A footwear construction unit for receiving a decorative component is provided along with an embellished shoe that incorporates the construction unit. The construction unit comprises an upper body and a weight-bearing peripheral wall extending downwardly from the upper body, which together define an interior upraised area that accommodates at least a portion of the decorative component. Thus, the decorative component is elevated above the walking surface and protected from dirt and abrasion. The decorative component may optionally extend across the arch and/or down the inner heel and/or onto other surfaces herein disclosed.

A heel structure with an adjustable height includes a support rod, adjustment rod, and retractable element. The support rod is penetrated by a through hole. Tracks and engaging grooves are disposed on the wall of the through hole. The engaging grooves are in communication with the tracks and run horizontally. The adjustment rod penetrates the through hole and undergoes displacement. Resilient engaging bumps are disposed above the adjustment rod and thus resiliently pressed within the tracks. The tracks abut against the engaging bumps such that the engaging bumps retract. The retractable element is rotated such that circular pipes of different diameters decreasing downward and stepwise are fitted together so as to be folded and unfolded. A hollow-core mounting region is defined centrally at the circular pipes. A fitting hole is disposed at the lowest circular pipe and fixedly disposed on an outer wall of the bottom of the adjustment rod.

A convertible high heel and flat shoe, comprising a sole including a heel section; and a high heel piece positionable between a high heel mode where the high heel piece supports the heel section and a flat shoe mode where the high heel piece is received within the sole.

An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.

A shoe configured to adjust from a first configuration having a first height to a second configuration having a second height includes a sole. Sole includes a toebox, a shank, and a seat. The shank is rotatably connected to the toebox and the seat. The shoe also includes a heel assembly mounted to the seat. The heel assembly includes a collapsible exterior shell that adjusts the shoe between the first configuration and the second configuration, the first height of the first configuration being greater than the second height of the second configuration.

A shoe configured to adjust from a first configuration having a first height to a second configuration having a second height includes a sole. Sole includes a toebox, a shank, and a seat. The shank is rotatably connected to the toebox and the seat. The shoe also includes a heel assembly mounted to the seat. The heel assembly includes a collapsible exterior shell that adjusts the shoe between the first configuration and the second configuration, the first height of the first configuration being greater than the second height of the second configuration.

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

An adjustable shoe includes an outsole having a middle portion hingedly attached to a forefoot portion and a heel portion. A segmented driveshaft spans from the forefoot portion of the outsole to the heel portion. Rotation of a front segment of the driveshaft causes the forefoot portion of the outsole to rotate about a hinge axis thereby adjusting a forefoot angle. A first motor is connected to the driveshaft and operable to rotate the driveshaft. A processor is in communication with the first motor and programmed to operate the first motor to provide adjustment to the shoe. A method of adjusting a shoe includes receiving a signal representing a measured force on a portion of an outsole of the shoe. If the measured force exceeds a pre-determined threshold, a motor is activated to change an angle of a forefoot portion of the outsole relative to a middle portion.

An adjustable shoe includes an outsole having a middle portion hingedly attached to a forefoot portion and a heel portion. A segmented driveshaft spans from the forefoot portion of the outsole to the heel portion. Rotation of a front segment of the driveshaft causes the forefoot portion of the outsole to rotate about a hinge axis thereby adjusting a forefoot angle. A first motor is connected to the driveshaft and operable to rotate the driveshaft. A processor is in communication with the first motor and programmed to operate the first motor to provide adjustment to the shoe. A method of adjusting a shoe includes receiving a signal representing a measured force on a portion of an outsole of the shoe. If the measured force exceeds a pre-determined threshold, a motor is activated to change an angle of a forefoot portion of the outsole relative to a middle portion.