Footwear for treating and preventing foot malpositions, in particular for treating and preventing hallux valgus, comprising a holding element configured for securing a foot relative to the footwear; and a tensioning element configured to be fastened to a toe and configured, in a state in which the footwear is fastened to the foot, to exert a first corrective force on the toe and to exert a second corrective force directed opposite to the first corrective force on a metatarsophalangeal joint of the toe, wherein the tensioning element is an elastic correcting strap.

A footwear including a foot bed having an upper surface and a lower surface, the footbed having a length and a width, the footbed having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the footbed defining plural openings therethrough; an outer sole extending downward relative to the footbed, the outer sole supporting at least a portion of the footbed; the outer sole having a ground contacting surface opposite the footbed, wherein the outer sole defines a channel, the channel extending from the ground contacting surface to the footbed, wherein at least one of the plural opening communicates with the channel; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening over the footbed.

Strap systems for securing feet into articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include one or more strap members formed or engaged together in a continuous path along an upper for an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. One or more structures for applying a force to the strap member(s) is provided so as to shorten a length of the continuous path and thereby apply tension to the strap member(s). Such strap systems can be arranged so that the strap tightens during plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Additional aspects of this invention relate to bootie members for supporting such strap systems, upper members or bootie members including such strap systems, and articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices including such strap systems.

Strap systems for securing feet into articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include one or more strap members formed or engaged together in a continuous path along an upper for an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. One or more structures for applying a force to the strap member(s) is provided so as to shorten a length of the continuous path and thereby apply tension to the strap member(s). Such strap systems can be arranged so that the strap tightens during plantar flexion or dorsiflexion. Additional aspects of this invention relate to bootie members for supporting such strap systems, upper members or bootie members including such strap systems, and articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices including such strap systems.

The present invention generally relates to therapeutic footwear such as sandals, conventional shoes, and corrective inserts that may be inserted into conventional shoes. Specifically, the therapeutic footwear may be used for maintaining, correcting, or repositioning the great toe to decrease pressure on the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint or bunion. Additional therapeutic features may include spreading of the wearer's toes, supporting the wearer's arch to control excessive pronation, and providing sustained heel cord stretch at rest, during ambulation, pedicure, and before, during, or after medical treatment.

The modular shoe assembly described herein has a removable heel band. This allows a user to customize the shoe in limitless ways, as the heel bands can have any variety of colors, patterns, prints, embossments, or other ornamental decorations such as beads or pearls. The shoe assembly may be a sandal, ballet shoe, loafer, boot, or similar design.

An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.

A fastening system includes a sleeve having a cylindrical body, and one or more braking members provided on the sleeve. At least one strap is extendable through the sleeve and movable relative to the sleeve while the sleeve is braced. The one or more braking members resist movement of the at least one strap relative to the sleeve.

A customizable flip flop includes a colored sole: a quick release fastener; a thong formed as a post having a bottom portion fixedly secured to the sole, and an upper portion formed with a receptacle to releasably secure the fastener thereto; and first and second straps. A first end of each strap is secured to a respective side at the rear of the sole. A second end of each strap comprises a ring that is received upon the shaft of the fastener, to releasably secure the straps' second ends to the post. Between each of its ends, the straps may be formed as a tube. Prior to securing the rings of each strap to the post, a plurality of colored plastic loops or rubber bands are received on each strap/tube, to customize coloring of the straps as desired, and to provide added comfort to the top of the wearer's foot.

Disclosed herein are footwear and systems comprising: a sole, the sole having an insole, an outsole, and a toe portion, the toe portion being configured to separate and releasably secure a wearer's toes in a predetermined position; and an adjustable strap member attached to a portion of the sole and configured to releasably secure the sandal to a wearer's foot; and a removable cover having at least one opening defined by an edge, the removable cover being configured to releasably attach to the sandal. Also disclosed herein are method for using the disclosed footwear and systems.