An injection moulded balance footwear comprising an upper and a shoe sole which has an convex bottom profile forming an impact region in a midfoot region MR. The shoe sole comprises an outsole, a midsole connected to the outsole by injection moulding and an embedded shank which is configured to stabilise a wearer's foot. The shank has a U-shaped shank body including a U-bend portion being positioned at a heel region, a first U-leg and a second U-leg extending from the heel region through the midfoot region into a forefoot region. The shank has a bridge portion at the midfoot region which interconnects the first and second U-leg. The shank is improved in that the bridge portion protrudes below the U-shaped shank body.

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 shoe includes a base and an upper. The base is configured to contact a ground and includes a groove. The upper is configured to extend over a foot of a user. The upper includes a rail configured to be inserted into the groove to connect the upper to the base. The groove and the rail cooperatively form a detent that is configured to selectively inhibit relative movement between the rail and the groove when the rail is fully inserted into the groove.

An article of footwear can include an upper and a sole structure. The upper defines at least a portion of a foot-receiving cavity. The sole structure is coupled to the upper and includes a midfoot support member. The midfoot support member includes a lateral flange, a medial flange, a superior deck plate, and an inferior deck plate. The superior deck plate and the inferior deck plate span from the lateral flange to the medial flange. The superior deck plate and the inferior deck plate are spaced apart in a superior/inferior direction and define an opening therebetween. The opening extends unobstructed from the lateral flange to the medial flange, and the lateral flange extends farther in a superior direction than the medial flange.

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.

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 ballet pointe shoe has an upper in which a shank insert and/or an elastic loop can removably and replaceably installed without even partial deconstruction of the ballet pointe shoe. Embodiments may have an upper including a tunnel which may extend beneath a toe box, the tunnel having a mouth which is accessible via the foot compartment and by way of which a shank insert can be installed, removed or replaced. In some embodiments an elastic loop may be routed under a portion of the shank insert extending from the mouth of the tunnel. In some embodiments the tunnel may penetrate a shank body under which an elastic loop may be routed. A shank insert and/or elastic loop may be selected from sets of ones having different characteristics. In some embodiments the toe box and shank body may be included in a monolithic foot supporting structure. In some embodiments a shank insert and/or toe box may be reshaped at any time.

A device for an article of footwear includes a frame that has a footwear plate and an arced shield. The footwear plate is configured to extend at least partially along and under a sole of a wearer's foot. The arced shield is integral with the footwear plate and configured to extend transversely from the footwear plate at least partially over a superior portion of the wearer's foot.

The present invention relates to a shoe, for example a sports shoe, such as a cycling shoe including a sole, an upper constrained to the sole and an insole inserted in the upper or constrained to the open bottom of the upper.

A shoe-opening spring includes a base with a medial edge and a lateral edge, a medial spring protruding upwardly from the medial edge of the base, and a lateral edge protruding upwardly from the lateral edge of the base. When the shoe-opening spring is present within a shoe and in a relaxed arrangement, the medial spring and the lateral spring may respectively exert medially and laterally outward forces against respective medial and lateral sides of the shoe. When the medial and lateral sides of the upper of the shoe are pulled together, for example, with a closure of the shoe, the shoe-opening spring may be placed in a tensed arrangement, in which state the shoe-opening spring may remain until the closure is released.