A shoe sole includes a midsole and an outsole having discrete outsole elements. The midsole has on the side facing the outsole a multiple of flex grooves crossing each other and creating pads in the midsole. A curved forefoot flex groove emanates from the medial side of the arc and essentially follows a path over one or more of the cuneiform bones and continues between the third and fourth metatarsal phalanges, over the third proximal phalange and continues between the first and second metatarsal phalanges in a direction towards the heel. Both the outsole elements and the pads are arranged to follow an essentially spiral curve around the curved forefoot flex groove. The sole reduces the risk of injury during running, and gives the foot increased compensation possibilities for correcting imbalances especially after heel strike.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator to raise an ankle collar from a lowered position to a raised position. For example, the ankle collar may be lowered when a wearer slides a foot into or out of the footwear article. The collar elevator may include a plurality of discrete elongated members.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

A segmented sole for an article of footwear comprises a forefoot region, a heel region, and a segmentation zone disposed between the forefoot and heel region. The segmentation zone includes a plurality of segments separated from each other and from the forefoot and heel by a plurality of sipes, cuts, or gaps. The segmented sole produces bending along a segmentation axis disposed along an arch of a wearer of an article of footwear including the sole, allowing for arch support and natural foot movement.

A pair of shoes that includes a left foot shoe and a right foot shoe. Each of the shoes include an upper shoe portion and a sole coupled to the upper shoe portion. The sole provides an athletic positioning of a left big toe area of the left shoe at a lower position than a left heel area of the left shoe and at a lower position than an outer small toe area of the left shoe and wherein, from an inner edge to an outer edge of the left shoe, the left heel area has substantially no slope.

A shoe includes an outsole having a heel region, a midfoot region, a metatarsal region, and a toe region. The heel region extends longitudinally from the heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extends longitudinally from the heel region to the metatarsal region, and the toe region extends longitudinally from the toe end to the metatarsal region. The outsole has a medial side region, central region, and a lateral side region. A bottom surface of the outsole defines a concavity extending longitudinally from within the heel region to at least within a portion of the midfoot region. The concavity extends laterally within the central region. The concavity has a width at its widest point that is at least between 45% and 55% the width of the outsole at that point.

The present application discloses a pad structure that includes a stretchable cuttable material with beveled edge.

A sole structure including a midsole, an outsole, and a plate disposed between the plate and the outsole. The plate includes a first portion having an arcuate shape extending through a forefoot region and a mid-foot region, and a planar second portion connected to the first portion along a joint and extending in a first plane at an oblique angle from the joint. The plate includes a first channel extending from a first end of the plate along the first portion and in a direction toward the second portion. A second channel extends from a second end of the plate along the second portion and in a direction toward the first portion. The first channel separates the plate into a first pair of tabs formed at the first end and the second channel separates the plate into a second pair of channels formed at the second end.

The present invention provides a shoe having a simpler structure compared to patent document JP-A 2010-162318, with reduced discomfort and enhanced repulsive force.

According to an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention, a shoe 10 comprising: a middle sole 14 having a foot contacting surface 40 and a ground contacting surface 42; an upper at least partially covering the foot contacting surface 40 of the middle sole 14; and an elastic structure 18 curving upwards towards the rear direction at least from the outer foot side of the ground contacting surface is provided. With such configuration, discomfort can be reduced and repulsive force can be enhanced.