The present invention provides an item of footwear. It is desired to provide an item of footwear (100) which provides an attractive appearance whilst maintaining the comfort of the user. It is particularly advantageous to deliver a thinner item of footwear (100), which still maintains the comfort of a thicker item. An item of footwear (100) comprises a securing means for securing the item of footwear (100) to a foot of a user; and a sole for engaging a foot of a user in use, the sole having a heel region (20) for supporting the heel of a wearer in use and a forward region (30) for supporting the forefoot of a wearer in use, wherein: the sole (1) has a raised protrusion (22) forming the upper surface (2) in a first portion of the heel region (20).

Methods of using a foot device are disclosed herein. The foot device includes a generally U-shaped portion having an arcuate portion and first and second legs extending from the arcuate portion. Each leg has an end and a relief area disposed adjacent the respective end. A method of using the foot device comprises engaging the arcuate portion with a heel of a foot to form a first point of contact; positioning the relief area of the first leg proximate a fifth metatarsal head of the foot such that the fifth metatarsal head drops to form a second point of contact; and positioning the relief area of the second leg proximate a first metatarsal head of the foot such that the first metatarsal head drops to form a third point of contact, wherein the first, second, and third points of contact form a triangle-shaped contact surface.

An orthopedic walking boot includes a housing configured to encompass at least a user's foot, a mechanically adjustable ramp insert including a ramp surface and disposed in the housing, and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust an elevation angle of the ramp surface. The mechanically adjustable ramp insert includes a base, a threaded shaft secured to the adjusting mechanism at a first end and configured to rotate with the adjusting mechanism, a first slider nut including internal threads, a bracket in physical contact with the ramp surface, a first support coupled to the first slider nut at a first end and to the bracket at a second end, and a second support coupled to the base at a first end and to the bracket at a second end.

An orthopedic walking boot includes a housing configured to encompass at least a user's foot, a mechanically adjustable ramp insert including a ramp surface and disposed in the housing, and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust an elevation angle of the ramp surface. The mechanically adjustable ramp insert includes a base, a threaded shaft secured to the adjusting mechanism at a first end and configured to rotate with the adjusting mechanism, a first slider nut including internal threads, a bracket in physical contact with the ramp surface, a first support coupled to the first slider nut at a first end and to the bracket at a second end, and a second support coupled to the base at a first end and to the bracket at a second end.

A sole of a shoe includes a sole body and a plurality of lower protrusions and a plurality of upper protrusions arranged at least in positions each corresponding to a forefoot in the sole body. The sole body is configured such that hardness of a portion corresponding to a midfoot is higher than hardness of a portion corresponding to the forefoot.

A foot engagement device includes a generally U-shaped portion having an inner edge, an outer wall, and a tapered upper surface extending from the inner edge to the outer wall. The upper surface tapers between 1 degree and 45 degrees from the inner edge to the outer wall.

A sports shoe includes an instep and a rigid outer sole, the sole having a front portion including a first plurality of studs, a central portion, and a rear portion including a second plurality of studs. The rear portion includes a thickened portion with a flat outer surface on which the second plurality of studs is located, the thickened portion raising the rear portion relative to the front portion; the central portion includes an inwardly curved outer profile.

A sports shoe includes an instep and a rigid outer sole, the sole having a front portion including a first plurality of studs, a central portion, and a rear portion including a second plurality of studs. The rear portion includes a thickened portion with a flat outer surface on which the second plurality of studs is located, the thickened portion raising the rear portion relative to the front portion; the central portion includes an inwardly curved outer profile.

An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.

An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.