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.

Disclosed herein is an interchangeable strap on an opened toed footwear that includes a sole and a strap. Connected to one or more of the ends of the strap is an insert. The sole of the footwear includes housing units that are connectable to the strap inserts found on one or more strap end. The connection between the insert and the housing unit is both connectable and detachable.

A footwear construction is provided including an upper joined with a sole assembly having a dynamic strap system that extends over the upper to secure the footwear on a wearer's foot. The sole assembly includes strap channels for the strap system, which can be free-floating relative to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the upper, and a foxing band encircling a substantial portion of the upper.

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates, in various embodiments, to improved footwear in the nature of sandals, shoes, sports shoes, running and jogging shoes, civilian and military boots, work boots and work shoes, water shoes, waders, and the like, for personal use in walking on sand and other granular terrain, each item of footwear comprising a distinctively profiled outsole. A left outsole profile is defined by a first radius, and a right outsole profile is defined by a second radius. A line connecting the center of each radius passes through and defines the centers of the side profiles of the outsole. A preferred toe-out or progressive angle of approximately six degrees helps ensure that the outsole, during use, is near the widest position for optimal left and right side balance.

An article of footwear that is adjustable so as to optimize the pressure distribution and pressure equalization on the foot surfaces. The footwear is configured to adjust to a user's anatomy so as to optimize pressure distribution and equalization on the foot, where the footwear is capable of adjusting the pressure distribution on the foot substantially in real time.

A foldable footwear device may include a fore sole, having a fore upper surface and a fore lower surface, and an aft sole, having an aft upper surface and an aft lower surface. A hinge may pivotally couple the fore sole to the aft sole. The hinge may be configured to enable the fore sole and the aft sole to be moved between a planar position in which the fore upper surface and the aft upper surface may be substantially parallel and continuous with each other and a folded position in which the fore lower surface and aft lower surface may be contacting each other. A fore distal fastener may be coupled to the fore sole, and an aft distal fastener may be coupled to the aft sole. The fore distal fastener may removably engage with the aft distal fastener to secure the device in the folded position.

Embodiments provide an insole sandal and a shoe without a tongue. The insole sandal has a first surface configured to interface with a foot of a wearer; and a second surface configured to interface with a ground surface, and a bottom of an interior of a shoe. The insole sandal further has a strap configured to hold the insole to the foot of the wearer when the insole sandal is worn as a sandal. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of one another. The insole sandal is configured to fit within the interior of the shoe. The shoe is configured to receive the insole sandal in its interior. The bottom of the insole sandal and an inner sole of the shoe may have complementary protrusions and depressions.

A sandal construction configured to provide high performance in athletic, sporting and other activities not typically associated with sandals. The sandal includes a sole with an integrated sole plate and an upper with a heel cradle configured to assist in maintaining close contact between the sole and the heel of the wearer's foot during use. The heel cradle may be molded with a three-dimensional shape that is anatomically correct and is inwardly angled to extend into and assist in holding the heel down against the upper surface of the sole. The sole may include a dual-density midsole with a softer upper layer and firmer lower layer. The sole plate may be embedded in the lower layer. The sole plate may include a heel cup defining a central opening. The upper surface of the midsole may include a heel recess aligned with the heel cup and the central opening.

An athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort. The body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the Flyknit fabric used by Nike, Inc. The shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot. The interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot. A preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole. The open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.

Disclosed herein are improved cross-linked resilin compositions and methods of making these improved compositions. These include new methods of cross-linking resilin compositions, use of polar nonaqueous solvents for adjusting material properties of cross-linked resilin solid compositions, and resilin foam compositions and methods of making the same.