A43B3/242

FOOTWEAR UPPER WITH MAGNETIC HOLD OPEN FOR FOOT ENTRY
20230029743 · 2023-02-02 · ·

An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first section and a second section and may define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure, and the second section may articulate relative to the first section between an access position and a use position, the foot-receiving cavity being more exposed when the second section is in the access position. A magnetic coupling includes a first coupling member that may be operatively secured to the second section of the upper and a second coupling member may be operatively secured to the sole structure and positioned so that the first coupling member couples with the second coupling member by magnetic force when the second section is in the access position.

Footwear and method
11612217 · 2023-03-28 · ·

Comfortable, protective, durable, and lightweight footwear with minimal component parts. Both the footwear and the method of constructing the same is streamlined.

SHOES FOR BALL SPORTS

Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.

ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH REMOVABLE COVER LAYERS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR

An article of footwear may include an upper that has a plurality of discrete sections secured to one another. Each discrete section may include a base layer and a cover layer. Each cover layer may be secured to and may cover the outer side of a corresponding base layer. Each cover layer may be configured to be selectively removable from the base layer independently of each other cover layer to expose the outer side of the base layer. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear may include providing the plurality of base layers and providing the plurality of cover layers. The method may further include securing the cover layers to the base layers so that the cover layers cover the outer sides of the base layers.

Footwear adapted for local assembly and customization and for wearer adjustability
11484087 · 2022-11-01 · ·

Design for footwear in the form of a slide that is designed to be made up of several parts or components. All or a subset of these are manufactured by one or more manufacturers and provided to another party for assembly in a location that is “local” to a point of sale. The assembly of the separate or modular parts or components produces a slide that is suitable for sale to and for wear by the purchaser or end user. One or more of the parts or components provided to the assembling party is in the form of a blank that can be modified to provide local customization while other embodiments will have that customized part or component manufactured locally for later assembly. Further, the new design for slides includes one or more features that allow the end user or wearer to adjust the size and fit of each slide.

Rapid-entry footwear having a pocket for a compressed medium
11607002 · 2023-03-21 · ·

A rapid-entry shoe having an upper, a sole portion, and at least one pocket coupled to a rear portion of the upper and encapsulating a compressed medium that biases a topline of the shoe toward an uncollapsed configuration.

Article of footwear with flap strap
11596196 · 2023-03-07 · ·

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between. The upper defines a throat opening sized to receive a foot. The upper includes a main upper body and a strap coupled to the main upper body, wherein the strap extends from the midfoot region of the upper at the throat opening, down toward the heel region of the upper, wherein the strap is configured to provide stability, and the strap is configured to keep a wearer's heel contained down and back in the article of footwear.

THERMAL-INSULATING INNER-BOOT FOR MOUNTAIN BOOTS AND HIGH THERMAL-INSULATION MOUNTAIN BOOT
20230122436 · 2023-04-20 ·

A thermal-insulating inner-boot for mountain boots comprising: an upper with a thermal-insulating structure, which is shaped so as to cover the user's foot and lower part of the leg; and a plate-like insole with a thermal-insulating structure, which is arranged to close the lower opening of the upper so as to cover the sole of the user's foot; the upper being shaped substantially like an overturned funnel, and including a single-piece knitted fabric structure which has, inside itself, at least one cavity-wall and also at least one sheet/piece of soft and flexible thermal-insulating material that is stably trapped within said cavity-wall.

Article of footwear with knitted component having plurality of graduated projections

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.

ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR AND OTHER FOOT-RECEIVING DEVICES HAVING DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTABLE HEEL PORTIONS
20230148708 · 2023-05-18 ·

Articles of footwear having an upper including a dynamic fit heel portion and a main body. The dynamic fit heel portion may include a lower heel counter and an upper heel collar. The upper heel collar may define at least in part, a foot-receiving chamber. An expandable joint may be provided between the lower heel counter and the upper heel collar. A material forming the expandable joint may have a higher flexibility and a higher stretch than the lower heel counter and the upper heel collar. The lower heel counter, the upper heel collar, and the expandable joint may be configured to align with portions of a heel and ankle of a wearer so as to provide a flexible heel and ankle fit.