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.

A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes an exterior surface, where the exterior surface includes a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.

A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

The Slipper Sneaker basically describes itself. This shoe is fashion inspired and simply out performs old fashion house shoes and other slip-on shoes. The shoe's benefits include a secure fit when climbing steps, a sturdy sole for neighborhood trips, a knitted cuff for an added comfortable fit, and an arch support for the enthused wearer, and sweat absorbent cotton for our toes. The Slipper Sneakers are the ultimate blend for lounging around the house in flannel pajamas or in sporty muscle tops and jersey bottoms.

A footwear construction unit for receiving a decorative component is provided along with an embellished shoe that incorporates the construction unit. The construction unit comprises an upper unit body and a weight-bearing wall extending downwardly from the upper unit body, which together at least partially define an interior upraised area that, in some aspects of the invention, accommodates at least a portion of the decorative component to elevate the decorative component above the walking surface and to protect it from dirt and abrasion. In other aspects of the invention, the decorative component may extend across the arch, down the inner heel, through a decor-receiving channel inset in the weight-bearing wall, and/or onto other surfaces herein disclosed.

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 sole for footwear, including a resilient structural member extending in a direction from toe to heel and having a tread surface, the sole having a plurality of incisions extending transversely to the toe-to-heel direction. The incisions include a first portion extending to a first depth into the sole from the tread surface and a second portion extending to a further depth into the sole from the lower outlet of the first portion. The first portion has a width, measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the incision, which is smaller than the corresponding width of the second portion. At least the second portion of the incisions is open at the side of the sole.

A shoe includes a concave body defining sidewalls and a sole of the shoe, and including a first layer received within a second layer. The first layer includes a portion of the sole and upwardly-projecting tabs constituting an inner circumferential wall defining an opening disposed entirely above the sole. The second layer includes a plurality of spaced U-shaped elements each of which includes two walls, forming a portion of an outer circumferential wall, and a bottom, forming a sole-shaped part of the second layer, connecting therebetween. The tabs are characterized by an elasticity that enables them to be pushed outwardly thereby expanding the opening to facilitate receipt of a foot therethrough, and are inwardly-biased thereby being configured to bear upon the foot when received within the cavity, thereby facilitating gripping of the received foot by the shoe.

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.