A sole includes a buffer member extending along an axis connecting a toe and a heel, the buffer member being twisted around the axis along at least part of the axis.

The present invention is a system of footwear that is easily customizable and provides the wearer with a wide variety of removeable and interchangeable upper portions in various colors, patterns, shapes and styles, allowing the wearer to create numerous different shoe looks from the same, single pair of soles. The shoe design specifically comprises a base portion having numerous metal snaps with male connectors (ball heads) spaced at intervals along the sides. The corresponding female connectors are located on the undersides of the interchangeable uppers; the other side of the uppers, which can be seen while wearing the shoe, contains rounded metal caps.

A sole construction (10) for use in a high heel shoe (60) comprises at least a first skeleton sole (11) formed from a composite material such as a carbon fibre material. The skeleton sole (11) has lasting allowances (15) defined around the perimeter thereof and adapted to receive the edges of a shoe upper (61) when incorporated in a high heel shoe (60). The skeleton sole (11) is further shaped so as to define one or more recesses (16) generally centrally therein. When incorporated into a high heel shoe (60), the enhanced strength, rigidity and flexibility of the sole construction (10) allow for the use of a range of interchangeable heel constructions (30,40,50) having different heel heights.

Footwear with a heel portion having a clasp member with resilient arms having locking tabs that engage with locking slots in a receptacle member in a main portion, when the heel portion abuts against the main Portion. The locking tabs disengage from the locking slots when simultaneously squeezed together by a tool that extends through locking tab access holes on both sides of the main portion. The locking tab access holes are too small for a child's fingers to enter. The clasp member and receptacle member can be in either the heel portion or the main portion.

Footwear, such as a sandal or shoe, and other articles having an attachment mechanism that is useful in attaching replaceable and interchangeable ornaments such as gems, jewels or other decorative ornaments and attachments. The footwear upper portion is easily changed out, but can incorporate various replaceable lacing strips and ornamental beads to enhance the beauty of the footwear, thereby making a lasting impression on users, especially to males.

A work shoe, in particular a safety shoe, includes at least one passive protection unit which is intended to passively protect a shoe wearer at least against mechanical and/or electrical loads, and includes at least one active protection unit which has at least one sensor unit which is intended to detect at least one characteristic variable at least in order to enable a protection function and/or a comfort function. The sensor unit is configured at least for detecting at least one person-related characteristic variable and/or at least one environmental characteristic variable.

An article of footwear having a removable outsole, midsole, and upper is provided. A portion of the upper may have a perimeter lip that may be coupled to a perimeter channel in an upper surface or side of the outsole. The midsole may be securely placed into the upper to further secure the upper to the outsole. The fit of the outsole, upper, and midsole generates a securely assembled article of footwear ready for user wear. In aspects, the removable outsole, midsole, and upper may be changed to customize the article footwear for the user.

The present disclosure describes a shoe that may be transformed from a high heel shoe to a low heel shoe. The shoe may include three parts: a removable stelo, a removable high heel attachment, and the corresponding attachment systems integrated into the base shoe sole. The removable high heel attachment may be a standard heel of any design, width and height that has a locking system comprising a threaded post located at the heel base. When the stelo and heel attachment are attached, the shoe may be a high heel shoe. When they are removed, the shoe may be a low heel shoe, or flat shoe.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear includes a control bar having a center segment, a medial side arm extending from the center segment, and a lateral side arm spaced from the medial side arm and extending from the center segment. The device may include an extension extending toward the control bar. At least a portion of the control bar may be elastically deformable under an applied force depressing the control bar toward the extension, and the extension may limit movement of the control bar. The control bar may be adapted to return to an unloaded position upon removal of the applied force.

Footwear includes upper, midsole, and exterior sole components. One side of the upper component includes a first plurality of openings. This first plurality of openings includes two openings separated by a strip of upper component material. The midsole component is received in the upper component and includes a plurality of protrusions extending through the openings of the upper component. The strip of upper component material covers a first portion of the midsole component located in a recess between the first and second protrusions. The exterior sole component is engaged with the midsole component and includes a second plurality of openings. The plurality of protrusions extend through corresponding openings of this second plurality of openings. A strip of exterior sole component material located between two of the second plurality of openings at least partially covers the strip of upper component material.