A sole (100) or inner sole for a shoe is provided. The sole (100) or inner sole comprises: a toe region (28) for supporting a user's toes; a forefoot region (26) for supporting a user's forefoot; a midfoot region (24) for supporting a user's arch; and a heel region (22) for supporting a user's heel. A longitudinal direction (X) extends from the heel region (22) towards the toe region (28). A lateral direction (Y) transverse to the longitudinal direction (X) extends from an inner side to an outer side of the sole (100) or inner sole. A plurality of force sensors (10) distributed throughout the sole (100) or inner sole. The plurality of force sensors (10) comprise: a first lateral row of force sensors (10) in the toe region (28); a second lateral row of force sensors (10) in the forefoot region (26); a first longitudinal row of force sensors (10) along the inner side of the sole (100) or inner sole from the heel region (22) to the midfoot region (24); and a second longitudinal row of force sensors (10) along the outer side of the sole (100) or inner sole from the heel region (22) to the midfoot region (24).

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 material includes a support layer comprising a woven fiber layer less than 30 mils thick. The support layer includes an elongate strap support. The support layer has a ratio of elongation to tensile strength (lb/in-width) that is less than 0.9 in a first direction and greater than 0.9 in a perpendicular second 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. Methods of use of the material and elongate strap support(s) to a human body include providing anatomical support or therapeutic effects.

A removable insole for insertion into footwear, comprises a forefoot portion integral to the insole and extending at least to a metatarsal of a foot and including a resilient layer, the resilient layer including at least two non-contiguous resilient layer sections (including a big toe section). The at least two non-contiguous resilient sections include at least four resilient layer subsections in some embodiments, a continuous rear portion that includes a medial longitudinal arch support portion, a heel surrounding portion and a lateral longitudinal arch support portion; and a heel portion. In some embodiments, the forefoot is customizable by having different levels of hardness for the subsections and big toe section. The insole is therefore tailored a particular sport. The medial longitudinal arch support portion includes a detachable cushion configured to adjust a height of the medial longitudinal arch and to support the foot during pronation of the foot.

A sole of a shoe includes a sole body and a plurality of lower protrusions and a plurality of upper protrusions arranged at least in positions each corresponding to a forefoot in the sole body. The sole body is configured such that hardness of a portion corresponding to a midfoot is higher than hardness of a portion corresponding to the forefoot.

A sole support constitutes at least a part of a support surface configured to support a sole. The sole support includes a high portion that constitutes a part of the support surface under at least a part of a distal phalange at a higher position than a part of the support surface under a proximal joint of a proximal phalange for each toe so that a proximal joint of the distal phalange is above the proximal joint of the proximal phalange in each toe.

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

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 shoe includes a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The sole has a heel outsole member, a forefoot outsole member, a heel member, a chassis member, a heel cushion, a forefoot cushion, and a shank. The heel member extends downwardly from the chassis and the heel cushion is within an open top cavity in the heel member. The chassis member includes a through heel opening and a through forefoot opening with the heel opening overlying the open top heel cavity of the heel member. The heel cushion is in the heel opening of the chassis member. The forefoot cushion is in the forefoot opening of the chassis member. The shank has a through heel opening overlying the heel through opening in the chassis member. The heel outsole member is coupled to the heel member. The forefoot outsole member is in contact with the forefoot cushion.