A shoe friction control apparatus set that enables a user to specifically individually select a specific slide capability for one or more of their shoes from a plurality of different specific slide capacities. In various embodiments, the present disclosure enables a bowler to make a specific individual selection for the shoe on the bowler's slide foot. In various embodiments, the present disclosure enables a bowler to make this specific individual selection for the shoe on the bowler's other, non-slide, plant or kicker foot.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

An article includes a first garment, a second garment, and a waterproof fastener system configured to join the first garment to the second. The waterproof fastener includes: a first annular gasket, coupled to the first garment, the first annular gasket including a flexible substrate and a continuous groove radially oriented on the first garment such that an engagement direction thereof is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first garment, and a second annular gasket coupled to the second garment, the second annular gasket including a second flexible substrate and a continuous rib radially oriented on the second garment such that an engagement direction thereof is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the second garment. The continuous groove is configured to receive the continuous rib to form a waterproof interference fit.

Shoe securing apparatus including multiple straps adjustably coupled together where a first support strap is configured to extent between one of the shoe counter or back and insole and the shoe shank and insole and the second locking strap is configured to extend between the other.

Shoe securing apparatus including multiple straps adjustably coupled together where a first support strap is configured to extent between one of the shoe counter or back and insole and the shoe shank and insole and the second locking strap is configured to extend between the other.

A removable collar for a boot including a base layer to abut a neck portion of the boot is provided. The collar also comprises multiple magnets coupled to the base layer. Each magnet magnetically couples with a corresponding metal attachment on the neck portion of the boot. The collar further includes a top layer attached to the base layer which conceals the magnets coupled to the base layer. The top layer may also include decorative features.

An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The article of footwear may further include an accessory system that includes at least one ornamentation selectively securable to and removable from one or both of the upper or the sole structure. The one or more ornamentations may partially cover a contoured outer surface of the upper when secured to one or both of the upper or the sole structure but may be relatively flat when not secured to the upper or the sole structure. An accessory kit and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes securing first fastener components to the upper or sole structure and providing ornamentations with second fastener components releasably securable to the first fastener components and arranged in the same spatial arrangement when so secured.

Footwear used for high performance activities such as running can be adhesively attached to the plantar surface of feet rather than uppers or straps. The upper surface of the protective layer of the footwear can have adhesive regions that secure the foot to the footwear and other regions that are not adhesively coupled to the foot. The adhesive regions can be under the heel, along the lateral side of the foot, under the first through fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints and around the perimeter of the foot above the plantar surface.