The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear effective to regulate the temperature of the feet of a wearer. In an embodiment, the article of footwear includes an upper and an insole with a thermal effect membrane. The thermal effect membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. The bottom of the sole structure of the article of footwear further includes a multiple openings in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions. The multiple openings promote airflow into the interior of the upper. In operation, the article of footwear is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to footwear lacking the membrane and/or openings), increasing wearer comfort.

The present invention discloses the flooRunner assembly which is easy to slip on and provide comfort and support during physical activities, without the use of any external support. The assembly consists of multiple parts which includes soft resilient material, rubber insole, primary backing fabric, secondary backing fabric, outside threading and nylon pile to provide maximum support, ventilation and protection of feet during any ambulatory activities, such as walking and running.

The present invention discloses the flooRunner assembly which is easy to slip on and provide comfort and support during physical activities, without the use of any external support. The assembly consists of multiple parts which includes soft resilient material, rubber insole, primary backing fabric, secondary backing fabric, outside threading and nylon pile to provide maximum support, ventilation and protection of feet during any ambulatory activities, such as walking and running.

An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction with varying stitch configurations. The upper may also incorporate longitudinal ribs extending along the lateral and/or medial sides of the upper. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.

A last for forming an upper of an article of footwear includes an exterior surface, where the exterior surface includes a plurality of three dimensional structural surface components disposed over at least 50% of the exterior surface of the last.

A compressible footwear that may include a compressible sole and a compressible upper part that is mechanically coupled to the compressible sole. The compressible sole consisting essentially of multiple compressible cells that are made of a flexible material and have top openings and bottom openings. The multiple compressible cells span over at least a majority of the compressible sole and are configured to undergo a compression while substantially maintaining a thickness of the compressible sole.

An article of footwear comprises an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a side portion that has a first material composition at an exterior surface of the side portion. The exterior surface has a first coefficient of friction. The sole structure has a second material composition at an exterior surface of the sole structure that underlies the side portion of the upper. The exterior surface of the sole structure has a second coefficient of friction. The first coefficient of friction is substantially equal to the second coefficient of friction.

An article of footwear comprises an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a side portion that has a first material composition at an exterior surface of the side portion. The exterior surface has a first coefficient of friction. The sole structure has a second material composition at an exterior surface of the sole structure that underlies the side portion of the upper. The exterior surface of the sole structure has a second coefficient of friction. The first coefficient of friction is substantially equal to the second coefficient of friction.

Systems and devices are described for creating a more effective mechanical ventilation system for footwear. For example, a mechanical ventilation system can include an air reservoir that is almost as large as the entire shoe under the footwear's foot bed. In some examples, the air reservoir can be connected to an area that includes a foot of a user in the footwear. The air reservoir can be compressed using a movable part that circulates air in the footwear with every step. The movable part can be relatively small, extending into the air reservoir, and able to compress and inflate the air reservoir. Movement of the movable part can cause a large effective compressible area of the air reservoir to release fresh air near the toes of a foot to flush stale air out of the footwear.

The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear effective to regulate the temperature of the feet of a wearer. In an embodiment, the article of footwear includes an upper and an insole with a thermal effect membrane. The thermal effect membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. The bottom of the sole structure of the article of footwear further includes a multiple openings in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions. The multiple openings promote airflow into the interior of the upper. In operation, the article of footwear is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to footwear lacking the membrane and/or openings), increasing wearer comfort.