A therapeutic article of manufacture suitable for adhesive application to the skin of a user includes an elongate support layer formed of a single layer of woven fabric. The woven fabric has a ratio of elongation in percent to tensile strength (lb/in-width) that is less than 0.9 in only one of two test directions, where elongation, tensile strength, and test directions are determined under test conditions specified in ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) D3759. The article of manufacture additionally includes an adhesive intermittent across the support layer and a removable cover layer releasably retained on the adhesive.

Described are soles for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe, with a midsole. The midsole includes a first sole region, which includes particle foam. The midsole further includes a deformation region within the midsole, wherein the deformation region has a volume greater than that of a single expanded particle and is positioned so that it allows a sideward deformation of the material of the first sole region under a pressure load on the sole.

Described are soles for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe, with a midsole. The midsole includes a first sole region, which includes particle foam. The midsole further includes a deformation region within the midsole, wherein the deformation region has a volume greater than that of a single expanded particle and is positioned so that it allows a sideward deformation of the material of the first sole region under a pressure load on the sole.

A material includes a support layer comprising a single layer of woven fabric less than 30 mils thick. The support layer includes a plurality of anatomical supports each having a pair of substantially straight sides and rounded end portions and all of a substantially same size and shape. Each of the plurality of anatomical supports is at least partially disconnected from a remaining portion of the support layer. The support layer has a ratio of elongation to tensile strength (lb/in-width) that is less than 0.9 in at least one direction. The material additionally includes an adhesive layer on said support layer for adhesive attachment of said support layer to the outer skin surface of a user and a removable cover layer on said adhesive layer. The plurality of the anatomical supports in the support layer is attached to an at least partially continuous portion of the removable cover layer.

A sole assembly for an article of footwear defines a base support plane. The sole assembly also includes a cushioning assembly with a first end and a second end. The cushioning assembly includes a first cushioning member and a second cushioning member. The first cushioning member includes a first overlapping surface, and the second cushioning member includes a second overlapping surface. The first and second overlapping surfaces overlap each other over the base support plane and each slope at a positive acute angle relative to the base support plane. The first cushioning member is thicker than the second cushioning member adjacent the first end of the cushioning assembly, and the second cushioning member is thicker than the first cushioning member adjacent the second end of the cushioning assembly. The first cushioning member has a resistance to resilient deformation less than that of the second cushioning member.

A high heeled shoe and shoe sole insert are provided that are configured to provide relief from the forces on the foot created by walking in high heels. The shoe comprises a layered sole having an outsole, a midsole, and an insole. The midsole of the shoe comprises a cutout that is positioned over the metatarsal pressure point of the user's foot when positioned within the shoe. The cutout is filled with a shock absorbing material, such as Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, and includes a layer of paperboard for further cushioning. The shoe sole insert similarly includes a metatarsal padded region and a medial longitudinal arch pad to provide a layer of cushioning above the midsole of a user's footwear. The present invention provides relief while wearing high heels by cushioning the user's foot in high pressure zones, thereby relieving the pressure and reducing injuries or soreness.

A sole member for an article of footwear includes a composite sole structure and a reinforcing member. The sole structure may comprise two layers of woven composite material. The two layers have substantially similar woven patterns. The sole structure includes bulging portions with centrally recessed portions. The reinforcing member fits into channels associated with the bulging portions.

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation.

The present invention relates to an item of footwear comprising a sole with an upper surface having a concave rear portion and a forward portion that is flat in the lateral direction. An item of footwear comprises: a securing means for securing the item of footwear to a foot of a wearer; and a sole having an upper surface that in use contacts the foot of a user, wherein: the upper surface has a first portion (7) and a second portion (6), the first portion (7) located forwardly of the second portion (6); the upper surface is substantially flat in the lateral direction in the first portion (7); and the upper surface is concave in the lateral direction in the second portion (6).

Shoe which has a band-like device which extends from the upper shaft end to the shoe base on one inner side of the shoe and extends from the shoe base in the direction of the upper shaft end on the opposite inner side of the shoe, wherein the band-like device is designed to exert pressure on a foot arranged in the shoe.