structure; (b) an upper having lateral and medial side elements engaged with the sole structure, the upper made from a polymer matrix structure that extends through at least a heel region; (c) a size adjustment mechanism located at the heel region; (d) a heel tongue element located adjacent the size adjustment mechanism; (e) a shoe securing mechanism; (f) an instep tongue member; and / or (g) a bootie member located at least partially within the foot-receiving chamber. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.

The present invention provides a floating anatomical protector for use in articles of footwear, and is particularly suited for footwear employing a wraparound lacing system. The floating anatomical protector preferably does not directly contact the superstructure of the article of footwear when worn. Instead, the lacing or other fastening system retains the floating anatomical protector in place over the wearer's foot and / or leg. For instance, the instep region of the foot, the shin, Achilles heel, calf, etc. may be covered by the floating anatomical protector. Multiple segments or separate protectors may be used. The lace may run between different layers of the floating anatomical protector. Also, the floating anatomical protector may directly contact the wearer's skin, or it may be used in conjunction with a bootie, sock or other intermediate material.

A disposable shoe liner that is formed from a first substrate, a second substrate, and discrete regions of a functional material sandwiched therebetween is provided. In particular, the first and second substrates contain are fused together at certain portions such that fused portions and unfused portions are formed. The unfused portions form pockets that contain the functional material. In some embodiments, for example, the pockets contain activated carbon granules to provide comfort to the foot and to absorb odors exuded therefrom.

A shock absorbing bladder for use in the sole of an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder includes a plurality of inflated chambers at different pressure levels. The bladder includes a first sealed chamber formed of a barrier material. The first chamber contains a fluid at a first fluid pressure. A second sealed chamber also forms part of the bladder. The second chamber is formed of a second barrier material and contains an inflation fluid at a second fluid pressure that is greater than said first fluid pressure. The second chamber is operatively coupled to the first chamber so that the inflation fluid from the second chamber moves into the first chamber to replenish fluid leaving the first chamber.

An article of footwear is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a multi-layered upper. A bootie configured to fit snugly about the foot of the wearer forms the interior of the upper. An outer covering substantially encases the bootie and is attached to the bootie only along a lateral side of the upper. The outer covering includes a split forming an opening on the lateral side of the upper, with the split in the outer covering extending into the small toe region of the upper. The opening is adjustable to tighten the shoe around the foot of the wearer, so a lacing system is provided coincident with the opening. A flap is positioned between the outer covering and the bootie underneath the opening. The flap is secured to the outer covering and the bootie on a lateral side of the opening.

The present invention is an apparatus and method of orthopedic footwear for post-surgical or diabetic patients or for sanitary use. The footwear has an ambidextrous bottom sole. In a higher part thereof, there is a groove of at least 10 mm, in which an off-loading plantar insoles or medicine or bandages can be inserted. These have been built-in the bottom sole using an ortho-dynamic concept which allows the patient a controlled deambulation. To that end, the present invention prevents sheer force on the plantar part of the bottom sole and the foot and in particular on the metatarsal and / or tarsal part of the foot.

The present invention relates to a reduced abrasion shoe. The reduced abrasion shoe comprises strategically removing seams from the interior cavity of the shoe. In particular, the tongue traversing the throat is attached to the exterior surface of the upper about the toe box. A full liner between the upper and the interior cavity is coupled to the upper about the shoe mid-point. Finally, exterior surface patches are coupled to the exterior surface using a fusion bond instead of a stitch to remove the corresponding interior seam.

A boot, such as a snowboard boot, having an outer shell including a flexible upper and a harness assembly disposed in the outer shell. The harness assembly wraps about a user's ankle, includes a plurality of cord keepers. A cord—for example, a lace or a stainless steel cable—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism such as a spool mechanism or a lace keeper is attached to the flexible upper and engages the cord, such that the user can releasably tension the cord. The cord extends through an aperture in the outer shell whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. In an embodiment, the tensioning mechanism is a lace locker fixedly attached to the shell tongue, wherein the tongue includes apertures disposed near the bottom of the lace locker to slidably accommodate the cord.

A shoe has a sandal and a removable bootie. The sandal is provided with at least one adjustable strap for securing the sandal about a wearer's foot and includes an outsole. The removable bootie is adapted to cover the wearer's foot and includes a sole, the removable bootie may be provided with an attachment system such as laces or straps for securing the bootie about the foot. The sandal and the bootie are configured to cooperate with each other so that when the bootie is inserted into the sandal and secured therein, the sandal and bootie combination results in the shoe, and wherein the sandal and the bootie can be worn independently of each other.

Podalic foot pads of various shapes and configurations which utilize a padding material that is primarily an A-B-A triblock copolymer and a plasticizer. A-B diblock copolymers may be compounded into the padding material. An anti-bleed agent is preferably employed. The plasticizer may be a resin, mineral oil or otherwise. A detackifier may be employed such as grape seed oil or another slip agent. Antioxidants, pigments and micropsheres may be added to the material. The material has good cushioning properties.

This invention is directed to a shock absorbing device for a shoe sole providing a lower layer 2 having an upper face 21 and an upper layer 3 having a lower face 30. The two layers 2, 3 are both made of an elastomer. The faces 21, 30 are each formed to have substantially a corrugated section. The corrugated faces 21, 30 each have a plurality of top portions 22, 32, bottom portions 23, 33, and inclined portions 24, 34 joining the top portions 22, 32 and bottom portions 23, 33, with the corrugated faces 21, 30 each being formed from essentially a smooth surface. The corrugated faces 21, 30 mate with each other. The two mating faces 21, 30 are spaced apart from each other at the top portions 22, 32 and / or at the bottom portions 23, 33, with gaps 4 being formed at the spaced-apart portions.

An orthotic foot device for footwear may include a flexible insole chassis adapted to extend substantially between the heel and the toe of the footwear and at least one support component attached at a lower side of the chassis. The chassis may include a cushioned layer composed of conforming resilient material overlying the upper side of the chassis.

A modular shoe separates into components. The components may be interchangeable to provide versatility without requiring a large number of single use shoes. Each shoe component may also be collapsible to provide for convenient packing in a travel bag or other location where space is limited.

Disclosed is an air cushion having a support pin structure for absorbing shock, a method for manufacturing the air cushion, and footgear comprising the air cushion which does not exhibit any bulging effect, even upon application of an external pressure, to thereby improve the stability thereof. The air cushion includes: an upper plate having a plurality of support pins arranged at the same height or different height in a downward direction on the bottom surface thereof; a lower plate having a plurality of pin receiving bodies on the top surface thereof opposite to the upper plate, each of the pin receiving bodies having a groove into which each of the support pins is inserted; and a cushion body adapted to surround the coupled state of the upper plate with the lower plate where the support pins are received and fixed into the pin receiving bodies, thereby maintaining the air-tightness therein.

The present invention provides a floating anatomical protector for use in articles of footwear, and is particularly suited for footwear employing a wraparound lacing system. The floating anatomical protector preferably does not directly contact the superstructure of the article of footwear when worn. Instead, the lacing or other fastening system retains the floating anatomical protector in place over the wearer's foot and / or leg. For instance, the instep region of the foot, the shin, Achilles heel, calf, etc. may be covered by the floating anatomical protector. Multiple segments or separate protectors may be used. The lace may run between different layers of the floating anatomical protector. Also, the floating anatomical protector may directly contact the wearer's skin, or it may be used in conjunction with a bootie, sock or other intermediate material.

This invention is directed to a shock absorbing device for a shoe sole comprising a lower layer 2 having an upper face 21 and an upper layer 3 having a lower face 30. The two layers 2, 3 are both made of an elastomer. The faces 21, 30 are each formed to have substantially a corrugated section. The corrugated faces 21, 30 each have a plurality of top portions 22, 32, bottom portions 23, 33, and inclined portions 24, 34 joining the top portions 22, 32 and bottom portions 23, 33, with the corrugated faces 21, 30 each being formed from essentially a smooth surface. The corrugated faces 21, 30 mate with each other. The two mating faces 21, 30 are spaced apart from each other at the top portions 22, 32 and / or at the bottom portions 23, 33, with gaps 4 being formed at the spaced-apart portions.

A supportive, lightweight athletic shoe construction is described which includes an inflatable upper and a sole. The upper includes a foot conforming support member, an inflatable exoskeleton and an overlay which inhibits outward bulging of the exoskeleton. The sole includes a rigid carrier element, a forefoot unit and a heel unit. The forefoot unit includes a plurality of components which are arranged to work with the biomechanics of the foot. The athletic shoe is structurally minimalistic and functionally efficient.

A web comprising a matrix fiber containing a non-elastic polyester based short fiber and an elastic composite fiber which is made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a melting point of at least 40° C. lower than a melting point of a polyester polymer constituting the short fiber and a non-elastic polyester, with the former being at least exposed on a surface of the fiber, and optionally a hygroscopic and exothermic fiber is heat molded such that the fibers are aligned in a thickness direction thereof, thereby obtaining a mat layer, onto which is then stuck a surface skin material to form an internal material of shoe, and a shoe insole and a boot are obtained by using the internal material of shoe.

A footwear sole assembly with at least one compressible protruding element extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the outsole, the at least one protruding element providing a natural instability to a wearer when the sole assembly initially contacts a supporting surface. The at least one protruding element is a three-dimensional structure formed of a substantially solid elastomeric material. In another embodiment, the at least one protruding element may also protrude upwardly beyond the sole assembly in such a manner that the wearer's foot can apply pressure to the top portion of said at least one protruding element.

A method and wearable system and for enhancing human balance and gait and preventing foot injury through neurological stimulation of the foot and the ankle. Subthreshold stimulation for neurosensory enhancement is provided via electrodes or vibrational actuators, or combination thereof, disposed in or on a wearable a platform, such as an insole, sock shoe, removable shoe insert, or applied without the support of a platform, to the skin surface of an individual. Suprathreshold stimulation for therapeutic purposes, such as improving blood flow, is also provided by the vibrational actuators. The actuators and electrodes are driven by bias signals generated by a bias signal generator that is coupled to a controller. The signal generator under the control of the controller is adapted to generate a non-deterministic random signal, a repetitive pattern or series of patterns. The controller optionally includes a communication port for interfacing with an external computer for purposes of optimizing and programming the controller. The wearable system is powered by a power source.

The invention relates to a lacing system (2) for a shoe (1), in particular for an inner shoe, with a cord-type or lace-type tensioning means (12) and looping means (11) for the tensioning means (12) arranged on oppositely lying wall regions (8, 9) of a shoe cut-out (5) extending from an entry opening (3) approximately to as far as an ankle region (4) and having at least one fixing means (18) for the tensioning means (12). In a first tensioning region (13) extending across the ankle region (4), the looping means (11) are arranged more or less opposite one another and in another tensioning region (14) extending in the direction towards the entry opening (3), the looping means (11) are arranged offset in height from one another on the oppositely lying wall regions (8, 9) and the tensioning means (12) in the first tensioning region (13) forms a tensioning loop (32) zigzaging over the shoe cut-out (5), from which a tensioning means cord (30) spanning the shoe cut-out (5) in a zigzag pattern between the looping means (11) forms the other tensioning region (14), and an end region (19) of the tensioning means cord (30) is joined to the shoe (1) by means of the fixing device (18) disposed in the region of the entry opening (3) in a clamped and / or releasable arrangement.

A shoe includes an upper having a heel portion that has a rear wall adapted to extend around the heel of a foot. At least one adjustment pad is attached loosely to the rear wall within the heel portion. The adjustment pad includes an intermediate part, first and second ends on two opposite sides of the intermediate part, a first surface confronting the rear wall, and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A strap passage unit is provided on the rear wall. A strap is attached to the adjustment pad, and passes movably through the strap passage unit. When the strap is pulled to move through the strap passage unit, the strap is tensed, and the adjustment pad is moved inward so as to abut against the foot in the shoe.

This invention relates generally to footwear with a shoe sole, including at least one insertable midsole orthotic. The insertable midsole orthotic is removably inserted within the shoe upper, the sides of which hold it in position. The shoe sole includes a concavely rounded side or underneath portion, which may be formed in part by the insertable midsole orthotic. The insertable midsole orthotic may extend the length of the shoe sole or may form only a part of the shoe sole and can incorporate cushioning or structural compartments or components.The insertable midsole orthotic permits replacement of midsole material which has degraded or has worn out in order to maintain optimal characteristics of the shoe sole and allows customization for the individual wearer to provide tailored cushioning or support characteristics for the purpose of orthopedic, podiatric, corrective, prescriptive, therapeutic and / or prosthetic purposes.

A boot, such as a snowboard boot, having an outer shell including a flexible upper and a harness assembly disposed in the outer shell. The harness assembly wraps about a user's ankle, includes a plurality of cord keepers. A cord—for example, a lace or a stainless steel cable—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism such as a spool mechanism or a lace keeper is attached to the flexible upper and engages the cord, such that the user can releasably tension the cord. The cord extends through an aperture in the outer shell whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. In an embodiment, the tensioning mechanism is a lace locker fixedly attached to the shell tongue, wherein the tongue includes apertures disposed near the bottom of the lace locker to slidably accommodate the cord.

According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.