Provided is a self-fitting and automatically adjustable footwear wherein the shoe upper and/or shoe tongue have or are attached to a shape memory material (‘SMM”). Upon stimulation, the SMM deforms and brings the footwear to self-assemble about a foot, which further brings two clasp members close to each other and facilitates the clasp thereof to form a self-assembled and closed footwear. The clasp members may be integrated with straps or shoelaces, and optionally SMM. The footwear may include a motor, a control unit, and sensors which enable a motor-actuated fine tensioning of the footwear. A push button to enable manual opening of the footwear may be affixed on the footwear or removably attached to multiple surfaces/locations. The entire assembly generates data transmittable to health care providers and other data trackers. The footwear may include a battery, which may be charged by placing the footwear on a charge dock station.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for closure of footwear. According to an example embodiment, an article of footwear that automatically secures to a user's foot includes a sole and a closure mechanism with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the closure mechanism is attached to the sole. The second portion extends away from the sole. Deformation of a surface of the closure mechanism actuates the closure mechanism such that it automatically moves from a first stable position to a second stable position. In the second stable position, the closure mechanism conforms to and applies a force to at least one of an upper surface of the article of footwear and an upper surface of a foot of a user of the article of footwear.

An article of footwear has an upper with multiple components. The upper includes a fastening system, a shield, and a tongue. The shield and the tongue are each attached to the upper. The shield and the tongue may be readily moved to facilitate entry of a foot into the article of footwear, or exit of a foot from the article of footwear.

The present invention provides a modular shoe adapted to be configured by a wearer comprises: a sole capable of receiving a shoe upper for arrangement over a wearer's foot by at least one channel. In this way the wearer is able to configure multiple shoe arrangements by use of modular parts that are interchangeable to create customised shoes that are lighter and can be packed away smaller than traditional shoes.

A closure system including a body for receiving an object. An activation device is connected to a base structure, and is activated by placement of the object within the closure system. The activation device operates between a raised or depressed configuration, depending on the position of the object within the closure system. A tightening mechanism is responsive to the operation of the activation device. When the activation device is in the raised configuration, the tightening mechanism is loose. When the user depresses the activation device, the tightening mechanism tightens around the object. A movable displacer in a locking device for locking the configuration of the closure system and removably insertable into a recess helps better control tension within the tightening mechanism and improves comfort by disengaging the activation device from the tightening mechanism. A lace lock for locking a lace is disclosed. A lace tension distributor is also disclosed.

A protective shoe cover includes a shoe-shaped main body that is constructed from two complementary shaped sides that form a toe section, a heel section, and an ankle section which define a hollow interior space. Each of the two sides are removably secured together along the back end of the main body via a fastener which extends between the heel section and the ankle opening. A bottom opening is positioned along the bottom end of the main body for receiving the outsole of an inserted shoe, and a plurality of ledges extend along the bottom opening to engage the outsole and secure the same within the protective cover.

An article of footwear includes a sole, an upper defining a foot cavity, and a brace member. The brace member is comprised of a non-elastic resilient material. The brace member is positioned within a pocket in the upper and extends from a heel portion to above an ankle portion of the upper. The brace member may be provided with a top plate member and a base plate member with a central shaft extending between the top plate member and the base plate member. The central shaft may have a C-shape that curves around an ankle of a human foot positioned within the foot cavity.

The present invention provides a modular shoe adapted to be configured by a wearer comprises: a sole capable of receiving a shoe upper for arrangement over a wearer's foot by at least one channel. In this way the wearer is able to configure multiple shoe arrangements by use of modular parts that are interchangeable to create customised shoes that are lighter and can be packed away smaller than traditional shoes.

A shoe includes a sole, an upper provided above the sole to accommodate a foot, a tightening part that applies tightening force to the upper, and a force transmitter that transmits tightening force from the tightening part to a lower part of a midfoot portion of the upper.

A heel protector (100) includes a leg engaging section (101) and a foot engaging section (102) intersecting at a heel receiver (103). The leg engaging section (101) and the foot engaging section (102) define a leg insertion aperture (104). The leg engaging section (101) defines at least one aperture (203) disposed in an ankle region (205) to permit a connection tube (1002) extending from an inflatable bladder (901) of a compression device (800) to pass therethrough. The heel protector (100) and compression device (800) work together as a rehabilitation system (1300).