A sole includes a midsole, and the midsole includes a toe support portion, a midfoot support portion, and an intervening portion. The sole includes a toe contact surface and a midfoot contact surface. The intervening portion has a recessed portion having a shape recessed from an imaginary curved surface toward a side of a wearer's foot. A length between the imaginary curved surface and the recessed portion is greater than or equal to 13% and less than or equal to 50% of a thickness of a portion of the intervening portion where the recessed portion is provided. The midsole has a front side region surrounded by a front line and a rear line, and an area of the recessed portion in plan view is greater than or equal to 35% and less than or equal to 50% of an area of the front side region in plan view.

The invention relates to a sole, midsole, insole or sole insert for an article of footwear, such as a shoe or a boot, sandal, trainer or wellington boot. The sole, midsole, insole or sole insert 10 comprises a matrix structure 12 defining passageways 26, 30 extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the sole, midsole, insole or sole insert. The sole, midsole, insole or sole insert further comprises one or a plurality of sheet members 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 substantially within the matrix structure and forming a continuous molding therewith, the or each sheet member being convex so that the apex of the or each sheet member approaches and faces the upper surface of the sole, midsole, insole or sole insert. The or each sheet member 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 is made from an elastomeric material so that each sheet member acts as a leaf spring.

A shoe has an air pump device for blowing air into the interior of a shoe comprising a bellows formed in the sole structure and surrounding a cavity, an intake channel for transporting air from an intake opening into the bellows, an air supply device formed in the sole structure for forwarding air from the bellows into the interior of the shoe, and a V-shaped or U-shaped spring element which clasps the bellows. An upper leg of the spring element comprises an upper pressure plate arranged above the bellows and below an insole of the sole structure, and a lower leg comprises a lower pressure plate arranged under the bellows and above an outsole layer, so that a connecting section that connects the two legs is arranged beside the bellows in the sole structure. The air pump device is arranged in such manner that when the sole structure is placed under load during a walking movement, the spring element is deformed elastically by pressing the pressure plates together, wherein the deformation takes place substantially at or close to the connecting section, so that the pressure plates substantially keep their shape, and the bellows is compressed.

Improved soles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. A sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, is provided that includes a midsole with randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The sole further includes an element having a higher deformation stiffness in at least one direction than the expanded material. The material of the midsole at least partially surrounds the element.

Orthotic and prosthetic devices having integrated features such as cushioning features are described, as well as methods for computer aided designing and making of these devices. The orthotic or prosthetic devices comprise a cushioning layer superimposed onto an orthotic or prosthetic shell, the cushioning layer comprising an array (35) of discrete solid and resilient cushioning elements (31). In one preferred embodiment, the cushioning structure is a beam, defined around a centerline of any arbitrary shape. In another preferred embodiment, the cushioning structure has the shape of a spiral.

A futuristic shoe with true energy return based on enhanced heel-lift, optimized shoe springs (40% reduction in maximum foot impact), practical precise automatic electronic gear changers, novel powerful shoe impact chargers, improved pulley electronic actuators, novel low-impact much stronger springs (featuring the novel use materials such as Kevlar, Spectra Shield, and fiberglass), novel remarkably stronger, more flexible, and tougher structures, and multiple designs for enhanced heel-lift and to prevent excessive toe sink. These designs require linkages and two improved hingesone with enhanced natural hinges and a second with tied cogged hinges. There is a rotating-arms enhanced optimal spring, which when combined with the tied cogged hinges, results in optimal foldable arrays for deployment in outer spaceand which gives a smart energy return knee brace. These novel capabilities promise a wide range of additional applications such as robotics, prosthetics, orthotics, springs, aerospace, automobiles, body armor, and earthquake retrofitting.

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

Improved soles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. A sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, is provided that includes a midsole with randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The sole further includes an element having a higher deformation stiffness in at least one direction than the expanded material. The material of the midsole at least partially surrounds the element.

A sole includes: a midsole located to continuously extend from a forefoot portion to a rearfoot portion; and a reinforcing member formed of a material higher in rigidity than a material forming the midsole and disposed on a bottom surface of the midsole. The reinforcing member includes: a first bar located to extend at least in the forefoot portion and the midfoot portion and extending along a lateral foot-side end portion of the midsole; and a second bar located in the forefoot portion, having one end connected to the first bar, and extending in an oblique direction to extend rearward toward a medial foot side.

A sole for aerated footwear having an elongate body with a lower surface, a device attached to the body, and an operating member, arranged to move away from and towards the body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the body as the sole bends to disengage and unbends to engage a floor, for operating the device. The device is attached to the body, engageable with the operating member, and is expandable from, or further away from, the lower surface of the body, upon movement of the operating member away from the body.