A pair of shoes may be asymmetric between one another in various respects. For example, the left shoe may include a throat extending gradually towards a lateral side of the left shoe while the right shoe may include a throat extending gradually towards a medial side of the left shoe. In addition, the left shoe may include a heel counter constructed into a left-shoe heel portion that provides more support on the medial side than on the lateral side of the left shoe, while the right shoe may include a heel counter constructed into a right-shoe heel portion that provides more support on the lateral side than on the medial side of the right shoe.

An article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The ribbon structure comprises ribbon sections running in at least two different directions. Ribbon sections are connected at nodes that may move substantially independently of other nodes. The ribbon structure can provide strength along one of the directions and may simultaneously remain slack in the other direction.

A footwear structural assembly construction unit including a construction unit and a decorative component is provided along with an embellished shoe that incorporates the footwear structural assembly. The construction unit comprises a unit body and a weight-bearing peripheral wall extending downwardly from the unit body, which together define an interior upraised area that accommodates at least a portion of the decorative component. Thus, the decorative component is elevated above the walking surface and protected from dirt and abrasion. The decorative component may optionally extend across the arch and/or down the inner heel.

A footbed for use in footwear is provided. The footbed assembly includes a resilient, flexible material (e.g. EVA or PU foam) that extends the entire length of the footbed. a heel plate made from a material that is more rigid (plastic, carbon fiber) than the resilient foam attaches to the flexible material. The shape of the resilient footbed defines a geometry that provides support and comfort to the user by reducing peak pressures, improving cushioning, and enhancing foot support. The resilient foam and heel plate defines the shape of the midfoot R2 and rearfoot R1 of the footbed while the resilient flexible foam continues forward to define the shape of the forefoot R3 region of the footbed.

An article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The ribbon structure comprises ribbon sections running in at least two different directions. Ribbon sections are connected at nodes. Between nodes portions of ribbon act like links joining the nodes. The links can be arranged in various geometries, including a rectangular grid and a triaxial grid. The ribbon structure may extend the entire length of the article of footwear, and may extend through a forefoot, midfoot and heel.

The present invention refers to the field of shoemaking industry and discloses a replacement shoe, a process for adding shoes to a user shoes collection, a shoes vending machine, a shoes distribution process and a shoes replacement process, more specifically, an automation and optimization of the current logistic process between the industry and/or shoes distributors and resellers until product delivery to the final customer. The present invention also allows the supply of one shoe only since the shoe distributed together with objects of the present invention comprises a geometry that adapts both to the left foot and the right foot. Thus, throughout the manufacturing, sales and products distribution logistic chain, the present invention advantageously discloses the offer of a larger variety of product ranges to the final customer, also allowing stock replenishment using small vehicles, for example, motorcycles.

A shoe includes a sole, an upper, and a welt. The sole and upper define a seam. The welt overlies the seam. The sole includes flex grooves. The upper includes perforations. The welt includes flex slits.

An article of footwear has an upper and a heel system. The heel system may include a heel cage secured to a heel portion of the upper, and a heel counter. The heel counter may extend along the rear of the heel portion to an upper extent above the upper bar.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper defines a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper is at least partially defined by a textile. The textile includes a first area that is substantially smooth. The first area defines a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity. The textile includes a second area. The second area includes a plurality of projection structures that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity at varying heights. The second area includes a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity. The plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures are in an alternating arrangement across the textile.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.