Soles for articles of footwear including a mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh. The mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh can include one or more mechanically anisotropic regions with a first lattice shear modulus measured in a first direction and a second lattice shear modulus measured in a second direction opposite to or orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second lattice shear moduli are different to provide the three-dimensional mesh with mechanically anisotropic properties. The mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh can be three-dimensionally printed.

An immobility system for a free-fall environment includes an immobility device including at least one suction cup configured to engage the immobility device to a surface, and a valve that, when activated, results in release of the at least one suction cup from engagement with the surface. A remote controller is spaced apart from the valve and is configured to selectably transmit an activation signal to the valve. An immobility device includes at least one suction cup configured to engage the immobility device to a surface, and a valve that, when activated, results in release of the at least one suction cup from engagement with the surface. A receiver at the device is configured to receive an activation signal and activate the valve.

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 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.

An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.

The present invention discloses a swim fin, including an outsole, a middle sole and a shoe upper sequentially provided from bottom to top; wherein the shape and size of the outsole match the shape and size of a human foot, the outsole is a rubber outsole made of a rubber; the middle sole includes a support part matching the shape and size of the outsole, and a webbed paddling part extending outward along a peripheral of a sole part of the support part; the middle sole is a polyurethane middle sole made of polyurethane; the shoe upper is formed by sewing diving suit fabric; and the middle sole is integrally formed by an upper-containing injection moulding process using the polyurethane, the middle sole is respectively connected to the shoe upper and the outsole during the integral forming process of the upper-containing injection moulding process.

A device fits over a shoe to prevent contaminants from the shoe from soiling a support surface such as the carpet or floor of a home. The shoe has a toe and a heel. The device includes a front section which is shaped and dimensioned to receive the toe of the shoe, and a rear section which is shaped and dimensioned to receive the heel of the shoe. A center section is used to removably connect the front section to the rear section. The center section is fabricated from a resilient material so that it can be expanded to receive the shoe, and then will resiliently contract to grip the 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. 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.

An article with a sole structure including a first layer and a second layer are disclosed. The first layer includes a set of apertures arranged in an auxetic configuration that permit the first layer to exhibit a first auxetic behavior. The second layer includes a set of projections arranged in an auxetic configuration that permit the second layer to exhibit a second auxetic behavior. The first layer and the second layer may be joined together in a manner that allows the first auxetic behavior to occur independently of the second auxetic behavior.

An article with a color change portion and a method of changing color. The article includes at least one color change portion capable of changing colors. The color change portion includes composite material including a photonic lattice. The color change portion can change colors according to one or more performance parameters. The article can be connected to a computer and the color change portion can be controlled using the computer