A shoe has a main body, an ankle strap, plantar bridge, and a toe loop connected to the main body. The main body wraps around the dorsal instep area of the foot and the plantar bridge wraps around the plantar midfoot area of the foot, without covering the ball, the plantar metatarsals, the heel, or the toes. The ankle strap is attached at its ends to the main body and extends around the back of the foot above the heel for constraining the main body from forwarding movement. The toe loop surrounds one of the toes and connects with the main body from above the foot, for constraining the main body from rearward movement.

A shoe has a main body, an ankle strap, plantar bridge, and a toe loop connected to the main body. The main body wraps around the dorsal instep area of the foot and the plantar bridge wraps around the plantar midfoot area of the foot, without covering the ball, the plantar metatarsals, the heel, or the toes. The ankle strap is attached at its ends to the main body and extends around the back of the foot above the heel for constraining the main body from forwarding movement. The toe loop surrounds one of the toes and connects with the main body from above the foot, for constraining the main body from rearward movement.

A shoe including: an upper, wherein an upper edge of a topline is defined by a medial line and a lateral line; and a counter, wherein an upper edge is defined, at a position downward of the upper edge of the topline, by first counter line on a medial side and a second counter line, which protrude downward, wherein: a medial height difference is defined by a difference in a height direction between a first point at a lowermost point on the medial line and a second point at a lowermost point on the first counter line; a lateral height difference is defined by a difference in the height direction between a third point at a lowermost point on the lateral line and a fourth point at a lowermost point on the second counter line; and the lateral height difference is greater than the medial height difference.

Methods and apparatus for human anatomical orthoses. In one embodiment, an orthoses is disclosed that has been integrated into a sock and includes a tensioning element that is configured to keep the top portion of the sock at or above a user's calf muscle, a rotary tensioning mechanism disposed adjacent to the top portion of the sock, a support cable that is weaved within the body of the sock such that the support cable is maintained in close proximity with a user's leg when tension is applied thereto, and a supporting structure that is coupled to the support cable, the supporting structure being disposed adjacent to a user's toes. Methods of manufacturing and using the aforementioned orthoses is also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for human anatomical orthoses. In one embodiment, an orthoses is disclosed that has been integrated into a sock and includes a tensioning element that is configured to keep the top portion of the sock at or above a user's calf muscle, a rotary tensioning mechanism disposed adjacent to the top portion of the sock, a support cable that is weaved within the body of the sock such that the support cable is maintained in close proximity with a user's leg when tension is applied thereto, and a supporting structure that is coupled to the support cable, the supporting structure being disposed adjacent to a user's toes. Methods of manufacturing and using the aforementioned orthoses is also disclosed.

Sport boots have an outer shell and an ankle compression system attached to and positioned within the outer shell to apply selective compressive force against an anterior ankle portion of a person's foot when wearing the boot. The ankle compression system includes an ankle compression member positioned forwardly adjacent to the anterior ankle portion and at least one medial positioning band having a lower terminal end immovably fixed to a medial edge portion of the strobel and having an opposite end operatively associated with the ankle compression member. An adjustment lace is connected to the ankle compression member and is operatively connected to a tightening member positioned on a lateral side of the outer shell so that operation of the tightening causes the adjustment lace to forcibly draw the ankle compression member toward and exert a selective compressive force against the anterior ankle portion of the person's foot.

Sport boots have an outer shell and an ankle compression system attached to and positioned within the outer shell to apply selective compressive force against an anterior ankle portion of a person's foot when wearing the boot. The ankle compression system includes an ankle compression member positioned forwardly adjacent to the anterior ankle portion and at least one medial positioning band having a lower terminal end immovably fixed to a medial edge portion of the strobel and having an opposite end operatively associated with the ankle compression member. An adjustment lace is connected to the ankle compression member and is operatively connected to a tightening member positioned on a lateral side of the outer shell so that operation of the tightening causes the adjustment lace to forcibly draw the ankle compression member toward and exert a selective compressive force against the anterior ankle portion of the person's foot.

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.

Sole structures (e.g., midsoles and/or outsoles) and articles of footwear include heel-supporting areas and/or forefoot-supporting areas that include a central area (e.g., a central recessed area) and a plurality of surrounding rings. Additionally or alternatively, the sole structures (e.g., midsoles and/or outsoles) may include bands of material defined by recessed grooves to provide a bumpstop type impact-force attenuating structure.