An athletic shoe assembly for inhibiting knee and ankle injuries during athletic activities includes a shoe that may be worn during athletic activities. A front cleat unit and a back cleat unit are each positioned on the sole for engaging ground during the athletic activities to enhance traction. Each of the front and back cleat units are rotatably coupled to the sole and the shoe is rotatable about a vertical axis extending through the sole and each of the front and back cleat units. Thus, the front cleat unit and back cleat units inhibit knee and ankle injuries during the athletic activities resulting from a stationary foot and a twisting leg.

An upper structure adapted for engaging with a sole to form a shoe body includes a main body. The main body has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface and the sole enclose an internal space. Each of at least two lateral sides of the inner surface has a gel layer. The two gel layers correspond to two longer sides of the sole respectively. Each of the gel layers is composed of a gel of non-Newtonian fluid to engage with the main body.

An article of footwear includes a midsole, an upper disposed above the midsole, and an outsole disposed below the midsole. The midsole includes a lattice structure having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side is a user-facing side and the lower side is a ground-facing side. A first platform is integrally formed into the upper side of the lattice structure. A second platform is integrally formed into the lower side of the lattice structure. The lattice structure extends from the first platform to the second platform.

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.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole having four stacked polymeric sheets bonded to one another to define a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a third cushioning layer. Each cushioning layer comprises a sealed chamber retaining gas in isolation from each other sealed chamber. Bonds between adjacent ones of the sheets are arranged such that the third cushioning layer is stacked directly above the first cushioning layer with the second cushioning layer bordering both the first cushioning layer and the third cushioning layer, and the sealed chamber of the second cushioning layer includes a plurality of elongated segments each extending lengthwise across a longitudinal midline of the midsole at a respective acute angle to the longitudinal midline.

A skate boot includes a boot shell having first and second opposite side portions cooperating to define a foot receiving opening therebetween. The first and second side portions have a facing portion extending from the foot receiving opening. A band having a first end portion is received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through an opening defined in the first side portion so as to have a second end portion of the band extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion of the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole having four stacked polymeric sheets bonded to one another to define a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a third cushioning layer. Each cushioning layer comprises a sealed chamber retaining gas in isolation from each other sealed chamber. Bonds between adjacent ones of the sheets are arranged such that the third cushioning layer is stacked directly above the first cushioning layer with the second cushioning layer bordering both the first cushioning layer and the third cushioning layer, and the sealed chamber of the second cushioning layer includes a plurality of elongated segments each extending lengthwise across a longitudinal midline of the midsole at a respective acute angle to the longitudinal midline.

A multi-colored effect for a sole structure for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole structure comprises a sole member having a first color and an exterior layer having a second color that is different from the sole member. A plurality of slots are formed in the sole structure and the second color is visible on an outer surface of the sole structure through the plurality of slots.

A sole structure includes a midsole layer with a lower surface having a first recess that has an outer periphery spaced inward of an outer periphery of the midsole layer, and a peripheral bonding region between the outer periphery of the midsole layer and the outer periphery of the first recess. A sole plate has an upper surface with a second recess forming a cavity with the first recess between the sole plate and the midsole layer. The upper surface of the sole plate has a peripheral bonding region between an outer periphery of the sole plate and an outer periphery of the second recess. A bladder nests in the cavity with a contoured upper surface inward of the peripheral bonding region of the midsole layer and a contoured lower surface inward of the peripheral bonding region of the sole plate. A method of manufacturing the sole structure is disclosed.

An article of footwear with a base plate having a structure and studs is disclosed. The structure may moderate stud pressure and enhance support during the first step of sprinting, quick directional changes, and backward movement. The structure may include a medial forefoot pad, a lateral forefoot pad connected to the medial forefoot pad, a medial heel pad, a first lateral heel pad connected to the medial heel pad, a first diagonal rib extending from the medial forefoot pad to the first lateral heel pad, a second diagonal rib extending from the lateral forefoot pad to the medial heel pad, a medial midfoot bar substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed proximate the medial edge, and a lateral midfoot bar substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed proximate the lateral edge.