A closable drainage system for a sole of a shoe, the closable drainage system including a drain configured to communicate between sole top and bottom surfaces of the sole, the drain having opposing drain upper and lower faces; at least one drainage aperture element disposed within the drain, the drainage aperture element defining a drainage channel which communicates between the drain upper and lower faces; and a movable member overlaying the drain upper face, the movable member movable over the drain upper face to provide open and closed conditions of the drainage channel; whereby in the open condition, the movable member disposes to allow passage through the drainage channel and correspondingly, between the sole top and bottom surfaces; and whereby in the closed condition, the movable member disposes to preclude passage through the drainage channel and correspondingly, between the sole top and bottom surfaces.

A metatarsal guard is provided which is adapted to have improved flexibility while maintaining adequate protection for the metatarsal region of a user's foot. The guard may include a flexible section spanning the width of the guard in a medial-lateral direction and comprising a pattern of perforations extending entirely or partway through the thickness of the metatarsal guard. In some aspects, the pattern of perforations may allow for expansion along the medial and lateral edges of the guard, while resisting deformation caused by outside impact.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ventilated support device and method. In some embodiments, the device comprises a first layer having a first side and a second side, a plurality of flexible support capsules disposed on the second side of the first layer, a plurality of ventholes extending from the first side to the second side of the first layer, and a plurality of vias disposed among the plurality of support capsules; wherein the first layer is sufficiently flexible to deform under an externally-applied force; wherein the plurality of support capsules comprises a plurality of flexible materials such that they force air movement through the plurality of vias. Other embodiments comprise a shoe with an integrated ventilated support device, comprising an upper and a sole; wherein the ventilated support device is disposed between the upper and the sole; and the ventilated support device comprises: a first layer, a second layer, a plurality of flexible support capsules disposed between the first layer and the second layer, and a plurality of vias interposed among the plurality of support capsules. Other embodiments comprise a method for ventilation comprising applying a force to a first layer comprising a flexible material, wherein the force is transferred from the first layer to a plurality of flexible support capsules disposed between the first layer and a second layer and deforming at least one of the plurality of flexible support capsules, thereby displacing air through a plurality of vias interspersed among the plurality of support capsules.

A shoe includes a sole, an upper, and a welt. The sole and upper define a seam. The welt overlies the seam. The sole includes flex grooves. The upper includes perforations. The welt includes flex slits.

There is provided a ventilation shoe that allows for downsizing and enables a shoe interior to be sufficiently ventilated. The ventilation shoe comprises an upper (31), a sole (32) formed by layering a plurality of sole plates, and a ventilation device configured to take the air into a shoe interior (34) and release the air out of the shoe interior (34). The ventilation device comprises an air intake passage (L1) configured to take in the air, an air release passage (L2) configured to release the air, and a pump chamber (P) configured to feed the air taken in through the air intake passage (L1) to the air release passage (L2). The sole (32) is formed by layering a plurality of sole plates. The pump chamber (P) is formed in a flat shape between the sole plates. Valve mounting apertures (152, 157) are formed in a middle sole plate that is placed vertically between other sole plates. Each check valve (V1, V2) integrated via a support member is mounted to the valve mounting aperture (152, 157).

There is provided a ventilation shoe that allows for downsizing and enables a shoe interior to be sufficiently ventilated. The ventilation shoe comprises an upper (31), a sole (32) formed by layering a plurality of sole plates, and a ventilation device configured to take the air into a shoe interior (34) and release the air out of the shoe interior (34). The ventilation device comprises an air intake passage (L1) configured to take in the air, an air release passage (L2) configured to release the air, and a pump chamber (P) configured to feed the air taken in through the air intake passage (L1) to the air release passage (L2). The sole (32) is formed by layering a plurality of sole plates. The pump chamber (P) is formed in a flat shape between the sole plates. Valve mounting apertures (152, 157) are formed in a middle sole plate that is placed vertically between other sole plates. Each check valve (V1, V2) integrated via a support member is mounted to the valve mounting aperture (152, 157).

An athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort. The body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the Flyknit fabric used by Nike, Inc. The shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot. The interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot. A preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole. The open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.

An athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort. The body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the Flyknit fabric used by Nike, Inc. The shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot. The interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot. A preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole. The open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.

A bonded mesh composite panel can be used to form a three-dimensional upper shell that includes extensions used for double-lasting and/or to otherwise provide a shelf to support foam padding. The foam padding may be, e.g., a foam midsole. The extensions of the upper shell may be located in a lower portion of the shell and may be bonded to the foam midsole in a heel, midfoot and/or forefoot regions.

A holistically improved shoe that incorporates beneficial aspects relating to a variety of interconnected elements, including comfort, sustainability, washability, ease of manufacturing, style, freedom and natural movement of the foot, as well as the sensory experience of a user. The shoe contains a removable insert that is configured to be removed and washed in between uses or as needed, such that a sock or other liner is unnecessary. The shoe further includes a footbed and an outsole that contain matching tread patterns. The matching tread patterns of the present technology allow the footbed and the outsole to move in concert by splaying during a stride in order to better absorb shock by mimicking the natural movements of the foot.