A sole structure that includes recessed portions. The recessed portions are arranged such that the sole structure has auxetic properties. In some embodiments, sipes extend to the recessed portions. Additionally, the sole structure may include a central portion having auxetic properties and a peripheral portion.

A sole structure for an article of footwear can include provisions for providing auxetic behavior in the sole structure. The sole structure can comprise multiple layers that may each have different types of auxetic material. The outsole can include at least one auxetic portion joined to one non-auxetic portion. Similarly, the midsole can include at least one auxetic portion joined to one non-auxetic portion. Apertures formed in the auxetic portions of the outsole can extend through at least part of the midsole.

Climbing shoe comprising: a shoe-upper shaped to accommodate and substantially cover the entire foot of the user; a polymeric-material sole fixed to the bottom of the shoe-upper so as to cover the front part of the bottom of said shoe-upper; and a sagittal tensioning band made of elastomeric material, which connects the toe of the shoe-upper directly to the rear part of the shoe-upper, in the area above the Calcaneus of the user's foot, passing underneath the sole; the sagittal tensioning band being substantially Y-shaped, so as to extend longitudinally along the tarsus-phalangeal portion of the bottom of the shoe-upper while remaining underneath the sole, and then forking into two branches that extend obliquely along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper, up to reach the rear part of the shoe-upper.

A pedicure footwear including a toe separator embedded at a toe end of said footwear sole. The toe separator having five knobs. The toe separator receives the second toe, the third toe, the fourth toe and the fifth toe. The knobs each have at least one contoured side while the first knob and the fifth knob may have at least one straight side. The fifth knob abuts an outer side of the fifth toe.

A separable footwear article may comprise an outsole oriented at the bottom of the footwear and configured for ground contact, the outsole comprising a first material; an upper portion releasably coupled to the outsole with thread using chain stitching, the upper portion comprising a second material different from the first material; and an insole removeably disposed adjacent the upper portion and the outsole, the insole comprising a third material different from the first material and the second material; wherein the outsole, the upper portion, and insole are capable of being separated by releasing the thread and hand pulling the thread from the footwear article.

Disclosed is slip-on footwear with a concealable heel strap that is padded. Suitably, the padding of the padded heel strap is convertible into a pull-tab whenever the heel strap is concealed.

A convertible footwear device includes a sole having opposed toe and heel ends. The footwear device includes a Y-shaped strap assembly having a first strap portion and a second strap portion that are joined together at a post strap portion proximate the toe end. A heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the first strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to the first end of the second strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly, wherein the heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration in which the heel strap is positioned atop the first and second strap portions a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from the post assembly for use as a sandal heel strap.

A sandal with a magnetically connected upper straps uses a sandal sole, multiple strap-attachment coupler, and a removable upper to enable a user to modify the sandal's appearance. The strap-attachment couplers are fasteners which are used to attach the removable upper to the multilayered sole. To accomplish this the strap-attachment couplers includes a connector-receiving receptacle and an upper-fastening mechanism. The removable upper includes multiple strap segments, each of which is connected to a connector insert. Inserting the connector insert into the connector-receiving receptacle enables the upper-fastening mechanism to become coupled to the connector inserts, thus tethering the removable upper to the sandal sole. Additionally, the strap-attachment couplers are distributed across the insole, such that the strap-attachment couplers enable the user to create a desired type of sandal.

An orthotic support structure or shell may be used with footwear intrinsically or as a removable and transferable device. The footwear may be a sandal assembly including a sole, a strap and an orthotic shell. The strap is attached to the sole and configured to secure the sole against the foot. The orthotic shell is positioned within the sole and formed from a semi-rigid material. The orthotic shell includes a heel portion configured to support a heel region of the foot, and a midfoot portion connected to the heel portion and configured to support an arch region of the foot, the midfoot portion comprising an arched shank having a curved convex shape. The arched shank is configured to deflect under a downward force applied thereon which reactively rotates the heel portion toward the heel region of the foot.

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.