A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

The present disclosure is directed to a toe box insert configured to provide support between a wearer's toes and the end of a footwear. An exemplary toe box insert comprises a compressible material. The compressible material can be characterized by a firmness, a flexibility, and a springback. The firmness can provide rigidity to the footwear even when a force is applied on the toe box insert by a wearer. The flexibility can cause the toe box insert to indent in response to a force applied on the toe box insert by the wearer. The springback can cause the toe box insert to return to an original shape after a force applied by a wearer ceases.

An article of footwear (10) that includes a liner (30), an upper (14), and an insert (50). The liner has an inward surface (31) that encloses an inner void (18) for accommodating a foot, and an outward surface (32) that defines a rear shaft portion (38), a heel portion (36), and a sole portion (35). The upper has a midsole portion (42), and surrounds the rear shaft portion, the sole portion, and the heel portion of the liner. The insert is formed as a single body of material with increased hardness and stiffness relative to the upper. This insert is arranged between the liner and the upper, and includes a protruding portion (54), a heel counter (56), and a shank (58). The protruding portion extends upwards from the heel counter and along the rear shaft portion, and provides a guiding trajectory for a heel during insertion into the inner void.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between. The upper defines a throat opening sized to receive a foot. The upper includes a main upper body and a strap coupled to the main upper body, wherein the strap extends from the midfoot region of the upper at the throat opening, down toward the heel region of the upper, wherein the strap is configured to provide stability, and the strap is configured to keep a wearer's heel contained down and back in the article of footwear.

An article of footwear having an upper with enhanced transition properties is described herein. The transition properties may be incorporated in an ankle collar trim transition region, a heel stay reinforcing structure, and/or a heel padding structure. Additionally, a method for manufacturing the article of footwear with enhanced transition properties in a heel region is provided.

A shoe including: an upper, wherein an upper edge of a topline is defined by a medial line and a lateral line; and a counter, wherein an upper edge is defined, at a position downward of the upper edge of the topline, by first counter line on a medial side and a second counter line, which protrude downward, wherein: a medial height difference is defined by a difference in a height direction between a first point at a lowermost point on the medial line and a second point at a lowermost point on the first counter line; a lateral height difference is defined by a difference in the height direction between a third point at a lowermost point on the lateral line and a fourth point at a lowermost point on the second counter line; and the lateral height difference is greater than the medial height difference.

A shoe including: an upper, wherein an upper edge of a topline is defined by a medial line and a lateral line; and a counter, wherein an upper edge is defined, at a position downward of the upper edge of the topline, by first counter line on a medial side and a second counter line, which protrude downward, wherein: a medial height difference is defined by a difference in a height direction between a first point at a lowermost point on the medial line and a second point at a lowermost point on the first counter line; a lateral height difference is defined by a difference in the height direction between a third point at a lowermost point on the lateral line and a fourth point at a lowermost point on the second counter line; and the lateral height difference is greater than the medial height difference.

An apparatus for making an article of footwear is provided. The apparatus may include a last shaped to resemble a human foot and being formed at least in part from a susceptor material that is thermally reactive to an electromagnetic field. The apparatus may also include an induction coil disposed proximate to the last and configured to produce an electromagnetic field that causes the susceptor material in the last to increase in temperature by induction heating.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.