The invention relates to a sole component for a shoe suitable for use with different heels. The sole component comprises a front, a middle and a rear sole portion and comprises a mechanism for adjusting the sole curvature in a transition region between the front and the middle sole portion. The mechanism comprises a rotatable supporting element which is provided in such a way that it may have a first angular position which causes a first sole curvature in the transition region and a second angular position which causes a second sole curvature in the transition region, wherein the first sole curvature is different from the second sole curvature.

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.

A shoe assembly includes a front sole section, a rear sole section, a heel, and a hinge. The front sole section has a front sole section rear edge. The rear sole section includes a rear sole section front edge, a shank, and a release button. The heel may be removably attached to the shank and may be released from a locked position by the release button. The hinge connects the front sole section and the rear sole section. The hinge is perpendicular to a rear sole section axis.

A shoe assembly includes a front sole section, a rear sole section, a heel, and a hinge. The front sole section has a front sole section rear edge. The rear sole section includes a rear sole section front edge, a shank, and a release button. The heel may be removably attached to the shank and may be released from a locked position by the release button. The hinge connects the front sole section and the rear sole section. The hinge is perpendicular to a rear sole section axis.

A shoe that is convertible between a high heel mode and a low heel mode. There is a rigid shank that is adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the shoe between the various layers of the sole. The proximal end of the adjustable shank may be slid further under the metatarsophalangeal joints to accommodate the sweeping higher arch of a high-heeled shoe or the distal end of the adjustable shank may be slid closer to the back of the calcaneus bone to reduce the arch of the shoe. The different height heels are lockably affixed to the sole.

A shoe that is convertible between a high heel mode and a low heel mode. There is a rigid shank that is adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the shoe between the various layers of the sole. The proximal end of the adjustable shank may be slid further under the metatarsophalangeal joints to accommodate the sweeping higher arch of a high-heeled shoe or the distal end of the adjustable shank may be slid closer to the back of the calcaneus bone to reduce the arch of the shoe. The different height heels are lockably affixed to the sole.

An adjustable heel support member includes a base portion and an extended portion. The extended portion comprises a lateral portion, a medial portion and a rearward portion. The heel support member further includes a fastening member that can be used to adjust the lateral portion, the medial portion and the rearward portion to resize the heel support member. In some cases, the fastening member may be an elastic ring.

An adjustable heel support member includes a base portion and an extended portion. The extended portion comprises a lateral portion, a medial portion and a rearward portion. The heel support member further includes a fastening member that can be used to adjust the lateral portion, the medial portion and the rearward portion to resize the heel support member. In some cases, the fastening member may be an elastic ring.

A removable heel connector apparatus comprises a shoe, a heel connector, a heel, a heel release. The heel connector includes a bolt to connect the heel against withdrawal from the shoe. The heel may be withdrawn from the shoe by depressing the heel release. The heel connector also includes a torque balance providing strength and durability in use to a shoe with removable heel as if an ordinary shoe without removable heel.

Articles of footwear having both interior and exterior midsole components may include: (a) an upper that at least in part defines an interior chamber; (b) an interior midsole component within the interior chamber, wherein, at a forefoot region, the interior midsole component includes a longitudinal flexion line and a plurality of transverse flexion lines; and (c) an exterior sole structure engaged with the upper. This exterior sole structure may include: (a) an exterior midsole component in a heel region of the article of footwear that does not extend under the forefoot region of the article of footwear and (b) an outsole component that extends under the forefoot region. If desired, the outsole component may extend under the exterior midsole component in the rearfoot region. The interior midsole component may include a plurality of pod elements separated from one another by the flexion lines.