The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear effective to regulate the temperature of the feet of a wearer. In an embodiment, the article of footwear includes an upper and an insole with a thermal effect membrane. The thermal effect membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. The bottom of the sole structure of the article of footwear further includes a multiple openings in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions. The multiple openings promote airflow into the interior of the upper. In operation, the article of footwear is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to footwear lacking the membrane and/or openings), increasing wearer comfort.

The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear effective to regulate the temperature of the feet of a wearer. In an embodiment, the article of footwear includes an upper and an insole with a thermal effect membrane. The thermal effect membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. The bottom of the sole structure of the article of footwear further includes a multiple openings in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions. The multiple openings promote airflow into the interior of the upper. In operation, the article of footwear is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to footwear lacking the membrane and/or openings), increasing wearer comfort.

The invention relates to a system of analyzing and quantifying a user's posture and gait, characterized in that it includes a pair 10 of soles 11, 12 each provided with an electronic box 100, 101, 102, each box comprising: an inertial platform, a data processing module 120, 121, 122, a data storage module 130, 131, 132, a means of communication 140, 141, 142, a power source 150.

Various embodiments of protective footwear are disclosed with improved ventilation characteristics. The protective footwear includes a toe cap having a ventilation channel, and various other ventilation structures to improve heat-transfer properties of the footwear.

A system for providing exercise incentives and/or providing massage is disclosed herein. The system includes a pair of shoes to be worn by a user during exercise; a software application downloadable to an electronic device and configured to wirelessly communicate with the pair of shoes; and a server in communication with the software application. In some embodiments, the pair of shoes includes massage pads and cooling/warming elements. The system is primarily useful for providing a monetary incentive to exercise and secondarily useful for providing relief to a user's feet via massage.

An interlocking mechanism for a shoe can provide the ability for the shoe sole to be attached or removed. For example, a shoe wearer may want the ability to change his or her shoe soles for aesthetic purposes. The shoe sole can also comprise additional functionality for the shoe wearer. For example, the shoe sole itself provide storage and/or lighting capabilities.

An article of footwear that is adjustable so as to optimize the pressure distribution and pressure equalization on the foot surfaces. The footwear is configured to adjust to a user's anatomy so as to optimize pressure distribution and equalization on the foot, where the footwear is capable of adjusting the pressure distribution on the foot substantially in real time.

The present invention relates to composites for reflecting energy produced from a body to the body itself. Accordingly, the present invention provides composites comprising inert materials and methods of using the composites to enhance health conditions of animals by reflecting the energy produced from a body to the body itself.

An insole which generates an air flow during use, which assists in cooling or warming the foot of a user is disclosed. In a first embodiment, air flow facilitated by said insole provides for convective heat transfer away from the plantar surface of the foot. The insole is intended for insertion into a shoe which is ventilated, preferably an athletic shoe with a ventilated upper. The bottom layer defines a plurality of ridges and channel lining portions which together define a plurality of air channels. The bottom layer defines a heel recess in which a heel pad is situated. In a second embodiment, an insole which collects, retains, and heats a user's foot is disclosed. Said insole further comprises a middle layer of thermal reflective material secured to and coextensive with a top layer and a bottom layer secured to said middle layer.

An insulating shoe insert, as for use in an athletic shoe, comprises a core layer to cushion and to resist moisture, comprising a honeycomb-like cellular material, and a top layer and a bottom layer positioned on opposing sides of the core layer, the top layer and bottom layer to resist the transfer of heat through the insulating shoe insert. The top layer and bottom layer comprise an aromatic polyamide, in some embodiments a long-chain synthetic polyamide in which at least 85% of the amide linkages are attached directly to two aromatic rings, in some specific embodiments NOMEX or a similar meta amarid material. The core layer generally includes a honeycomb-like cellular material with irregularly shaped and spaced cells, often a vegetable-based honeycomb-like cellular material. The top layer and bottom layer are bonded to the core layer by an adhesive.