An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. Various warp or weft knitting processes, including flat knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.

Disclosed herein is a digit protector device for a foot, toe, hand, and/or finger, which digit protector device, in one embodiment, can be inserted or embedded in the plaster cast for a hand or foot, wrapped into a hand or foot splint bandage, or inserted in an orthopaedic hand or foot brace, boot, or sandal.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

An attachable/detachable toecap coupled to the front of the work shoes is disclosed. The attachable/detachable toecap coupled to the front of the work shoe comprises a top plate formed to cover toes and a portion of top of a foot; a side plate formed to extend downwards from the side of the top plate and to surround the top plate; a bottom plate formed to be under the side plate and to cover the bottom of the front of the work shoe; and an anti-separation means for preventing separation of the toecap from the work shoes, wherein the anti-separation means further comprises coupling blocks protruding from the bottom of the work shoe and coupling grooves formed to have vertical perforations at the position corresponding to the coupling blocks, so that the coupling blocks are snap-fitted to prevent the separation of the toecap from the work shoe.

An attachable/detachable toecap coupled to the front of the work shoes is disclosed. The attachable/detachable toecap coupled to the front of the work shoe comprises a top plate formed to cover toes and a portion of top of a foot; a side plate formed to extend downwards from the side of the top plate and to surround the top plate; a bottom plate formed to be under the side plate and to cover the bottom of the front of the work shoe; and an anti-separation means for preventing separation of the toecap from the work shoes, wherein the anti-separation means further comprises coupling blocks protruding from the bottom of the work shoe and coupling grooves formed to have vertical perforations at the position corresponding to the coupling blocks, so that the coupling blocks are snap-fitted to prevent the separation of the toecap from the work shoe.

An article of footwear with a medial contact portion disposed on the medial side of the article is described. The medial contact portion includes a plurality of raised elements that extend outwards from the surface of the upper on the medial side. The raised elements are configured to contact a ball during passing or trapping to absorb and dampen forces associated with the impact of the ball with the article to provide cushioning. The sizing and spacing arrangement of the raised elements on the medial contact portion provide sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the surface of the upper to contact a ball. In one embodiment, the upper is made from a synthetic leather material that has substantially the same coefficient of friction under dry conditions and wet conditions.

An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.