Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions. Each midsole protrusion nests within a respective insole pocket, while each insole protrusion nests within a respective midsole pocket.

A footwear sole apparatus which has a base member and at least one insert (principal insert and/or heel insert) as well as one or more fail-safe interconnectivity mechanisms, comprised of a configuration to fit or replace the sole or partial sole of a pair or pairs of footwear. The base member is either pre-attached to a new shoe(s) or fitted onto the sole of an existing shoe(s). The base member can be attached to the insert(s), having one or more fail-safe mechanisms to enhance interconnectivity of the base member and insert(s).

Athletic shoes may include a blade runner that may aid a wearer with speed and/or jumping. The blade runner may be an extension below the sole of the athletic shoe that may function as a lever. Inclusion of this extension may allow the wearer to run with enhanced speed and/or may improve the height and/or distance that a wearer may jump. The extension may be formed of carbon fiber and/or a composite material capable of withstanding extreme stress tolerances that may be associated with running and/or jumping. A cap may be attached to a leading edge of the extension to allow for greater traction.

Athletic shoes may include a blade runner that may aid a wearer with speed and/or jumping. The blade runner may be an extension below the sole of the athletic shoe that may function as a lever. Inclusion of this extension may allow the wearer to run with enhanced speed and/or may improve the height and/or distance that a wearer may jump. The extension may be formed of carbon fiber and/or a composite material capable of withstanding extreme stress tolerances that may be associated with running and/or jumping. A cap may be attached to a leading edge of the extension to allow for greater traction.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper is coupled to the sole structure so as to form a foot-receiving cavity therebetween. The upper comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an expandable panel disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The upper is movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the compressed configuration, the first portion and the second portion are coupled together at a location adjacent to the expandable panel and the expandable panel is collapsed. In the expanded configuration, the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart from each other at the location adjacent to the expandable panel and the expandable panel is exposed. One or more dimensions of the foot-receiving cavity are larger when the upper is in the expanded configuration than when the upper is in the compressed configuration.

The invention relates to an inner pad reinforcement device of a sole. It comprises an insole having a forefoot zone, an arch zone, a heel zone and a shoe heel integrally formed on the heel zone and having a receiving slot; and a reinforcement unit having a heal seat for inserting into the receiving slot and a supporting part.

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.

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 motorized personal transportation article is described which transports a person by wearing a pair of power-assisted motorized shoes, wherein the shoes provide an increase in a user's walking speed in a forward walking action through supplementary motion of moving or propelling means based on an intended walking speed of the user, such that when a user's intended walking speed changes or when a user intends to substantially decelerate or immobilize, the speed of the supplementary motion can be adjusted before the step is completed. The sole of each of the shoes houses at least one plate coupled to moving or propelling means such as conveyor assemblies, and the moving or propelling means are designed to neutralize forces acting to disrupt the operation of the moving or propelling means during a forward walking action or the balance and comfort of the user.

Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions. Each midsole protrusion nests within a respective insole pocket, while each insole protrusion nests within a respective midsole pocket.