A spike is operable to be removably coupled to an article of footwear. The spike includes a first portion that is substantially rigid. The spike also includes a second portion that is resilient.

A shoe apparatus with electronic grip enhancement is disclosed. In particular, the shoe includes: an electrical energy storage device such as a capacitor or battery; a piezoelectric generator configured to generate electricity when the user takes a step in the shoe; and a sole including an electrostatic adhesive portion configured to augment the grip of the shoe.

A sole designed for attachment to an article of footwear, made of a hard polymer outsole connection plate affixed to a flexible polymer outsole that has a series of threaded imbed anchors housed therein for the attachment of various designs of interchangeable cleats. The cleats reside in detents formed on planar channels across the width of the outsole and extend above a series of tapered raised pads formed on the bottom face of the outsole.

A sole designed for attachment to an article of footwear, made of a hard polymer outsole connection plate affixed to a flexible polymer outsole that has a series of threaded imbed anchors housed therein for the attachment of various designs of interchangeable cleats. The cleats reside in detents formed on planar channels across the width of the outsole and extend above a series of tapered raised pads formed on the bottom face of the outsole.

A manufacturing method of an injection molded composite shoe sole and the sole thereof are provided. The method includes facial modifying, cleaning a combination face of an additional component formed of a material different from the sole material, and coating a facial process layer on the combination face, and drying to modify the combination face; gumming, placing a gum layer on the facial process layer on the modified combination face; in-mold positioning, placing additional component into a mold; and injection molding, injecting the sole material into the mold, thereby gumming the sole material and the gum layer of the combination face to form a composite shoe sole. Therefore, the manufacturing method effectively reduces the sole manufacturing time.

A manufacturing method of an injection molded composite shoe sole and the sole thereof are provided. The method includes facial modifying, cleaning a combination face of an additional component formed of a material different from the sole material, and coating a facial process layer on the combination face, and drying to modify the combination face; gumming, placing a gum layer on the facial process layer on the modified combination face; in-mold positioning, placing additional component into a mold; and injection molding, injecting the sole material into the mold, thereby gumming the sole material and the gum layer of the combination face to form a composite shoe sole. Therefore, the manufacturing method effectively reduces the sole manufacturing time.

A footwear construction is provided including a sole assembly having one or more active gripping pods that collapse upon themselves to grip underfoot surfaces and terrain. The gripping pods can include a generally centrally located actuator lug that engages a ground surface and collapses upward and optionally into the sole assembly, and while so doing, pulls one or more adjacent lug rings toward it along corresponding arcuate paths. The collapse and pull in of the lug rings causes those elements to grip the ground surface with a predetermined force.

A footwear construction is provided including a sole assembly having one or more active gripping pods that collapse upon themselves to grip underfoot surfaces and terrain. The gripping pods can include a generally centrally located actuator lug that engages a ground surface and collapses upward and optionally into the sole assembly, and while so doing, pulls one or more adjacent lug rings toward it along corresponding arcuate paths. The collapse and pull in of the lug rings causes those elements to grip the ground surface with a predetermined force.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a midfoot region of the plate than at a forefoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A spike is operable to be removably coupled to an article of footwear. The spike includes a first portion that is substantially rigid. The spike also includes a second portion that is resilient.