A convertible shoe assembly for converting a shoe between a flat soled shoe or a high heeled shoe includes a shoe that is wearable on a user's foot. The shoe has a sole that is comprised of a flexible material thereby facilitating the sole to be oriented in a planar position to define a sole of a flat soled shoe or an angled position to define a sole of a high heeled shoe. A hinge is integrated into the sole of the shoe such that the sole bends along the hinge when the sole is moved between the planar position and the angled position. A heel is pivotally attached to the sole and the heel is positionable in a stored position or a deployed position having the heel extending downwardly from the sole.

A shoe comprising a sole comprising a female element; and an upper arrangement comprising a corresponding male element configured to be received in the female element upon insertion in an insertion direction. The male and female elements comprise complementary locking features including a first locking feature being provided on a peripheral surface of one of the male or female elements, and a second locking feature being provided on a peripheral surface of the other of the male or female elements. The first locking feature comprises a protrusion that protrudes in a direction transverse to the insertion direction, and the second locking feature comprises a locking recess. The locking protrusion is configured to engage with the locking recess as the male element is inserted into the female element, thereby locking the sole to the upper arrangement.

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

Embodiments of the disclosure include a fastener having a male and female connector configured to interlock.

An insole for open-styled footwear that includes a mating attachment system for variably affixing the insole into footwear.

An article of footwear with an insert system is disclosed. The insert system can include an insert that may be introduced to a side portion of the upper. The insert is configured to adjust properties of a side portion of an upper.

Various articles, such as footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, watchbands, and the like, and methods of forming those articles are presented. The articles are generally formed, in whole or in part, using rapid manufacturing techniques, such as laser sintering, stereolithography, solid deposition modeling, and the like. The use of rapid manufacturing allows for relatively economical and time efficient manufacture of customized articles. The articles may include one or more reinforcements configured to provide added durability to various regions of the articles. In addition, the articles may be formed from two or more materials in a single rapid manufacturing process. The rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique may also include using of varying intensities of the laser to fuse material to form the articles.

Various articles, such as footwear, apparel, athletic equipment, watchbands, and the like, and methods of forming those articles are presented. The articles are generally formed, in whole or in part, using rapid manufacturing techniques, such as laser sintering, stereolithography, solid deposition modeling, and the like. The use of rapid manufacturing allows for relatively economical and time efficient manufacture of customized articles. The articles may include one or more reinforcements configured to provide added durability to various regions of the articles. In addition, the articles may be formed from two or more materials in a single rapid manufacturing process. The rapid manufacturing additive fabrication technique may also include using of varying intensities of the laser to fuse material to form the articles.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper layer comprised of a plate member and a lower layer comprised of a plurality of segmented portions separated by flexing regions. The flexing regions may comprise portions of a compressible material. The sole structure accommodates vertical bending and torsion, while limiting lateral bending.