A sole for a shoe or other footwear. The sole includes at least two structures, each structure being configurable, and wherein at least a part of each of said at least two structures is located in a single frontal plane cross-section of the sole when the sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. The sole also includes at least one electronic control system that controls a configuration of each said at least two structures. Optionally, the at least two structures and/or the at least one electronic control system are located in a midsole section of said sole.

A shoe may comprise an upper and a sole structure that includes a plurality of support elements located in a plantar region. Each of the support elements may be non-destructively removable from and replaceable into the sole structure. The shoe may comprise a plurality of sensors configured to measure force exerted in a footbed region of the article of footwear, as well as a processor communicatively coupled to the sensors. The processor may be configured to receive input indicative of forces measured by the sensors and to transmit data based on that input. Methods utilizing the article may include removing a support element and replacing the removed support element with a replacement support element.

A peg insole including an integrally molded unitary foam body covered. The foam body may be covered with a cover layer, such as a stretchable fabric, on a top surface of the foam body opposite the pegs. The foam body is includes a base layer with a plurality of pegs protruding therefrom. The foam body may include a contoured shaped to comfortably fit a patient's foot including, for example, a medial support portion, a lateral support portion, and a heel cup. The peg insole may be used, for example, in a medical shoe. Also provided is a method for forming the peg insole.

A peg insole including an integrally molded unitary foam body covered. The foam body may be covered with a cover layer, such as a stretchable fabric, on a top surface of the foam body opposite the pegs. The foam body is includes a base layer with a plurality of pegs protruding therefrom. The foam body may include a contoured shaped to comfortably fit a patient's foot including, for example, a medial support portion, a lateral support portion, and a heel cup. The peg insole may be used, for example, in a medical shoe. Also provided is a method for forming the peg insole.

A protective plate for footwear provides protection that is flexible. A protective plate may include a forefoot plate having a ball, middle and lateral section that are configured to move and flex to enable a better feel on uneven terrain. A protective plate may extend from the forefoot to the heel and include a midfoot protective plate and a heel protective plate. Sections of the protective plate are hinged or separated to allow for a greater degree of independent movement of the three main groups of muscles and bones in the forefoot in response to walking, hiking and running on various terrain. A separate insole is described that incorporates the forefoot protection plate and that can be inserted into and removed from footwear in order to provide additional protection as needed. A shoe including outer-sole, midsole and upper, are also described having a flexible protective plate.

The present invention teaches a method of making a custom article of footwear. Further, the article of footwear can include a knitted upper and means for cushioning. In addition, the components of the article of footwear can be selected from a wide range of options, and can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.

Orthotics or other footwear inserts including a set of separate and incrementally different inserts sized and adapted for a right and/or left foot. One such insert in said set has a first corrective structure and at least another such insert has a second corrective structure. The second corrective structure including at least an incremental change in one or more of curvature, thickness and firmness of at least one sidemost portion of said insert in said set as compared to the first corrective structure and a corrective structure of each other said insert in said set. The inserts in the set have a progressive sequence based on the increase or decrease in one of the curvature, thickness and firmness, are adapted to be worn one at a time for a period of time sequentially based on the progressive sequence and also include at least one internal sipe.

A cloud-based computer system for diagnosis of conditions to counteract adverse anatomical or medical effects of unnatural supination of subtalar joints by elevated shoe heels. The system includes smartphones or other mobile computer devices located proximate to a center of gravity of users during locomotion, sensor(s) located in a sole or removable sole insert of footwear of the users; sensor(s) located in the smartphones or mobile computer devices; a connection between the sensors and the smartphones or mobile computer devices to provide data between the sensors and the smartphones or mobile computer devices; and a connection between the smartphones or mobile computer devices and the cloud-based computer system to provide data between the smartphones or mobile computer devices and the cloud-based computer system. The sensors located in the soles or removable sole inserts of the footwear and the smartphones or mobile computer devices include a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

A removable and adjustable insert for footwear has slots placed in the insole and/or midsole of the shoe to allow access to the arch and/or metatarsal and/or heel regions of the insole and/or midsole. In an embodiment, an insert placed into the arch insert slot that establishes how much the arch protrudes above the remainder of the top surface of the insole. One or more inserts are provided having different thicknesses so that the height of the arch can be varied by the user or at the direction of a third party, such as a doctor or a trainer.

Systems and methods for customizable footwear inserts having a plurality of removable sections. Removable sections may be permanently bonded to adjacent layers of the inserts to eliminate or minimize the tendency of removable sections surrounding the removed sections to fall out or migrate into the cavity created by the removed sections. In some aspects, multiple layers are provided to increase the comfort, support, and/or fit provided to the wearer of the insert. Further, some embodiments include a removable backing that, when removed, exposes an adhesive that may be utilized to, inter alia, adhere an original insole of footwear to the top of the footwear insert such that the user's foot is still in contact with the original insole when wearing the footwear.