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.

A plurality of orthotic systems are provided. One bi-layer system is constructed from a single sheet of fabric that is molded into two layers. One tri-layer system includes a base layer; a mid-layer; and an upper layer. The upper layer is joined to the mid-layer and the mid-layer is joined to the base layer. The coupling of the base layer, the mid-layer and the upper layer create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section and a front spring section in which the upper layer is suspended over the mid-layer and the heel portion is suspended on the proximal heel end of the base layer.

A sole plate for an article of footwear comprises a plate body having a first side, a second side, an outer perimeter, at least one opening extending through the plate body from the first side to the second side, and an inner perimeter bounding the at least one opening. The plate body is biased to a first orientation of the inner perimeter relative to the outer perimeter. The plate body inverts at the inner perimeter relative to the outer perimeter under a dynamic load applied to the second side. The plate body resiliently returns to the first orientation upon removal of the dynamic load. A sole structure and an article of footwear including the sole plate are disclosed. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear with the sole plate is disclosed.

An article of footwear may incorporate a chamber with an outer barrier and a tether element. The barrier may be formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, and tether element may be located within the interior cavity and joined to opposite sides of the barrier. Upon pressurization of the chamber, the tether element may extend across the interior cavity and be placed in tension by the outward force of a pressurized fluid within the interior cavity. The tether element may have a variety of configurations. For example, the tether element may have a diagonal orientation, or different tether elements may have different lengths. A tether element may also have plates or tie pieces secured to opposite sides of the chamber, with one or more tethers extending between. Also, the tether element may include one of more sheets that extend across the interior cavity.

The invention relates to a sole component for a shoe suitable for use with different heels. The sole component comprises a front, a middle and a rear sole portion and comprises a mechanism for adjusting the sole curvature in a transition region between the front and the middle sole portion. The mechanism comprises a rotatable supporting element which is provided in such a way that it may have a first angular position which causes a first sole curvature in the transition region and a second angular position which causes a second sole curvature in the transition region, wherein the first sole curvature is different from the second sole curvature.

A sole assembly for an article of footwear has a curved spring plate that stores and releases spring energy to aid in forward propulsion. The curved spring plate has a center portion and opposite end portions extending from the center portion. A retaining member is secured to the end portions such that the retaining member spans across and bows the center portion. Flexing of the spring plate stores spring energy in the spring plate that urges the center portion to unflex and release the spring energy.

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.

An article of footwear that is adjustable so as to optimize the pressure distribution and pressure equalization on the foot surfaces. The footwear is configured to adjust to a user's anatomy so as to optimize pressure distribution and equalization on the foot, where the footwear is capable of adjusting the pressure distribution on the foot substantially in real time.

An exercise apparatus includes a pair of apparatuses wearable on feet of a user. Each apparatus is configurable between expanded configurations and compressed configurations to simulate a selected motion when the user wearing the pair of apparatuses travels by foot. One of the apparatuses can move towards an expanded configuration while the other apparatus moves towards a compressed configuration.

A plurality of orthotic systems are provided. One bi-layer system is constructed from a single sheet of fabric that is molded into two layers. One tri-layer system includes a base layer; a mid-layer; and an upper layer. The upper layer is joined to the mid-layer and the mid-layer is joined to the base layer. The coupling of the base layer, the mid-layer and the upper layer create a rear spring section, a mid-spring section and a front spring section in which the upper layer is suspended over the mid-layer and the heel portion is suspended on the proximal heel end of the base layer.