The invention relates to an insole (100) for shoes with a base material, which comprises a sole surface (102) facing the shoe and an opposite foot surface facing the foot, wherein a coating (112) is provided on the sole surface (102), which provides the sole surface (102) of the insole (100) with an increased frictional force with respect to the uncoated sole surface (102), characterised in that the coating (112) is formed from a plurality of individual patterns (120) formed from coating lines (114), which are discrete from one another and are arranged in such a way that they cannot be formed by one or more continuous coating lines (114) miming continuously from a first side (122a) of the sole surface (102) to an opposite second side (122b) of the sole surface (102).

Disclosed herein are various methods and devices for modifying the comfort and performance characteristics of a shoe. In various embodiments, the devices are soles, insole or outsoles, of a shoe comprising one or more shocks. The shocks may be defined by shock cavities positioned within one or more surfaces of a sole. In some embodiments the shock cavity may be configured to receive one or more shock cavity inserts.

A forefoot orthotic device has multiple regions configured so that impact, propulsive or standing forces experienced by the forefoot of the user are accelerated, decelerated, shifted, transferred, or lessened, so as to promote pain reduction or otherwise address or treat conditions of the forefoot. In one implementation, the device includes expanded areas adapted to underlie the first and fifth metatarsal heads and cushion or offload forces therefrom. In still other variations, the device includes a plateau and regions adjacent the plateau and sloping downwardly therefrom, so that the time during which painful regions of the forefoot experience force, such as during gait or standing, is lessened in favor of transferring such forces to adjacent regions which potentially are less in need of treatment or protection from such forces.

When dancing en pointe, the wearer's weight is typically supported by their toes. Pointe shoes, including a shank and a toe box, are worn to support the wearer's toes. However, the wearer's weight is mainly supported by their toes when dancing en pointe. A pointe shoe (100) is provided including a two-part fastener (110, 210) for adhering the wearer's heel and/or arch region of their foot to the shank (130) of the pointe shoe. In this way, when dancing en pointe, at least some of the wearer's weight is transferred to the toe box via the two-part fastener and the shank, such that pressure on their toes (320) is reduced.

Disclosed in an embodiment is a pressure detection sensor comprising: an elastic layer including a hole; and an electrode layer including a plurality of electrodes arranged on the elastic layer so as to be spaced apart, wherein the elastic layer includes a variable member arranged in the hole, the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected to each other by outside pressure, and at least one of the plurality of electrodes covers a part of the hole.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a unitary sole with a first cushioning body having a first hardness and a second cushioning having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and the second cushioning bodies are exposed at a periphery of the sole. The second cushioning body may have a wedge surface that interfaces with a lateral extremity of the first cushioning body and angles laterally outward toward a lateral side exterior surface of the sole from a lower extent to an upper extent of the wedge surface. The second cushioning body may underlie the first cushioning body in a portion of a forefoot region of the sole such that the first cushioning body establishes a foot-facing exterior surface and the second cushioning body establishes a ground-facing exterior surface of the sole where the first cushioning body overlies the second cushioning body.

A removable wedge for ski boots, which is adapted to be fixed in a movable manner inside a ski boot, resting on the bottom of the foot-casing of the ski boot, and is characterised in that it comprises: a platelike rigid body made of plastic material; and a piece of fabric which is embedded in the platelike rigid body in order to emerge over the lower face of the platelike rigid body, and additionally has an adhesive layer on the part that emerges outside of said platelike rigid body; the platelike rigid body being injection-moulded directly over said piece of fabric.

An insulating shoe insert including a core layer formed of a cellular material, and a top layer and a bottom layer bonded to opposing sides of the core layer, respectively, the top layer and the bottom layer being configured as thin sheets of aromatic polyamide material such that the top layer and bottom layer cooperate with the core layer to create a heat transfer resistance sufficient to resist transfer of heat through the core layer.

Systems and methods for forming a custom fitted shoe insole. The method includes placing a shoe insole template plate proximate a heating element that heats the shoe insole template plate to a temperature sufficient to make it deformable. The method further includes placing the sufficiently heated shoe insole template plate onto a foam structure, placing a foot of a user on the heated shoe insole template plate, and applying foot pressure to the heated shoe insole template plate, causing it to deform to match a topology of the sole of the user's foot. The shoe insole template plate is then removed from the foam structure, cooled and hardened, and inserted into a shoe as the custom fitted shoe insole.

A protective plate for footwear provides protection that is flexible. A protective plate may include a forefoot plate having a ball, middle and lateral section that are configured to move and flex to enable a better feel on uneven terrain. A protective plate may extend from the forefoot to the heel and include a midfoot protective plate and a heel protective plate. Sections of the protective plate are hinged or separated to allow for a greater degree of independent movement of the three main groups of muscles and bones in the forefoot in response to walking, hiking and running on various terrain. A separate insole is described that incorporates the forefoot protection plate and that can be inserted into and removed from footwear in order to provide additional protection as needed. A shoe including outer-sole, midsole and upper, are also described having a flexible protective plate.