5232results about "Insoles" 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 with a knit upper and a method of manufacturing the footwear are disclosed. The upper is formed through a knitting process to include a plurality of sections formed of different yarns and knits to provide the sections with different physical properties. In portions of the upper where sections formed of different yarns are in adjacent wales, a tuck stitch is utilized to join the sections. The method utilizes a circular knitting machine having multiple feeds that work together to knit the upper into a unitary, seamless structure. The multiple feeds, each of which provide multiple types of yarns, produce the sections to have varying physical properties.

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.

The invention is an upper for an article of footwear that includes a textile having fusible filaments or fibers. The textile is incorporated into the upper and specific areas of the upper are heated such that the fusible filaments or fibers fuse with other filaments or fibers to form fused areas. In comparison with unfused areas of the upper, the fused areas may impart properties that include greater stretch-resistance, stability, support, abrasion-resistance, durability, and stiffness, for example. In addition, the fused areas generally provide air-permeability without significantly increasing the weight of the footwear.

A combination of sensors, including solid-state gyros and force-sensitive resistors, are mounted in an insole suitable for insertion into a shoe. Data from the sensors is recorded by an in situ Programmable Interface Controller (PIC), logged into on-board EEPROM / Flash memory and relayed to a base station computer via a miniature telemetry transmitter triggered by RFID tagging. Software then uses this data to compute the cadence and ankle power of the subject, as well as other parameters, in order to analyze and assess the gait and activity of the subject.

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 disclosure may provide various electric receiver arrangements included in clothing pieces that require electric current to perform tasks, such as warming, cooling and displaying. Suitable wireless power transmission techniques, like pocket forming, may be used to provide the clothing pieces with wireless power. In some embodiments, receivers may include at least one antenna connected to at least one rectifier and one power converter. In other embodiments, receivers including a plurality of antennas, a plurality of rectifiers or a plurality of power converters may be provided. In addition, receivers may include communications components which may allow for communication to various electronic equipment including transmitters.

There is disclosed an inflatable lining for selected inner surfaces of footwear, such as a shoe, boot or sandal. The inflatable lining is formed of first and second plastic sheets having the shape and size of the selected inner surfaces, e.g., a sole, or any portion of the upper surfaces of the footwear. The sheets are bonded together in a continuous seam about their peripheral edges thereby forming a sealed interior chamber. A plurality of discontinuous seams are formed between the first and second sheets to create within the sealed interior chamber a plurality of interconnecting tubular passageways, and at least one continuous seam can also be provided that subdivides the interior chamber into two or more subdivided interior chambers. The inflatable liner is provided with an air pump that preferably is a flexible bulb with an inlet valve which discharges into a flexible tube which extends to a pressure control valve and then to the interior chamber of the inflatable inner sole. Preferably the flexible bulb is mounted at the heel of the inner sole. The pressure relief valve is manually adjustable to control the pressure within the inflatable inner sole. Excess air from the pressure control valve can be directed into channels formed on the undersurface of the inner sole where it discharges through sealed apertures in the inner sole thereby providing forced air circulation in the footwear. Alternatively, manually operated air pumps can be provided.

A shoe sole is composed of particles of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate and the particles are connected with each other with gaps defined between the particles so as to form irregular surface of the shoe sole. The sole is made by filling the particles to 77% to 87% of volume of a cavity in a mold set, wherein an angle 40 to 50 degrees is clamped between a spinning axis of the cavity and an axis to which the mold set is rotated about. The mold set is then heated to 140 to 160 degrees Celsius and spins the mold set about the spinning axis 22 to 32 minutes. After cooling the mold set, the shoe sole is formed and is removed from the cavity.

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 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.

Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)).

Systems and methods for using a three dimensional fabrication device, like a 3D Printer, for novel automation and additive manufacturing techniques in manufacturing medical devices such as orthotics, customized for a particular person. The systems and methods may use a plurality of work surfaces on the three dimensional fabrication device. The systems and methods may use a plurality of materials or a plurality of fabrication tools and processes to manufacture the customized product.

An insole providing cushioning and control of foot motion. The insole includes a stability cradle and a number of pods on the underside of the insole core or base. Some of the pods have different material properties selected to help control foot motion.

A shoe footbed 10 made by first molding a shape-retaining layer 12 into a contoured condition. After the shape-retaining layer 12 has been molded, a layer of thermal insulation 14 is placed on top of the molded layer 12. A conforming layer 16 and a fabric top layer 18 may be placed over the thermal insulation 14 and the shape-retaining layer 12. The inventive method of manufacture is particularly suited for making insulated footbeds that contain nonwoven webs of polymeric microfiber because damage to the fibrous web from heat and compression may be avoided.

An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. Each sensor includes two electrodes that are in communication with a force sensitive resistive material. The electrodes and the force sensitive resistive material may have multi-lobed shapes. Additionally, the sensor system may be provided on an insert that may form a sole member of the article of footwear. The insert may have slits therethrough, and may have a defined peripheral shape.

The present invention teaches a method of making a custom article of footwear. Further, the article of footwear can include a spring element that can provide improved cushioning, stability, and running economy. In addition, the components of the article of footwear can be selected from a wide range of options, and can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.

A sock with improved comfort includes a stocking sole (2) having a plurality of resilient projections (3) on at least one of its surfaces for protecting and cure the foot of the user.

A welted footwear construction with a direct-attach outsole and an internal tray containing a low density cushioning material. The welt may be secured to the upper and insole by one line of stitching and to the tray by a second line of stitching. The tray may include separate heel and forefoot cavities, each containing a low density cushioning material. The tray may be manufactured from thermoplastic urethane (“TPU”) and may contain low-density polyurethane (“PU”). The low-density PU may be molded in place within the cavities in the tray. The outsole may be directly attached to the undersurface of the tray, and may be manufactured from high-density PU.

The present invention provides orthotic devices for use in managing the treatment and prevention of lower extremity injuries, including foot ulcers. In various aspects, the present invention provides foot-worn orthotics which provide for improved compliance monitoring, and methods of their manufacture and use.

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.

An insole for insertion into footwear, comprising a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion; the midfoot portion connecting together the forefoot portion and the heel portion; said insole comprising a cushioning layer of a viscoelastic gel material which provides a cushioning function; and wherein the midfoot portion and the heel portion comprise a peripheral edge that curves upwards.