An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components. A sole plate can include one or more specialized compartments designed to receive a component. The sole plate can be configured to provide greater stability to a sole structure. In some cases, the sole plate can be used to receive a component that can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system. Tabs within the sole plate can assist with retaining components within the sole plate and provide additional surface area for mounting the sole plate to other components of the article of footwear.

Various embodiments of a clip-on pouch to be attached to an article of clothing providing storage and immediate access to small items such as credit cards or spare keys for a home, car, or locker. The clip-on pouch is designed to be comfortable and concealable even when worn on undergarments. One embodiment provides storage for at least one spare key. Another embodiment provides a pouch sized large enough to store at least one credit card and spare key. Various designs for the clip are presented.

Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices may include an authentication or activation system for providing power or otherwise determining the connection of a sensor in the article of footwear.

A method of manufacturing a collar element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method comprises knitting the collar element comprising a tubular structure defining an interior cavity and a plurality of floating yarns within the cavity. The method further comprises securing the collar element to an upper of the article of footwear. A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear having a collar element is also disclosed.

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components such as a lighting apparatus. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include a chamber designed to receive the lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus can be installed in the chamber after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the lighting apparatus can include provisions for facilitating the installation of the lighting apparatus in the chamber, including a removable handle portion that can help guide the lighting apparatus within the chamber.

A rapid-entry shoe having an upper, a sole portion, and at least one pocket coupled to a rear portion of the upper and encapsulating a compressed medium that biases a topline of the shoe toward an uncollapsed configuration.

Disclosed are systems, methods, procedures and devices incorporating a variety of impact absorbing structures (IAS) and/or buckling structure arrays into shoes, sneakers and/or other footwear, which can greatly enhance wearer comfort, improve shoe durability, improve athletic performance, reduce cost of manufacture and/or minimize impact forces to the foot, legs and/or lower body. Included herein are various types of footwear, foot coverings, lower extremity garments and related orthopedic sleeves and/or orthotics.

A shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are located in a portion of the shoe between an upper and an outsole of the shoe, and a nest formed as a bag filled with one or more gasses located between the first plate and the second plate. The shoe may further include one or more springs located in cavities in the gas filled nest for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other. Pods may be located within the openings in the center of the springs, and the pods may be filled with one or more gasses. The pods may protrude from a bottom or a top surface of the nest. Spring sandwiches including one or more springs positioned between plates may be constructed and placed in various portions of a shoe. The shoe may also include piping with lights.

A customizable flip flop includes a colored sole: a quick release fastener; a thong formed as a post having a bottom portion fixedly secured to the sole, and an upper portion formed with a receptacle to releasably secure the fastener thereto; and first and second straps. A first end of each strap is secured to a respective side at the rear of the sole. A second end of each strap comprises a ring that is received upon the shaft of the fastener, to releasably secure the straps' second ends to the post. Between each of its ends, the straps may be formed as a tube. Prior to securing the rings of each strap to the post, a plurality of colored plastic loops or rubber bands are received on each strap/tube, to customize coloring of the straps as desired, and to provide added comfort to the top of the wearer's foot.

Shoes and/or shoe elements facilitate natural foot motion and/or reduce forces tending to fight natural foot motion. In at least some such structures, a wearer's heel is secured to the hindfoot region of a shoe (e.g., by a strap system) in a manner that permits heel/forefoot rotation and that allows the lower leg to remain straight. In other structures, a shoe can include a heel supporting component that is separate from a midsole component, and this heel supporting component can move toward the lateral side and/or medial side of the shoe along an interface between the heel supporting component and the midsole component. Other suitable shoe and shoe component structures also are described.