An article of footwear including an inner sole assembly and an upper, the article of footwear extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise from a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from the outer sole assembly to a top portion. The article of footwear includes a first footwear element which includes an inner sole assembly, a lateral quarter, and a medial quarter. The inner sole assembly, the lateral quarter, and the medial quarter of the first footwear element form a unitary element.

Exemplary embodiments of a shoe wrap and a shoe are provided. A shoe wrap can be provided having a strap configured for placement around a user's foot, and a bottom portion comprising a non-slip material adjoined to the strap and configured to be positioned in an instep area of a user's shoe. A shoe can be provided having a bottom portion configured for placement of a user's foot having a front portion and a rear portion, an instep area between the front portion and the rear portion, and a strap having a first portion configured for placement around a user's foot and a second portion comprising a non-slip material configured to be positioned at the instep area.

A first item of footwear is provided including a midsole; an upper, releasably coupled to the midsole; and a sole releasably coupled to the midsole. A second item of footwear is provided including a sole; an upper, releasably coupled to the sole; and a toe support releasably coupled to the sole. A third item of footwear is provided including: a sole; a first upper portion attached to the sole; and a second upper portion releasably coupled to first upper portion, such that the second upper portion can be coupled to the first upper portion while the shoe is being worn.

Disclosed embodiments relate to a footwear system. The footwear system includes a shoe, a first insole, and a second insole. The first insole is a fitting insole having a first volume. It is positioned within the shoe during a fitting of a potential wearer of the shoe. The fitting insole is removed after the fitting is completed. The second insole has a volume substantially similar to the first volume. The second insole adapted for positioning within the shoe if the first insole demonstrates an appropriate fit. The second insole is self-customizable and further adapted to conform to the imprint of the sole of the potential wearer.

Disclosed embodiments relate to a footwear system. The footwear system includes a shoe, a first insole, and a second insole. The first insole is a fitting insole having a first volume. It is positioned within the shoe during a fitting of a potential wearer of the shoe. The fitting insole is removed after the fitting is completed. The second insole has a volume substantially similar to the first volume. The second insole adapted for positioning within the shoe if the first insole demonstrates an appropriate fit. The second insole is self-customizable and further adapted to conform to the imprint of the sole of the potential wearer.

An apparatus for relieving toe pain for sandals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is formed on a top of a sole of a sandal, and includes a first unit formed on an upper surface of a sole of a sandal to surround an outer circumferential surface of a fixing rod arranged between a big toe and a second toe; a second unit formed on one side of the first unit in an up-down direction and forming a cutting open section for detachably coupling the first unit to the fixing rod; and a third unit formed on outer surfaces of the first unit and the second unit and reducing frictional resistance contacted between the big toe and the second toe. The apparatus may relieve or alleviate pain and fatigue in toes even when one wears them for a long time.

An apparatus for relieving toe pain for sandals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is formed on a top of a sole of a sandal, and includes a first unit formed on an upper surface of a sole of a sandal to surround an outer circumferential surface of a fixing rod arranged between a big toe and a second toe; a second unit formed on one side of the first unit in an up-down direction and forming a cutting open section for detachably coupling the first unit to the fixing rod; and a third unit formed on outer surfaces of the first unit and the second unit and reducing frictional resistance contacted between the big toe and the second toe. The apparatus may relieve or alleviate pain and fatigue in toes even when one wears them for a long time.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for closure of footwear. According to an example embodiment, an article of footwear that automatically secures to a user's foot includes a sole and a closure mechanism with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the closure mechanism is attached to the sole. The second portion extends away from the sole. Deformation of a surface of the closure mechanism actuates the closure mechanism such that it automatically moves from a first stable position to a second stable position. In the second stable position, the closure mechanism conforms to and applies a force to at least one of an upper surface of the article of footwear and an upper surface of a foot of a user of the article of footwear.

A portable inflatable foldable shoe, including an inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag and solid bearing blocks, where the inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag is of a hollow cavity structure and includes a sole and a vamp; more than two solid bearing blocks are arranged, the sole is divided into a middle supporting cavity and a supporting folding cavity by the solid bearing blocks, the region connected with the two regions of a front sole region and a heel region is the middle supporting cavity, the region connected with the adjacent bearing blocks is the supporting folding cavity, each solid bearing block has upper, lower, left and right surfaces, and is tightly adhered to the corresponding inner wall of the shoe-shaped cavity of the sole, and each solid bearing block is provided with more than one air passage that run through the entire block.

A portable inflatable foldable shoe, including an inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag and solid bearing blocks, where the inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag is of a hollow cavity structure and includes a sole and a vamp; more than two solid bearing blocks are arranged, the sole is divided into a middle supporting cavity and a supporting folding cavity by the solid bearing blocks, the region connected with the two regions of a front sole region and a heel region is the middle supporting cavity, the region connected with the adjacent bearing blocks is the supporting folding cavity, each solid bearing block has upper, lower, left and right surfaces, and is tightly adhered to the corresponding inner wall of the shoe-shaped cavity of the sole, and each solid bearing block is provided with more than one air passage that run through the entire block.