Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include a midfoot flex component, such as a bi-stable spring element, that moves the article of footwear/sole structure/foot support component/midfoot flex component between an open position/foot insertion or removal configuration and a closed position/foot supporting configuration and vice versa.

A shoe comprises an upper and a sole. The sole includes: a midsole covering a lower surface of the upper, the midsole having an external surface having a facing region facing the upper and a non-facing region excluding the facing region; and an additional sole material covering a portion of the non-facing region. The midsole is provided with a notch reaching both the facing region and the non-facing region. The additional sole material has a body portion stuck to the non-facing region, a bonding portion stuck to both the upper and the midsole to bond them together, and an embedded portion embedded in the notch of the midsole. The body portion and the bonding portion are connected together via the embedded portion and thus integrated together such that the body portion and the bonding portion are spaced from each other in a thickness-wise direction of the midsole.

A shoe comprises an upper and a sole. The sole includes: a midsole covering a lower surface of the upper, the midsole having an external surface having a facing region facing the upper and a non-facing region excluding the facing region; and an additional sole material covering a portion of the non-facing region. The midsole is provided with a notch reaching both the facing region and the non-facing region. The additional sole material has a body portion stuck to the non-facing region, a bonding portion stuck to both the upper and the midsole to bond them together, and an embedded portion embedded in the notch of the midsole. The body portion and the bonding portion are connected together via the embedded portion and thus integrated together such that the body portion and the bonding portion are spaced from each other in a thickness-wise direction of the midsole.

A sole assembly for an article of footwear includes a midsole that is formed from at least a bladder and foam midsole component. The midsole has a ground facing surface and a sidewall, and the bladder meets the foam midsole at a component boundary on the sidewall. An etching extends into both the foam midsole and the bladder. The etched channel has a depth into the sidewall of between about 2 μm and about 1000 μm and continuously extends across the component boundary.

The present invention discloses a safer sole against slippage while worn wet, and one which is pleasant to wear, practical to use, and economical to manufacture. The invention discloses a footwear sole through an innovative means of allowing water to clear from a foot, and under a footwear. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide for an aerating sole via open through and through channels for improving foot hygiene while maintaining the safety of a foot from being poked or pricked if stepping on pointy objects.

The present invention discloses a safer sole against slippage while worn wet, and one which is pleasant to wear, practical to use, and economical to manufacture. The invention discloses a footwear sole through an innovative means of allowing water to clear from a foot, and under a footwear. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide for an aerating sole via open through and through channels for improving foot hygiene while maintaining the safety of a foot from being poked or pricked if stepping on pointy objects.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a closure mechanism. The upper has an opening at least partially located between a first and second portions of the upper. The opening is adjustable between open and closed configurations. The closure mechanism is moveable between unlocked and locked positions and includes a locking element coupled to the first portion of the upper and a projection coupled to the second portion of the upper. The projection is moveable in a first direction relative to the locking element to engage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the locked position and moving the upper to the closed configuration. The projection is moveable in the first direction relative to the locking element to disengage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the unlocked position and allowing the upper to return to the open configuration.

The invention relates to a sole device (10) for shoes, in particular for ballet shoes, comprising: a backbone sole (12) having a plurality of vertebral bodies (14), which are connected to one another by joint portions (16); and intermediate spaces (18) between the vertebral bodies (14), which intermediate spaces are associated with the joint portions (16), the sole device also comprising a plurality of sticks (20) for inserting into the intermediate spaces (18). According to the invention, at least two of the plurality of sticks (20) have different thicknesses and/or cross-sections and at least one of the intermediate spaces (18) is designed to alternatively receive sticks (20) having different thickness and/or cross-sections.

The invention relates to a sole device (10) for shoes, in particular for ballet shoes, comprising: a backbone sole (12) having a plurality of vertebral bodies (14), which are connected to one another by joint portions (16); and intermediate spaces (18) between the vertebral bodies (14), which intermediate spaces are associated with the joint portions (16), the sole device also comprising a plurality of sticks (20) for inserting into the intermediate spaces (18). According to the invention, at least two of the plurality of sticks (20) have different thicknesses and/or cross-sections and at least one of the intermediate spaces (18) is designed to alternatively receive sticks (20) having different thickness and/or cross-sections.

A variable friction shoe includes a midsole and an outsole. The outsole includes at least a first high-friction surface and at least a first low-friction surface, wherein the first low-friction surface remains prominent if vertical ground reaction forces (GRFs) are low and wherein the high-friction surface is prominent in response to increasing GRFs.