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 heel protector includes a sheet body including a heel portion and two wing portions connected to opposing left and right ends of the heel portion and facing each other, and a plurality of elastic bumps bilaterally symmetrically arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the sheet body to provide a stable elastic support effect on the heel, so as to achieve the effect of improving wearing comfort.

A shoe heel protector includes a sheet body including a heel portion and two wing portions connected to opposing left and right ends of the heel portion and facing each other, and a plurality of elastic bumps bilaterally symmetrically arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the sheet body to provide a stable elastic support effect on the heel, so as to achieve the effect of improving wearing comfort.

A shoe having a structure with excellent acceleration performance is provided. A shoe includes: a sole made of a soft material, which includes a ground contact surface and also includes a foot contact surface facing a side opposite to the ground contact surface; and an upper combined with the foot contact surface side of the sole. A thickness of the sole at a position corresponding to an MP joint of a wearer is different from a thickness of the sole at a position corresponding to the center of the heel such that an angle between the foot contact surface and the ground contact surface falls within the range of 8 to 16 degrees. Accordingly, a shoe having a structure that provides excellent feeling of acceleration is provided.

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).

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).

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

A heel counter for an article of footwear is disclosed. The heel counter includes an outer frame member and an inner elastic member. The heel counter may also include wing portions that extend up to a lacing region of the article of footwear. The wing portions may have eyelets that can be engaged by a lace. As the lace is tightened, the outer frame member is pulled forward to lock down the foot while the inner elastic member stretches and conforms to the heel to provide increased support.

A heel counter for an article of footwear is disclosed. The heel counter includes an outer frame member and an inner elastic member. The heel counter may also include wing portions that extend up to a lacing region of the article of footwear. The wing portions may have eyelets that can be engaged by a lace. As the lace is tightened, the outer frame member is pulled forward to lock down the foot while the inner elastic member stretches and conforms to the heel to provide increased support.