A method of making an article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The method includes laying down ribbon elements in straight and winding sections. The method includes stitching or otherwise attaching the ribbon elements to a backing layer. The method also includes embroidering a periphery of the ribbon structure to tack down any raised portions of the ribbon at the periphery. The method also includes inserting a lace through loops in the ribbon structure.

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.

Systems and methods of the present invention provide for one or more server computers communicatively coupled to a network and configured to make and use an article of manufacture, and the associated method steps for making and using a soft-shelled foot covering.

A dish washable teething shoe for infants. The teething shoe is made of a food grade silicone rubber. The teething shoe defines a flat appendage that extends outward from front section of the shoe. The flat appendage shall extend outward from the front outsole of the shoe and the appendage shall follow the curvature of the front section of the shoe. The top and bottom sections of the flat appendage define a plurality of protuberances.

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates, in various embodiments, to improved footwear in the nature of sandals, shoes, sports shoes, running and jogging shoes, civilian and military boots, work boots and work shoes, water shoes, waders, and the like, for personal use in walking on sand and other granular terrain, each item of footwear comprising a distinctively profiled outsole. A left outsole profile is defined by a first radius, and a right outsole profile is defined by a second radius. A line connecting the center of each radius passes through and defines the centers of the side profiles of the outsole. A preferred toe-out or progressive angle of approximately six degrees helps ensure that the outsole, during use, is near the widest position for optimal left and right side balance.

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.

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.

Described are uppers for a sports shoe with flat weft-knitted knitwear. The flat weft-knitted knitwear forms a top portion and a bottom portion of the upper. The top portion is formed as tube weft-knitted knitwear such that it is configured to surround a part of a shank of a wearer of the sports shoe when worn. The bottom portion is configured to cover at least a part of a foot of the wearer of the sports shoe when worn.

A method of making an article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The method includes laying down ribbon elements in straight and winding sections. The method includes stitching or otherwise attaching the ribbon elements to a backing layer. The method also includes embroidering a periphery of the ribbon structure to tack down any raised portions of the ribbon at the periphery. The method also includes inserting a lace through loops in the ribbon structure.

An athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort. The body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the Flyknit fabric used by Nike, Inc. The shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot. The interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot. A preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole. The open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.