A portable inflation device of the present application includes an inflation pump body, an upper casing, a middle casing, a lower casing, a resilient component, and a resilient ventilation plug. The upper casing and the middle casing respectively seal two ends of the inflation pump body, and an air chamber is defined thereamong. An accommodating chamber is defined between the middle casing and the lower casing disposed outside the air chamber. An intake hole, a first ventilation hole and an exhaustion hole are respectively formed on the upper casing, the middle casing and the lower casing. The resilient ventilation plug disposed inside the accommodating chamber includes a perforated foam positioned between the first ventilation hole and the exhaustion hole and an sealing layer covering a surface of the perforated foam facing towards the first ventilation hole. The inflation device is small in volume, collapsible, portable, and easy to operate.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear includes a control bar having a center segment, a medial side arm extending from the center segment, and a lateral side arm spaced from the medial side arm and extending from the center segment. The device may include an extension extending toward the control bar. At least a portion of the control bar may be elastically deformable under an applied force depressing the control bar toward the extension, and the extension may limit movement of the control bar. The control bar may be adapted to return to an unloaded position upon removal of the applied force.

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

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.

A sole body has an upper midsole made of an elastic material, staked over an upper side of a lower midsole, and having, on an upper surface thereof, a planta support surface. The upper midsole has a first recess recessed from the planta support surface in a downward direction and having a bottom, and a second recess recessed from a lower surface of the upper midsole toward the planta support surface, and having a bottom. The first and second recesses are alternately and continuously formed in the width direction of the foot.

A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements having constructed to have a memory of a native position, magnetic elements, and/or elastic elements

A footwear article includes an asymmetric ankle collar that may expand in a manner that facilitates donning and doffing the footwear article, such as when the wearer slides his or her heel out of the footwear article. The footwear article may also include a collar elevator.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.