Methods of forming an article of footwear using a multipart strobel structure and a resulting article of footwear comprising an upper with a transition strip are described. The transition strip that has an outer perimeter edge, an inner perimeter edge, and a width between the outer perimeter edge and the inner perimeter edge, with the inner perimeter edge defining an internal opening of the transition strip, and the inner strobel that has an outer perimeter edge. The inner strobel is positioned in an overlapping relationship with the transition strip and temporarily attached.

An article of footwear has an upper and a fastener. The upper is attached to a sole structure. The fastener includes a handle disposed within a first cavity formed at a heel end of the sole structure. The handle is operably coupled to a cable that extends along the sole structure from a heel region to a midfoot region of the footwear. When the handle is rotated, the article of footwear is tightened or loosed within the midfoot region.

An article of footwear (10) that includes a liner (30), an upper (14), and an insert (50). The liner has an inward surface (31) that encloses an inner void (18) for accommodating a foot, and an outward surface (32) that defines a rear shaft portion (38), a heel portion (36), and a sole portion (35). The upper has a midsole portion (42), and surrounds the rear shaft portion, the sole portion, and the heel portion of the liner. The insert is formed as a single body of material with increased hardness and stiffness relative to the upper. This insert is arranged between the liner and the upper, and includes a protruding portion (54), a heel counter (56), and a shank (58). The protruding portion extends upwards from the heel counter and along the rear shaft portion, and provides a guiding trajectory for a heel during insertion into the inner void.

The present invention relates to a shank adapted for being integrated into a shoe sole and for mounting a heel element, wherein said shank at its heel portion is adapted to be connected to the heel element and wherein said shank comprises an upper surface pointing towards the inner shoe. At least a part of the upper surface at the heel portion is cup-shaped and adapted for receiving sole material inside the cup when integrating said shank in said sole during moulding of said shoe sole. Thereby, due to the amount of sole material present in the heel portion, the sole material covers the means used for connecting the shank to the heel element. Thereby, based on the properties of the sole material, the heeled shoe becomes comfortable and flexible at the heel portion. The invention further relates to a sole for a shoe with a cup-shaped shank and more specifically to a shoe with a cup-shaped shank.

Methods of forming an article of footwear using a multipart strobel structure and a resulting article of footwear comprising an upper with a transition strip are described. The transition strip that has an outer perimeter edge, an inner perimeter edge, and a width between the outer perimeter edge and the inner perimeter edge, with the inner perimeter edge defining an internal opening of the transition strip, and the inner strobel that has an outer perimeter edge. The inner strobel is positioned in an overlapping relationship with the transition strip and temporarily attached.

Insole (34) for footwear, the insole (34) comprising an anterior arch support (48); and an anterior reinforcing bridge (54) having a raised section (56) for providing resistance against compression of the anterior arch support (48).

A sole having respective forefoot, midfoot and backfoot parts, which are contiguous in a longitudinal direction running from toe to heel, and including a stiffening shank extending in the longitudinal direction from toe to heel. The shank extends over a predominant portion of the longitudinal development from the backfoot part to the forefoot part, and has areas of different flexibility alternating along the longitudinal development, the flexibility of these areas being progressively variable in a substantially continuous manner between one area and the contiguous areas.

An article of footwear includes a navicular support structure on a medial side. The navicular support structure includes a non-stretch, tensioned material that reduces an interior volume of the upper of the article of footwear and redirects applied forces from the midfoot region of the article of footwear to other regions, such as the forefoot region.

A high heel shoe has an insole, an outsole, and a shank embedded between the insole and outsole, the shank comprising a heel portion with a depression to accommodate a user's heel, and a lateral ridge element in front of the heel portion that exerts pressure against the forward movement of a user's heel when worn. The shank further comprises a front portion sloping downward from the lateral ridge along the arch of the insole, which optionally is padded.