The present invention relates to a modular shoe (1700) in particular a sports shoe, with a sock like outer shoe (1750) and a frame (1710). The sock like outer shoe is provided for a releasable arrangement around the frame. The sock like outer shoe may comprise a plurality of profile elements (1765), wherein at least one of the profile elements extends from an outer side of the sock like outer shoe. A region of the at least one of the profile elements may be configured to releasably engage in a formfitting manner with a lower side of the frame of the modular shoe.

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.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper defines a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper is at least partially defined by a textile. The textile includes a first area that is substantially smooth. The first area defines a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity. The textile includes a second area. The second area includes a plurality of projection structures that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity at varying heights. The second area includes a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity. The plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures are in an alternating arrangement across the textile.

A shoe with a quarter portion, having an upper, a sole, and a midsole, which further includes a pair of rigid rod-like elements which are coupled rigidly to the sole and/or midsole. The shoe further includes a pair of longitudinally extended flexing springs which are deformable and elastic around the axis of the malleolus of a user who wears the shoe. The flexing springs are adapted to accumulate and return elastic mechanical energy and are integral with the pair of rigid rod-like elements. The shoe further includes a quarter portion assembly that is associated with the pair of flexing springs and is adapted to make contact with a front tibial portion and two lateral portions of the leg of the user.

A footwear upper comprises a front section and a rear section. The front section is at least partially forward of the rear section and at least partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The front section has a medial edge and a lateral edge partially defining a foot entry opening. A zipper system includes a medial slider movable along the medial edge of the front section to zip the rear section to the medial edge, a medial zipper pull engaged with the medial slider, a lateral slider movable along the lateral edge of the front section to zip the rear section to the lateral edge, and a lateral zipper pull engaged with the lateral slider. A tightening system includes a lace-receiving feature on the front section forward of the zipper system, and a lace extending through the lace-receiving feature, through the medial zipper pull, and through the lateral zipper pull.

The invention includes a shoe system including a sole having attached fasteners and interchangeable uppers having complementary fasteners. In other embodiments, the invention includes particular uppers that may be used in such a shoe system.

A system for protecting the toes comprises a pair of shoes with certain adaptations so that a removable portable element with a casing can be fitted thereto and removed therefrom easily and quickly, by means of three lower tabstwo side tabs and one front tabwhich fit to the sole of the shoe, and two strapsan inner strap and an outer strapwhich fasten to the shoe. The characteristics the shoe and removable element mean that when the removable element is fitted, it does not extend beyond the limits of the footprint, and therefore comfort and aesthetics are not compromised when the shoes are worn. The system also has the flexibility of being able to have a wide range of standardized designs per model and size, which can then be interchanged with each other in order to increase the design options for the user.

A shoe apparatus can including a base component with a sole, a strap component having a strap and a center connector, and a cover component comprising a material positioned between the base component and the strap and attached to the perimeter edge of the sole. The material has an aperture for receiving the center connector and a first opening positioned above a rearfoot portion of said sole for receiving a person's foot. The center connector is positioned through said aperture and connected to said forefoot portion of the sole. The strap component forms a second opening between the cover component and the strap for receiving a person's foot.

An article of footwear comprising a sole constructed for receiving a foot having a toe section and an ankle section with at least two loops fixedly attached to the toe section; an interchangeable upper, or several interchangeable uppers, having loops for securing the upper to the loops of the sole of the footwear; such uppers and soles attached by specialized clips adapted to facilitate a wide variety of advantages.

A shoe comprising an upper, a midsole coupled to the upper and comprising a recess proximal to a junction between the upper and the midsole, a midsole insert comprising a channel, the midsole insert configured to seat within the recess, and a shoe panel configured to detachably couple to the upper of the shoe, the shoe panel comprising a first end configured to seat within the channel of the midsole insert. The shoe panel may be a midfoot or heel panel and may be detachably coupled to the upper by a hook and loop closure. The shoe may be a slip on shoe comprising a tongue side extension that is tucked under a quarter extension to allow a midfoot panel to smoothly couple to the upper over the tongue.