A boot including a bow-shaped structure is disclosed to prevent water entry from the mouth of the boot. The boot generally includes a sole, an upper portion attached to the sole, a foot portion, a leg portion, and a bow-shaped structure on the front and sides of the leg portion. The edge of the bow-shaped structure tapers up towards the front of the leg portion. The bow part of the bow-shaped structure preferably project outwards 1.75 inches from the surface of the leg portion. While walking in deep water, the bow-shaped structure breaks the upward movement of the water and pushes it back down. The bow-shaped structure is molded onto the boot during the manufacturing of the boot. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a bow-shaped structure that can be attached to leg portion of a boot is provided.

Provided is a self-fitting and automatically adjustable footwear wherein the shoe upper and/or shoe tongue have or are attached to a shape memory material (‘SMM”). Upon stimulation, the SMM deforms and brings the footwear to self-assemble about a foot, which further brings two clasp members close to each other and facilitates the clasp thereof to form a self-assembled and closed footwear. The clasp members may be integrated with straps or shoelaces, and optionally SMM. The footwear may include a motor, a control unit, and sensors which enable a motor-actuated fine tensioning of the footwear. A push button to enable manual opening of the footwear may be affixed on the footwear or removably attached to multiple surfaces/locations. The entire assembly generates data transmittable to health care providers and other data trackers. The footwear may include a battery, which may be charged by placing the footwear on a charge dock station.

Various sensor systems are described herein, including inserts having sensors thereon, which are configured to be received in an article of footwear. The inserts may be connected to a sole member of the footwear, or may function as a sole member. The sensors may be piezoelectric sensors in some configurations. The system may also include an electronic module that is overmolded into the sole structure and includes a connector for external access.

Various sensor systems are described herein, including inserts having sensors thereon, which are configured to be received in an article of footwear. The inserts may be connected to a sole member of the footwear, or may function as a sole member. The sensors may be piezoelectric sensors in some configurations. The system may also include an electronic module that is overmolded into the sole structure and includes a connector for external access.

Athletic performance monitoring and tracking may provide multiple ways in which to track athletic movement and activity. Workouts may also be tagged with various parameters including mood, weather, terrain, athletic equipment, friends used and the like. Workout information may be shared to social messaging and networking outlets. Workout information shared may include map information including images of maps, interactive maps, links to maps, route information and the like and/or combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, an application may be configured to execute within a context of a social networking system to facilitate athletic activity data transfer and generation of workout entries in the social networking site.

A footwear, including an outsole including an anterior portion and a posterior portion wherein at least one of the anterior portion and the posterior portion are configured to receive at least one protuberance, the outsole including a visible outsole map including at least one of an anterior portion outsole map and a posterior portion outsole map, each including different outsole coordinate systems, and at least one protuberance movably mountable on the outsole and configured to contact the ground and including at least one visible protuberance coordinate system corresponding to the outsole map, wherein each of the reference points on the outsole map represents a unique protuberance alignment setting in respect to the outsole map.

Disclosed is a two-alarm security device that will alarm if the security device is forcibly removed from an article or item without detachment by a corresponding detachment device, and the security device will cause the pedestals in a store to alarm if the article or item is passed through the pedestals with the device still attached. The two-alarm security device comprises a slider operatively movable along a stop piece and a spring-biased engagement member that is operatively moveable into the housing of the stop piece. As the slider and engagement member move from an open position to a closed position, the security device alarm is actuated. A pressure pad attached to the engagement member assists in gently, but sufficiently securing an article between the slider and engagement member. If the article is improperly removed from the security device or otherwise tampered with, the spring-biased engagement member will cause a micro-switch to alarm.

Disclosed is a two-alarm security device that will alarm if the security device is forcibly removed from an article or item without detachment by a corresponding detachment device, and the security device will cause the pedestals in a store to alarm if the article or item is passed through the pedestals with the device still attached. The two-alarm security device comprises a slider operatively movable along a stop piece and a spring-biased engagement member that is operatively moveable into the housing of the stop piece. As the slider and engagement member move from an open position to a closed position, the security device alarm is actuated. A pressure pad attached to the engagement member assists in gently, but sufficiently securing an article between the slider and engagement member. If the article is improperly removed from the security device or otherwise tampered with, the spring-biased engagement member will cause a micro-switch to alarm.

A detachable, retrofitting light accessory for both magnetic and adhesive attachment to a high-heeled shoe having an open archway with a ferrous metal shank, having a light-emitting diode (LED) light assembly, a magnet affixed to the LED light assembly and configured to magnetically engage the ferrous metal shank in the open archway of the shoe, and to magnetically attach the light accessory to the shoe, and a double-sided adhesive strip configured for placement between the magnet and an outer surface in the open archway to also adhesively attach the light accessory to the shoe, to prevent the light accessory from slipping relative to the shoe during use.

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.