Sports boot including: an inner boot; an exogenous shell, the dimensions of which allow the inner boot to be inserted into or extracted from it, the exogenous shell strengthening the inner boot and allowing it to be attached to a piece of sports equipment. The exogenous shell includes a sole, a forward part of an upper able to pivot with respect to the sole about a first articulation, and a rear part of an upper which is able to pivot with respect to the sole about a second articulation. The sole includes a continuous inner relief pattern having longitudinally-extending ribs separated by longitudinally-extending grooves extending continuously along an entire length of the sole. The inner boot includes a sole with a corresponding relief pattern, so as to position laterally and vertically the inner boot in the exogenous shell.

A liner for a ski boot has a tongue with an outer substantially saddle-shaped generally stiff layer generally conforming to a dorsal surface of a foot, an inner padding layer contacting the dorsal surface and having a first and second portion. The second portion covers at least a part of a dorsalis pedis artery and is softer than the first portion. A support layer is outside the outer layer and at least partially overlaps the second portion. Also provided is a tongue for footwear having an outer substantially saddle-shaped generally stiff layer conforming to the dorsal surface, an inner padding layer contacting the dorsal surface and having a first and second portion. The second portion covers at least a part of a dorsalis pedis artery and is softer than the first portion. A support layer is outside the outer layer and at least partially overlaps the second portion.

A method for waterproofing footwear (2), the footwear (2) including an upper assembly (4) having an outer construction (6) and a sole (8), includes providing a waterproof, breathable bootie (10) having a waterproof, breathable laminate construction, the waterproof, breathable laminate construction comprising a functional layer (54) and at least one textile layer (56, 58); inserting the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) into an inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8), when the outer construction (6) and the sole (8) are in an assembled state; and fixing the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) in position in the inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8).

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

Disclosed herein are cushioning structures and methods for their manufacture. Certain aspects provide a cushioning structure comprising a plurality of unit cells formed in an array, each unit cell of the plurality of unit cells comprising one or more first walls parallel to a central plane and a first protruding structure that protrudes from the central plane, the first protruding structure forming a concave structure on a first side of the central plane and a convex structure on a second side of the central plane, the first protruding structure comprising one or more walls at a non-perpendicular angle to the central plane.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a footwear liner system including a liner portion to be worn on a foot and a releasably attachable external insole, releasably attachable to an underside of the liner. In an illustrative example, the external insole may be configured to provide arch support for the insole independent of the liner's conformability to the foot. In an illustrative example, the liner is pliable and moldable. In an illustrative example, the external insole includes a stiff arch support that is independently and releasably attachable to the liner. Various embodiments may advantageously provide an economical sports boot liner assembly with user-integratable custom insole.

A performance footwear, apparel or medical accessory product for hot, cold, and all-weather conditions, the performance footwear, apparel or medical accessory product comprised of a series of material layers having: a first layer of a breathable, moisture transfer, antimicrobial inner lining, fabric or nonwoven material or a combination of fabric or nonwoven material; a second layer comprising a breathable, moisture transfer, absorbent, antimicrobial, mechanically bonded, antimicrobial, nonwoven material comprised of shaped, channeled, grooved and lobed synthetic polymer fibers, antimicrobial silver polymer fibers and natural and synthetic, thermal and cooling fibers wherein the fiber combinations naturally provide adjustable thermal regulation; and a third exterior layer comprised of a breathable, antimicrobial woven fabric, knitted fabric, spacer fabric, nonwoven material, leather material or a combination thereof.

A method of assembling a boot is provided. The method comprises forming a first layer of insulation material of the boot covering a toe region, a saddle region, and a heel region of the boot; forming a second layer of insulation material of the boot that covers the saddle region and the toe region and does not cover the heel region of the boot; forming a third layer of insulation material that covers the toe region and does not cover the heel region and the saddle region of the boot; and attaching the first, the second, and the third layers of insulation material to an outsole of the boot.

A removable wedge for ski boots, which is adapted to be fixed in a movable manner inside a ski boot, resting on the bottom of the foot-casing of the ski boot, and is characterised in that it comprises: a platelike rigid body made of plastic material; and a piece of fabric which is embedded in the platelike rigid body in order to emerge over the lower face of the platelike rigid body, and additionally has an adhesive layer on the part that emerges outside of said platelike rigid body; the platelike rigid body being injection-moulded directly over said piece of fabric.

A system for analysis of user gait and foot disorder intended to minimize risks ulceration and limb amputation associated with the uncontrolled increase of the foot temperature in persons with diabetes. This system comprises a motion, force and temperature sensors and a processing element configured to process motion algorithms, measure ground reaction force (GRF) and changes in foot temperature embedded in the footwear insoles in communication with a smartphone based analysis application using wireless radio interface. The analysis application processes data received from the footwear sensors, compares the results with set of criteria and rules, and if any of the predefined criteria is exceeded, provides alerts to the user and the remote medical supervisor. Additionally, the insoles may be equipped with a haptic actuators configured to determine the level of the user neuropathy by measuring vibration perception threshold (VPT) level.