An article of footwear has a sole with a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion. The sole has a ground-facing side and a foot-facing side opposite the ground-facing side. The article of footwear includes a support system that has one or more rods spaced from the sole and extending longitudinally from the forefoot portion to the heel portion on the foot-facing side. The rod is operatively connected to the sole at the forefoot portion and at the heel portion. A sling is suspended from the rod over the midfoot portion. The rod bends when the sole is flexed to thereby lift the sling away from the sole.

The present invention relates to an item of footwear comprising a sole with an upper surface having a concave rear portion and a forward portion that is flat in the lateral direction. An item of footwear comprises: a securing means for securing the item of footwear to a foot of a wearer; and a sole having an upper surface that in use contacts the foot of a user, wherein: the upper surface has a first portion (7) and a second portion (6), the first portion (7) located forwardly of the second portion (6); the upper surface is substantially flat in the lateral direction in the first portion (7); and the upper surface is concave in the lateral direction in the second portion (6).

The present invention relates to an item of footwear comprising a sole with an upper surface having a concave rear portion and a forward portion that is flat in the lateral direction. An item of footwear comprises: a securing means for securing the item of footwear to a foot of a wearer; and a sole having an upper surface that in use contacts the foot of a user, wherein: the upper surface has a first portion (7) and a second portion (6), the first portion (7) located forwardly of the second portion (6); the upper surface is substantially flat in the lateral direction in the first portion (7); and the upper surface is concave in the lateral direction in the second portion (6).

A method for selecting size of an orthotic for a foot is described, where the method comprises collecting certain measurements for a foot, such as a length corresponding to a distance from a proximal point of the heel to a base of a metatarsal head and, optionally, a width w corresponding to a distance from the medial edge of the foot at approximately the base of the first metatarsal head to the lateral edge of the foot at approximately the base of the fifth metatarsal head, and, optionally, a height h corresponding to the height of the lateral foot arch relative to ground. The height h is measured, in some cases, with the foot in an adjusted or restored condition. The measurements are used to recommend or to select a size of an orthotic product.

A method for selecting size of an orthotic for a foot is described, where the method comprises collecting certain measurements for a foot, such as a length corresponding to a distance from a proximal point of the heel to a base of a metatarsal head and, optionally, a width w corresponding to a distance from the medial edge of the foot at approximately the base of the first metatarsal head to the lateral edge of the foot at approximately the base of the fifth metatarsal head, and, optionally, a height h corresponding to the height of the lateral foot arch relative to ground. The height h is measured, in some cases, with the foot in an adjusted or restored condition. The measurements are used to recommend or to select a size of an orthotic product.

A footwear construction including a support cage that wraps an upper to provide an adaptive fit to accommodate a variety of foot shapes and to adapt to changes in foot shape during a gait cycle, while providing exceptional stability and support. The footwear can include an upper, a support cage and a sole assembly. The upper can be joined with the sole assembly and can include an exterior. The sole assembly can define a recess extending across a width of the sole assembly from a medial side to a lateral side. The support cage can be constructed from a semi-rigid but flexible polymeric material, disposed over the exterior of the upper and free floating relative to the exterior of the upper. The support cage can include a sole bridge that extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the footwear, through the recess defined by the sole assembly.

A footwear construction including a support cage that wraps an upper to provide an adaptive fit to accommodate a variety of foot shapes and to adapt to changes in foot shape during a gait cycle, while providing exceptional stability and support. The footwear can include an upper, a support cage and a sole assembly. The upper can be joined with the sole assembly and can include an exterior. The sole assembly can define a recess extending across a width of the sole assembly from a medial side to a lateral side. The support cage can be constructed from a semi-rigid but flexible polymeric material, disposed over the exterior of the upper and free floating relative to the exterior of the upper. The support cage can include a sole bridge that extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the footwear, through the recess defined by the sole assembly.

The invention relates to a device and to a method for producing a shell (2) of a ski boot (1) that in some areas is adapted to a foot, or a leg, of a user, comprising a lower and/or upper shell part (3, 3) made of a plastic material, and a heating element (10) for sectionally heating the lower and/or upper shell part (3, 3) above the softening temperature of the plastic material. The heating element (10) has an outer adhesion-promoting layer (11) for connecting the heating element (10) to one of the shell parts (3, 3) of the ski boot (1).

The invention relates to a device and to a method for producing a shell (2) of a ski boot (1) that in some areas is adapted to a foot, or a leg, of a user, comprising a lower and/or upper shell part (3, 3) made of a plastic material, and a heating element (10) for sectionally heating the lower and/or upper shell part (3, 3) above the softening temperature of the plastic material. The heating element (10) has an outer adhesion-promoting layer (11) for connecting the heating element (10) to one of the shell parts (3, 3) of the ski boot (1).

An insole of an embodiment of the disclosed technology is formed by way of taking an insole of an existing shoe (or footwear), tracing the existing insole on to a flat sheet of material, and cutting out a new insole in the same shape (side edge dimensions) as the original or substantially there-so. The material is resilient but can be made malleable at a higher temperature using such materials known in the art. It is raised to a higher temperature, then placed into the existing shoe on top of or in place of the existing insole. A person then wears the shoe with the new (hot) insole causing the insole to compress. Upon cooling and while still wearing same, the insole retains a new compressed shape formed to bottom contours of the foot of the wearer.