Systems and methods are described for a shoe sole for relieving pressure from a wearer's metatarsal heads. In one aspect, a shoe sole comprises a shoe outer sole comprising a shaft region, a ball region, and a toe region. The shaft region underlies metatarsal shafts of the wearer and comprises a first lower surface, the ball region underlies metatarsal heads of the wearer and comprises a second lower surface, and the toe region underlies phalanges of the wearer and comprises a third lower surface. The second lower surface is raised relative to the first lower surface and the third lower surface.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.

Shoes and shoe sole assemblies and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a shoe and shoe sole assembly made of a non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material that becomes more resilient as more energy is applied. The shoe and shoe sole assembly is configured with a heel and forefoot insert configured to fit within a recess in a midsole. In other embodiments, the non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material is mixed with at least one other polymer in a foam. The midsole is formed with a heel impact region and a forefoot region made of the foam.

A non-removable insole, that is an integral part of a shoe or other footwear article, includes at least: a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer. The middle layer of the insole has apertures or cavities, that define several discrete storage chambers within the insole. Each storage chamber stores a mixture of two or more particulate materials. The mixture includes one or more materials selected from Group A, which includes natural sand, synthetic sand, artificial sand, kinetic sand, silica, quartz. The mixture further includes one or more materials selected from Group B, which includes: powdered aluminum, powdered titanium, powdered zinc, powdered magnesia, powdered silver, powdered anti-bacterial agent, powdered metal, powdered talcum, grained cork, grained coal, grained wood.

A sole includes a midsole. The midsole includes: a first support portion that is configured to support a front portion of an MP joint of a wearer's foot; and a second support portion that is configured to support a rear portion of the MP joint of the wearer's foot, the second support portion having a shape extending rearward from the first support portion in a foot length direction. The first support portion has an elastic modulus lower than an elastic modulus of the second support portion. The midsole includes a thenar region surrounded by a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion. A boundary portion between the first support portion and the second support portion passes through the thenar region.

A sole includes a midsole. The midsole includes: a first support portion that is configured to support a front portion of an MP joint of a wearer's foot; and a second support portion that is configured to support a rear portion of the MP joint of the wearer's foot, the second support portion having a shape extending rearward from the first support portion in a foot length direction. The first support portion has an elastic modulus lower than an elastic modulus of the second support portion. The midsole includes a thenar region surrounded by a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion. A boundary portion between the first support portion and the second support portion passes through the thenar region.

This invention relates to a shoe insole comprising an inner sole having one or more of a support portion in the rearfoot exterior quadrant, a cushioning portion in the forefoot interior quadrant, a cushioning portion that extends from the forefoot interior quadrant to the forefoot exterior quadrant, and a cushioning portion in the rearfoot interior quadrant and the rearfoot exterior quadrant. Methods of making, using, and positioning the disclosed shoe insole and the components thereof are also described. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

This invention relates to a shoe insole comprising an inner sole having one or more of a support portion in the rearfoot exterior quadrant, a cushioning portion in the forefoot interior quadrant, a cushioning portion that extends from the forefoot interior quadrant to the forefoot exterior quadrant, and a cushioning portion in the rearfoot interior quadrant and the rearfoot exterior quadrant. Methods of making, using, and positioning the disclosed shoe insole and the components thereof are also described. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.

A women's high heel shoe and method of manufacturing, the shoe having improved safety and usability features including an improved heal providing improved safety with a widened heel tip with improved traction and reduced surface penetration susceptibility while not detracting from the stylish narrowed high heel design of the shoe.