A shoe, in particular a sports shoe, having a sole connected to a shoe upper. The sole includes: a first sole part having a bottom plate arranged with a number of first damping elements; a second sole part having a cover plate arranged with a number of second damping elements; a connecting part having a number of interconnected plug connections. Each plug connection has a first plug directed downward and a second plug directed upward. The first plug engages in a section of the first damping element, and the second plug engages in a section of the second damping element. At least a number of the first plugs extends through an opening in the bottom plate so that, when the sole is deformed by the weight of the wearer, the first plug protrudes from the lower surface of the sole further than without application of the weight of the wearer.

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.

An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.

An article of footwear has a sole including a toe portion and a heel portion, a toe bumper disposed on the toe portion, the toe bumper being configured to contact a ball, and a heel bumper disposed on the heel portion, the heel bumper being configured to contact the ball, wherein at least one of the toe bumper and the heel bumper has an asymmetric shape.

An article, such as an article of footwear or an article of apparel, includes an upper having a gradient-like coloring pattern. The article further includes protruding elements configured in a pattern that corresponds to the coloring pattern. The article may have a layered structure including a base layer, a coloring ink layer and a layer of protruding elements.

An sports shoe that changes shape in two ways. Firstly, a change of shape occurs when the sports shoe is used to kick a ball with the toes. This change of shape maximizes the area of contact with a ball that is kicked with the toes. Secondly, a change of shape occurs when the front of the sports shoe rotates during contact with a kicked ball.

An article of sports footwear that changes shape in two ways. Firstly, a change of shape occurs when such footwear is used to kick a ball with the toes. This change of shape maximizes the area of contact with a ball that is kicked with the toes. Secondly, a change of shape occurs when the article of sports footwear bends during running. This change of shape shortens the entire length of the article of sports footwear in order to prevent tripping. A flexible toe cap encases the foot and parts of a traditional article of footwear and attaches at or near the tarsometatarsal joint of a wearer.

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 flexible insert for a sports shoe for kicking a ball which self activates upon the strike of a ball to deform in a manner that conforms to the struck curvature surface of the ball to assist in conforming the shoe surface material to the same struck area of the ball and increase the wearers' control and accuracy of the kicked ball. Following the strike the flexible insert reforms to its original shape and structure for the next strike.

An article of sports footwear that changes shape in two ways. Firstly, a change of shape occurs when such footwear is used to kick a ball with the toes. This change of shape maximizes the area of contact with a ball that is kicked with the toes. Secondly, a change of shape occurs when the article of sports footwear bends during running. This change of shape shortens the entire length of the article of sports footwear in order to prevent tripping. A flexible toe cap encases the foot and parts of a traditional article of footwear and attaches at or near the tarsometatarsal joint of a wearer.