An improved running shoe in which the laces, rather than lacing over the tongue of the shoe, are laced and tied in the rear, over the heel structured and arranged to thereby provide a snug-fit upon a wearer's foot.

An improved running shoe in which the laces, rather than lacing over the tongue of the shoe, are laced and tied in the rear, over the heel structured and arranged to thereby provide a snug-fit upon a wearer's foot.

An outsole for an article of footwear includes a support member and a comfort member. The support member includes a body defining a forepart aperture and a backpart aperture. The comfort member is supported by the support member and positioned within the forepart aperture and the backpart aperture. A method of assembling an article of footwear includes positioning a forepart of a comfort member within a forepart aperture defined by a forepart of a support member of an outsole for the article of footwear, positioning a backpart of the comfort member within a backpart aperture defined by a backpart of the support member, and securing the comfort member relative to the support member.

Articles of footwear having both interior and exterior midsole components may include: (a) an upper that at least in part defines an interior chamber; (b) an interior midsole component within the interior chamber, wherein, at a forefoot region, the interior midsole component includes a longitudinal flexion line and a plurality of transverse flexion lines; and (c) an exterior sole structure engaged with the upper. This exterior sole structure may include: (a) an exterior midsole component in a heel region of the article of footwear that does not extend under the forefoot region of the article of footwear and (b) an outsole component that extends under the forefoot region. If desired, the outsole component may extend under the exterior midsole component in the rearfoot region. The interior midsole component may include a plurality of pod elements separated from one another by the flexion lines.

A shock absorbent heel for a shoe includes: a heel seat portion configured so as to have a top surface configured to be attachable to a bottom portion of a shoe upper; a mid-heel portion formed of a cushioning material; a bottom heel portion, the mid heel portion being sandwiched between the heel seat portion and the bottom heel portion when the shock absorbent heel is in an assembled state; and a dowel. The dowel is arranged in a vertically extending dowel chamber in the shock absorbent heel. The dowel is configured to pass along vertically shocks caused by contact of the shock absorbent heel with the ground so that at least a portion of the shock is absorbed by the cushioning material of the mid heel portion.

A shock absorbent heel for a shoe includes: a heel seat portion configured so as to have a top surface configured to be attachable to a bottom portion of a shoe upper; a mid-heel portion formed of a cushioning material; a bottom heel portion, the mid heel portion being sandwiched between the heel seat portion and the bottom heel portion when the shock absorbent heel is in an assembled state; and a dowel. The dowel is arranged in a vertically extending dowel chamber in the shock absorbent heel. The dowel is configured to pass along vertically shocks caused by contact of the shock absorbent heel with the ground so that at least a portion of the shock is absorbed by the cushioning material of the mid heel portion.

A high heel footwear including a heel tip assembly and a heel assembly. The heel tip assembly includes a top lift abutting against the heel, a rigid shaft member having a threaded portion, and a first wedge-lock feature configured to prevent the top lift from rotating. The heel assembly includes a threaded insert, a spring, a hollow insert, and a second wedge-lock feature. The threaded insert is received inside an opening formed in the heel to receive the threaded portion of the rigid shaft member. The spring is also received inside the opening and abuts against the threaded insert. The hollow insert abuts against the spring. The rigid shaft member passes through the threaded insert, the spring, and the hollow insert. The second wedge-lock feature locks with the first wedge-lock feature to retain the top lift on the end of the heel.

A high heel footwear including a heel tip assembly and a heel assembly. The heel tip assembly includes a top lift abutting against the heel, a rigid shaft member having a threaded portion, and a first wedge-lock feature configured to prevent the top lift from rotating. The heel assembly includes a threaded insert, a spring, a hollow insert, and a second wedge-lock feature. The threaded insert is received inside an opening formed in the heel to receive the threaded portion of the rigid shaft member. The spring is also received inside the opening and abuts against the threaded insert. The hollow insert abuts against the spring. The rigid shaft member passes through the threaded insert, the spring, and the hollow insert. The second wedge-lock feature locks with the first wedge-lock feature to retain the top lift on the end of the heel.