A method of customizing the sole structure of an article of footwear includes providing a sole structure with a sole component having an inner surface and an opposite-facing outer surface. The sole component includes a plurality of inner recesses extending from the inner surface and a plurality of outer recesses extending from the outer surface, the plurality of inner recesses include a blind-hole inner recess, the plurality of outer recesses include a blind-hole outer recess, and the blind-hole inner recess is generally aligned with the blind hole outer recess along a vertical direction. The plurality of inner recesses and the plurality of outer recesses provide the sole component with an auxetic structure. The method further includes adjusting the flexibility of the sole component by selectively cutting or removing material from one or both of the blind-hole inner recess and the blind-hole outer recess.

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.

A sandal with a magnetically connected upper straps uses a multilayered 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 multilayered 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.

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.

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

An article of footwear has an auxetic sole structure formed from members surrounding apertures. The members may have a trapezoidal geometry. Adjoining members are hingedly connected, so that they can rotate with respect to each other in the plane of the sole structure. The rotation allows the auxetic sole structure to expand when tension is applied.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure with a midsole component and an inner sole component. The midsole component includes holes arranged in an auxetic configuration. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different density. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different compressibility.

An article of footwear includes a midsole component and an outer sole member. The midsole component has an inner surface and an outer surface, and including a plurality of holes extending from the outer surface. The plurality of holes are arranged to provide the midsole component with an auxetic configuration. The plurality of holes includes a plurality of through holes, each extending through the midsole component and through both the inner surface and the outer surface, and at least one blind hole. The outer sole member is affixed to the midsole component and includes a blind hole extending from the outer surface.

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.

Shoes and/or shoe elements facilitate natural foot motion and/or reduce forces tending to fight natural foot motion. In at least some such structures, a wearer's heel is secured to the hindfoot region of a shoe (e.g., by a strap system) in a manner that permits heel/forefoot rotation and that allows the lower leg to remain straight. In other structures, a shoe can include a heel supporting component that is separate from a midsole component, and this heel supporting component can move toward the lateral side and/or medial side of the shoe along an interface between the heel supporting component and the midsole component. Other suitable shoe and shoe component structures also are described.