A shoe has a sole structure (3) and an air pump device for blowing air into the shoe interior space (14). The air pump device comprises a bellows formed in a cavity (10) in a heel area of the sole structure (3), an intake channel coupled to the bellows for transporting air to the bellows from an intake opening, and an air supply device coupled to the bellows for forwarding air from the bellows into the shoe interior space (14). The sole structure (3) has a multilayer structure at least in the heel area, which comprises at least one cover layer (7) with a layer made from a bending stiff material arranged over the cavity (10), at least one intermediate layer (6) of a compressible material that includes the cavity (10), and at least one outsole layer (5) arranged below the cavity (10). The layer of bending stiff material forms a bending stiff plate (8) that overlaps the cavity (10). The cavity (10) has an average height of at least 4 mm and extends horizontally over most of the surface of the heel area, so that a support strip (16) of the compressible material of the at least one intermediate layer (6) remains between the cavity (10) and the outside edges of the sole structure (3) on the sides and at the heel, wherein the support strip (16) extends vertically over the full height of the cavity (10) and the average width of the support strip is not more than 20% of the maximum width of the heel area measured transversely to the walking direction. The compressible material has an average hardness between 30 and 55 Shore-A at least in the area of the support strip (16).

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may, detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.

A ventilation apparatus including at least one flexible energy storage device (FESD), a switching unit, a pump, and a fluid diffuser is provided. The FESD flexibly conforms to varying contours of footwear. The FESD positioned at one or more locations of the footwear supplies electrical energy to the pump via the switching unit. The switching unit in communication with the FESD and the pump selectively changes modes of operation of the pump. The pump attached to the footwear pumps fluid into and exhausts fluid from a cavity of the footwear. A feed pipe of the fluid diffuser connected to the pump, within the cavity of the footwear, transfers the fluid pumped from the pump to the cavity of the footwear during a pump mode and transfers the fluid in the cavity of the footwear to an ambient environment external to the footwear during an exhaust mode for ventilating the footwear.

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.

A sensor system is adapted for use with an article of footwear and includes an insert member including a first layer and a second layer, a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module, a plurality of force and/or pressure sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.

Item of footwear (100) having an upper arrangement (112) and a sole (114), wherein the upper arrangement (112) has a top material (116) and on air-permeable layer (140) arranged in a base of the upper, the air-permeable layer (140) is arranged above the sole (114), in a sole-side, bottom region of the upper arrangement (112), the air-permeable layer (140) has a three-dimensional structure allowing the through-passage of air in at least the horizontal direction, and a sole-side, bottom peripheral region of the top material (116) of the upper is replaced, over at least part of its peripheral extent, by at least one connecting material (210) which, beginning at least above an underside of the air-permeable layer (140) and running outside the air-permeable layer (140), is arranged on the base of the upper and is air-permeable at least in a sub-region located at least in part at the same level as the air-permeable layer (140), and thus connects the air-permeable layer (140) to the exterior surroundings such that air can be exchanged between the exterior surroundings and the air-permeable layer (140).

Item of footwear having an upper arrangement and a sole, wherein the upper arrangement has a top material and an air-permeable layer arranged in a base of the upper, the air-permeable layer is arranged above the sole, in a sole-side, bottom region of the upper arrangement, the air-permeable layer has a three-dimensional structure allowing the through-passage of air in at least the horizontal direction, and a sole-side, bottom peripheral region of the top material of the upper is replaced, over at least part of its peripheral extent, by at least one connecting material which, beginning at least above an underside of the air-permeable layer and running outside the air-permeable layer, is arranged on the base of the upper and is air-permeable at least in a sub-region located at least in part at the same level as the air-permeable layer and thus connects the air-permeable layer to the exterior surroundings such that air can be exchanged between the exterior surroundings and the air-permeable layer.

An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The bladder comprising sheets of polyurethane or polyester film attached together to form an airtight seal. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air in the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism is located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The article of footwear may also include an assembly for connecting several tubes to one under foot inflation mechanism. The article of footwear may also include inflatable laces that are inflated by an underfoot inflation mechanism.

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.

A shoe includes a shoe sole and a shoe main body. The shoe sole is configured to be connected to the shoe main body and forms an accommodating space with the shoe main body. The shoe sole includes a supporting member and a supporting insole. The supporting member is provided with a blowing device and a blowing channel. One end of the blowing channel is connected to the blowing device, and the other end is connected to the upper surface of the supporting member. The supporting insole includes an insole surface; an air hole is provided in the insole surface; one end of the air hole is configured to be communicated to the accommodating space; the supporting insole is arranged on the supporting member.