An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes a tension balancing member to balance loads across different portions of the intermediate covering portion.

An aesthetically pleasing sandal sock with an upper planar surface and with a lower surface on which is located an oval structure with an opening and sides capable of engaging with the outer edges of the sandal sole, principally the outer edge of a toe region of the sandal and the outer edge of heel region of the sandal, such that the upper planar surface of the sock extends the length and width of the sandal sole. The sandal sock is composed of elastic and flexible material. The side of the oval opening has an outer edge and an inner edge. The inner edge connects and binds with the lower surface. The outer edge is capable of contacting the outer edge of the sandal to position and hold the upper planar surface of the sock so that it is in contact with both upper surface of the sandal sole and foot, when the sandal is worn. The sandal enjoys a naked foot look when worn.

A footwear article is provided having an upper and a wear guard arranged across a vamp of the upper. In one embodiment, the wear guard is configured with a grid pattern of raised articulations extends entirely across a width of the vamp. In another embodiment, the footwear article also include a heel guard positioned above a heel region of the upper. In yet another embodiment, a tab may be coupled to the heel guard.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper secured to the sole structure. The upper is configured to receive a foot of a wearer and has a peripheral region. Further, the upper includes a ribbon structure formed of a plurality of ribbon sections, and a plurality of ribbon loops extending from a peripheral region of the upper.

In one possible embodiment, the inventive subject matter is directed to a foot covering, comprising: a thin, flexible compartment for receiving a foot. The compartment has a forefoot section, a midfoot section, and a rearfoot section of selected rigidity. The compartment has a top surface for securing the foot and a ground-facing surface having a sole divided into at least two portions comprising (1) a forefoot portion and midfoot portion and/or (2) a midfoot portion and a rearfoot portion. At least one sole portion comprises a midfoot portion disposed between a forefoot portion and/or a rearfoot portion. In the foot covering, each pair of sole portions is divided along a flexural line running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot. The sole portions and flexural line(s), in combination with the flexible compartment, have a material construction and are arranged so as to facilitate the close conforming of the foot covering to the foot of an intended user through plantar flexion to dorsiflexion.

A somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface configured to stimulate rapid-firing nerves in the receptive field of a user's glabrous skin. The somatorsensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface includes a plurality of protuberances disposed thereupon, each protuberance sized and spaced apart appropriately to impress the receptive field when pressed in contact with the glabrous skin of the user. Each protuberance widens from an apex toward a base whereby increased pressure applied to the surface increases an area of contact and stimulation by applying stimulation over a larger area of skin. The protuberances are spaced apart to maximize stimulation of rapid firing nerves while lessening overstimulation. The somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface is rendered in the form of a mat or floor covering and alternatively as an insole for wear in a user's shoes.

An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes a tension balancing member to balance loads across different portions of the intermediate covering portion.

In one possible embodiment, the inventive subject matter is directed to a foot covering, comprising: a thin, flexible compartment for receiving a foot. The compartment has a forefoot section, a midfoot section, and a rearfoot section of selected rigidity. The compartment has a top surface for securing the foot and a ground-facing surface having a sole divided into at least two portions comprising (1) a forefoot portion and midfoot portion and/or (2) a midfoot portion and a rearfoot portion. At least one sole portion comprises a midfoot portion disposed between a forefoot portion and/or a rearfoot portion. In the foot covering, each pair of sole portions is divided along a flexural line running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot. The sole portions and flexural line(s), in combination with the flexible compartment, have a material construction and are arranged so as to facilitate the close conforming of the foot covering to the foot of an intended user through plantar flexion to dorsiflexion.

Provided is a shoe with a replaceable screw-on heel.

System for automatically putting on/taking off a footwear (S), comprising: a fixed inner sole (1), to support the front part of a user's sole; a movable inner sole (2), for supporting the rear part of the user's sole, connected to the fixed inner sole (1) and movable relative to the fixed inner sole (1) by means of a joint (3); a lower inflatable cushion (4) fixed to the movable inner sole (2), on a side of the movable inner sole (2) which is opposite to the one intended to come into contact with the rear part of the user's sole; where the lower inflatable cushion (4) has the capacity to store, through a supply/drain valve (5), a quantity of fluid under pressure. The fluid stored in the lower inflatable cushion (4) can also be partially or totally evacuated (4) by means of the valve (5); an upper inflatable cushion (6), intended to be fixed in an area and on a surface of the (S) footwear where the laces are usually placed; a flexible hose (7) that is non-deformable in terms of volume that permanently ensures fluid communication between the lower inflatable cushion (4) and the upper inflatable cushion (6); where the movable inner sole (2) is capable of moving between a first extreme position, in which the movable inner sole (2) compresses to a minimum the lower inflatable cushion (4), the lower inflatable cushion (4) having maximum volume and the upper inflatable cushion (6) having minimum volume implicitly, and a second extreme position, in which the movable inner sole (2) compresses to the maximum the lower inflatable cushion (4), the lower inflatable cushion (4) having minimum volume and the upper inflatable cushion (6) having maximum volume; the system additionally comprises a locking/unlocking assembly of the movable inner sole (2) in/from the second extreme position.