An article of footwear includes a sole structure including a polymeric bladder element enclosing a fluid-filled interior cavity. The bladder element has a surface with a groove that extends generally parallel with a transverse edge from a lateral side to a medial side, and has a reduced thickness at the groove. A first length along a longitudinal midline of the bladder element from a longitudinal extremity of the bladder element to the groove corresponds with a first footwear size, and a second length along the longitudinal midline of the bladder element from the longitudinal extremity to the transverse edge corresponds with a second footwear size larger than the first footwear size. The sole structure is used in a method of manufacturing an article of footwear.

An article of footwear, an article of apparel or protective gear can include a tensioning apparatus for tightening, for example, laces, cables or strings or other devices that secure the article to a wearer. The tensioning apparatus receives signals from an input assembly that is in communication with the tensioning apparatus. The input assembly may include pairs of wires that have twisted loops or other curvilinear segments that allow the input assembly to accommodate to different actions by the wearer of the footwear. The input assembly may also include a flexible epoxy cover that protects the connections between the wires and a printed circuit board that includes input devices.

An article of footwear, an article of apparel or protective gear can include a tensioning apparatus for tightening, for example, laces, cables or strings or other devices that secure the article to a wearer. The tensioning apparatus receives signals from an input assembly that is in communication with the tensioning apparatus. The input assembly may include pairs of wires that have twisted loops or other curvilinear segments that allow the input assembly to accommodate to different actions by the wearer of the footwear. The input assembly may also include a flexible epoxy cover that protects the connections between the wires and a printed circuit board that includes input devices.

An item of climbing footwear. The item includes a sole and an upper fixed to the top of the sole. The upper is open at the rear without having a stiffener. The item includes at least one tightening strap, fixed to the upper by at least one of its ends and designed to hold, by tightening, a foot fitted between the sole and the upper. The tightening strap is adjustable in length so as to be able to hold different sizes of shod foot.

An item of climbing footwear. The item includes a sole and an upper fixed to the top of the sole. The upper is open at the rear without having a stiffener. The item includes at least one tightening strap, fixed to the upper by at least one of its ends and designed to hold, by tightening, a foot fitted between the sole and the upper. The tightening strap is adjustable in length so as to be able to hold different sizes of shod foot.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a closure mechanism. The upper has an opening at least partially located between a first and second portions of the upper. The opening is adjustable between open and closed configurations. The closure mechanism is moveable between unlocked and locked positions and includes a locking element coupled to the first portion of the upper and a projection coupled to the second portion of the upper. The projection is moveable in a first direction relative to the locking element to engage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the locked position and moving the upper to the closed configuration. The projection is moveable in the first direction relative to the locking element to disengage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the unlocked position and allowing the upper to return to the open configuration.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a closure mechanism. The upper has an opening at least partially located between a first and second portions of the upper. The opening is adjustable between open and closed configurations. The closure mechanism is moveable between unlocked and locked positions and includes a locking element coupled to the first portion of the upper and a projection coupled to the second portion of the upper. The projection is moveable in a first direction relative to the locking element to engage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the locked position and moving the upper to the closed configuration. The projection is moveable in the first direction relative to the locking element to disengage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the unlocked position and allowing the upper to return to the open configuration.

A slip resistant overshoe allowing expansion between a toe section and a heel section to allow a variety of shoe sizes and types to be inserted. The overshoe is formed from a sole having a flexible shank connected to an upper member. The upper member includes a front section and a rear section with opposing side sections therebetween. Each of the opposing side sections and flexible shank includes a corrugated shape to allow expansion of a distance between the front and rear section; a flatter surface resulting in greater slip resistance. Channels formed along a toe section and heel section expand and contract to expel debris providing an anti-clog function to maintain material slip resistance of the overshoe.

A sole structure 1 includes: a first sole portion including a first sole body and a first connecting portion provided behind the first sole body; a second sole portion disposed behind the first sole portion and including a second sole body and a second connecting portion provided in front of the second sole body; and a connecting shaft provided along a vertical direction to connect the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion together. Either one of the first sole portion or the second sole portion is turnable around the connecting shaft relative to the other one of the first sole portion or the second sole portion in a foot width direction.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole. The upper includes an attachment region and a bottom portion that is bounded by the attachment region. The sole defines a concave inner surface. The concave inner surface includes a peripheral surface region and a central surface region. The attachment region of the upper is attached to the peripheral surface region of the sole. The bottom portion is held in tension over the central surface region.