A boot including an outsole, an upper attached to the outsole, where the upper has a vamp portion including a first layer, a second layer, and a layer of plates disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The layer of plates are arranged in one or more rows across the vamp portion. The shape of the layer of plates conforms to a shape of the upper. And in the layer of plates, a first individual row of the one or more rows stretches with respect to a second individual row of the one or more rows. The location of the layer of plates may correspond to a region of the foot within the boot including the metatarsus. The location of another layer of plates may correspond to a region of the leg within the boot including a portion of the tibia.

A heel pad for placement within a shoe and a method of use. The heel pad includes a pliable body, a filler element contained within the pliable body, and a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body. In use, the heel pad is positioned in a heel section of the shoe. A longitudinal end of the heel pad is folded along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe. The folded longitudinal end of the heel pad is affixed to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.

A heel pad for placement within a shoe and a method of use. The heel pad includes a pliable body, a filler element contained within the pliable body, and a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body. In use, the heel pad is positioned in a heel section of the shoe. A longitudinal end of the heel pad is folded along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe. The folded longitudinal end of the heel pad is affixed to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.

The present invention relates to a sole (100; 200) for a shoe (300), in particular for a cycling shoe (300), comprising: (a.) a three-dimensionally shaped rim (110); and (b.) a plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222), wherein (c.) at least two (122-125; 221-222) of the plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222) extend from a heel region (112) of the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200) to a toe region (115) of the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200), and wherein (d.) the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200) and the plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222) are integrally manufactured as a single piece in an additive manufacturing process.

The present invention relates to a sole (100; 200) for a shoe (300), in particular for a cycling shoe (300), comprising: (a.) a three-dimensionally shaped rim (110); and (b.) a plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222), wherein (c.) at least two (122-125; 221-222) of the plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222) extend from a heel region (112) of the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200) to a toe region (115) of the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200), and wherein (d.) the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200) and the plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222) are integrally manufactured as a single piece in an additive manufacturing process.

A heel pad for placement within a shoe and a method of use. The heel pad includes a pliable body, a filler element contained within the pliable body, and a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body. In use, the heel pad is positioned in a heel section of the shoe. A longitudinal end of the heel pad is folded along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe. The folded longitudinal end of the heel pad is affixed to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.

A heel pad for placement within a shoe and a method of use. The heel pad includes a pliable body, a filler element contained within the pliable body, and a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body. In use, the heel pad is positioned in a heel section of the shoe. A longitudinal end of the heel pad is folded along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe. The folded longitudinal end of the heel pad is affixed to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.

A method of constructing footwear includes providing a mold having an inner cavity, injecting an expandable material into the inner cavity, removing the expandable material from the inner cavity such that the material expands to form a footwear-shaped shell having an inner cavity and at least one recessed area offset from an inner surface of the shell, and inserting a chassis within the inner cavity of the expanded shell. The chassis has one or more components adapted to protect a user's foot from injury. The insertion of the chassis within the shell permanently affixes the one or more components within the at least one recessed area of the shell.

The present invention relates to a sole for a shoe, in particular a running shoe. The shoe comprises a sole component and at least one loose particle(s) contained within the sole component. The loose particles provide haptic feedback to a user of the sole during an athletic activity.

A footwear system is disclosed, which includes a shell having an inner cavity and at least one recessed area offset from an inner surface of the shell, and a chassis having one or more components adapted to protect a user's foot from injury. In one embodiment, the chassis is insertable into the inner cavity of the shell, such that the one or more components of the chassis are securely retained (e.g., permanently affixed) within the at least one recessed area of the shell. Methods of forming the aforementioned footwear system using expandable materials are also disclosed.