The present invention relates to a sole (100; 200) for a shoe (300), in particular for a cycling shoe (300), comprising: (a.) a three-dimensionally shaped rim (110); and (b.) a plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222), wherein (c.) at least two (122-125; 221-222) of the plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222) extend from a heel region (112) of the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200) to a toe region (115) of the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200), and wherein (d.) the rim (110) of the sole (100; 200) and the plurality of first reinforcing struts (121-127; 221-222) are integrally manufactured as a single piece in an additive manufacturing process.

The present invention relates to an interchangeable footwear device. The device may include a flip-flop sandal design wherein the device may include interchangeable structural features to allow a user to change features as associated with a particular terrain. The interchangeable footwear device includes a gripping system to traverse a number of different terrains. The footwear may include a sole member having a thong member attached to a top of the sole and a heel strap selectively attached to the sole. The heel strap may be selectively attached to the sole with a fastener that may be manually adjusted in a secured or unsecured position to remove the heel strap from the sole. In particular, the interchangeable footwear device may include a gripping unit selectively attached to the sole member of the footwear. The gripping unit may include a toe grip pad and a heel grip pad.

The present invention relates to an interchangeable footwear device. The device may include a flip-flop sandal design wherein the device may include interchangeable structural features to allow a user to change features as associated with a particular terrain. The interchangeable footwear device includes a gripping system to traverse a number of different terrains. The footwear may include a sole member having a thong member attached to a top of the sole and a heel strap selectively attached to the sole. The heel strap may be selectively attached to the sole with a fastener that may be manually adjusted in a secured or unsecured position to remove the heel strap from the sole. In particular, the interchangeable footwear device may include a gripping unit selectively attached to the sole member of the footwear. The gripping unit may include a toe grip pad and a heel grip pad.

A method of coupling a boot toe body to a fin apparatus is disclosed. The fin apparatus includes a fin body coupled to a boot coupling body. The method involves connecting a first boot connector on a first end of the boot coupling body to a first complementary boot connector on a top side of the boot toe body, and connecting a second boot connector on a second end of the boot coupling body to a second complementary boot connector on a bottom side of the boot toe body. Boot toe bodies, fin apparatuses, and systems including the boot toe bodies and fin apparatuses are also disclosed.

A method of coupling a boot toe body to a fin apparatus is disclosed. The fin apparatus includes a fin body coupled to a boot coupling body. The method involves connecting a first boot connector on a first end of the boot coupling body to a first complementary boot connector on a top side of the boot toe body, and connecting a second boot connector on a second end of the boot coupling body to a second complementary boot connector on a bottom side of the boot toe body. Boot toe bodies, fin apparatuses, and systems including the boot toe bodies and fin apparatuses are also disclosed.

A shoe has a main body, an ankle strap, and a toe loop connected to the main body with a toe strap. The main body wraps around the instep of the foot and the arch of the foot, without covering the ball of the foot, the heel, or the toes. The ankle strap is attached at its ends to the main body and extends around the back of the foot above the heel for constraining the main body from forward movement. The toe loop surrounds one of the toes. The top strap connects the toe loop with the main body from above the foot, the top strap extending over the instep for constraining the main body from rearward movement.

A shoe has a main body, an ankle strap, and a toe loop connected to the main body with a toe strap. The main body wraps around the instep of the foot and the arch of the foot, without covering the ball of the foot, the heel, or the toes. The ankle strap is attached at its ends to the main body and extends around the back of the foot above the heel for constraining the main body from forward movement. The toe loop surrounds one of the toes. The top strap connects the toe loop with the main body from above the foot, the top strap extending over the instep for constraining the main body from rearward movement.

A swimming/scuba diving fin having a blade, a shoe open at the rear, an adjustable elastic strap engageable around the heel of the scuba diver, and two buckles at opposite ends of said adjustable elastic strap connected to two opposed side walls of said shoe, where at least one said buckle has a shaped hollow body forming integrally a portion connecting to said side wall, a channel for the axial sliding of the adjustable elastic strap, and a releasable fastening clamp of the adjustable elastic strap, where such an axial sliding channel has a hole for the inlet of the adjustable elastic strap, a hole for the outlet of the adjustable elastic strap and a deflection angle of the adjustable elastic strap positioned between such an inlet hole and such an outlet hole.

A swimming/scuba diving fin having a blade, a shoe open at the rear, an adjustable elastic strap engageable around the heel of the scuba diver, and two buckles at opposite ends of said adjustable elastic strap connected to two opposed side walls of said shoe, where at least one said buckle has a shaped hollow body forming integrally a portion connecting to said side wall, a channel for the axial sliding of the adjustable elastic strap, and a releasable fastening clamp of the adjustable elastic strap, where such an axial sliding channel has a hole for the inlet of the adjustable elastic strap, a hole for the outlet of the adjustable elastic strap and a deflection angle of the adjustable elastic strap positioned between such an inlet hole and such an outlet hole.

In one aspect, methods of making a knitted shoe component are described herein. In some embodiments, a method comprises knitting one or more fibers to form a toe portion; knitting one or more fibers to form a first wing portion; and knitting one or more fibers to form a second wing portion. The first and second wing portions extend from the toe portion and are knittingly connected to the toe portion. The method further comprises reducing the lateral separation between the first and second wing portions from an initial separation distance to a knitting separation distance such that the wing portions can be knitted together to form a seamless heel portion of the shoe component, including using a series of stitch transfer, racking, and knitting steps.