A fabric having moisture management properties is disclosed. The fabric can also be made to be fire resistant. The fabric is particularly well suited for being used as an inner lining in protective garments. The fabric contains first yarns and second yarns. The first yarns extend in a first direction and the second yarns extend in the second direction. The yarns are woven together such that the first yarns form a pattern of shapes. The pattern of shapes concentrate the FR cellulose fibers and provide channels for carrying away moisture and improving the moisture management properties of the fabric.

Various fabrics, compression garments and compression garment systems are described. Fabrics formed from wicking and absorbent materials provide effective compression and an improved environment next to a wearer's skin, which provides greater comfort and improved overall performance. Two and multi-layer compression garments are described. An outer layer may be formed with an opening having a closure and an elastic material joining the sides of the opening. This provides a first level of compression with the closure open and a second level of compression with the closure closed and also helps a user in applying the garment.

A mobile protection device for shielding parts of a person's body from bullets and other attack objects, comprising a normal hat, having a top and a sidewall, and at least one bullet-blocking plate, shaped to fit inside the hat and attachable to the top. Preferably the device further comprises a blast-resistant layer, lining the inner surface of the top of the hat and its sidewall, and a reinforcing layer, attached to the inner surface of the sidewall and designed to absorb momentum of a hitting bullet. Generally there is a plurality of plates, pivotally joined to form a shield while the plates are coplanar and foldable to be reversibly attachable to the top, the shield being reversibly attachable to a brim of the hat.

The invention relates to a protective clothing unit, in particular a protective clothing unit having fragment protection, preferably having a protective function against fragments created and/or released by detonation and/or explosion, comprising outerwear and/or underwear and possibly comprising separate head and/or face protection, neck protection, shoulder protection, arm protection, hand protection, trunk protection, torso protection, genital and/or anal protection, and/or leg protection, wherein the protective clothing unit has fragment protection elements, preferably textile fragment protection elements, which are specific and different from each other and which are associated with different body regions when worn and/or cover different body regions when worn, preferably having a protective function against fragments created and/or released by detonation and/or explosion.

Garments made from a composite, protective fabric are disclosed. The composite fabric has microflex layers of woven para-aramid yarn placed in proximity to metallic mesh layers of woven stainless steel mesh. The individual poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide fibers in the para-aramid yarn have a denier of less than or equal to 2 dtex. The metallic mesh layers are woven from stainless steel fibers having a diameter of 0.2 mm or less and have a mesh aperture of 0.45 mm or less. The garments made using the fabric include gloves, bullet proof vests and chain-saw resistant trousers.

A bodily support assembly includes a vest that may be worn. A pair of pockets is provided and each of the pockets is coupled to the vest. A pair of panels is provided and each of the panels is removably insertable into an associated one of the pockets. Each of the panels is comprised of a resiliently bendable material. Thus, each of the panels may support the back when the user bends over thereby inhibiting the user from being injured when the user bends over.

An emergency anti-hypothermia system has a thermally insulating vest that is sufficiently portable to be carried for emergency use in a pocket, purse, backpack, compartment of a vehicle, ski pole or other location, with the vest providing thermal insulation by being made with thermally insulating air impervious material that also provides for its inflation. A multiplicity of interconnected inflated chambers situated about the vest, provides thermal insulation by anti-conduction, anti-radiation and anti-convection in a highly portable system. An outer surface having radar reflective properties further improves visibility of the vest.

Pants are provided with a pair of zippers to facilitate the donning of the pants when a pants wearer is wearing large footwear that the pants wearer does not want to remove prior to donning the pants. Each zipper extends between a front thigh portion of each pant leg, along a side portion of the pant leg and terminates at a free end of the pant leg. Unzipping the zipper creates a large opening at the front thigh portion of each pant leg so that the pants wearer can easily put large footwear through the opening and don the pants. The zippers can be zipped up so that the pants wearer can engage in any desired activity.

Disclosed is a modified set of gloves, system, and method of glove removal and retention that is particularly well suited for, but not limited to, tactical situations (i.e. fast-roping) and action sports environments. In one embodiment, the glove(s) feature at least one catch between at least two fingers of the glove(s). Preferably, the catch defines a mechanism for rapidly removing and retaining the glove(s). Further disclosed is a system for removing the glove(s) featuring a garment with an attached anchor, such as a carabineer or a hook. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor is positioned in the sternum area of the vest and glove wearer. Operably, a user moves the gloved hand(s) down and over the anchor to place the catch on the anchor so that the continued movement of the user's hands rapidly removes and stores the glove(s) via the anchor.

A wearable protection item having a redeemable member is disclosed. The wearable protection item may include a protective glove and a redeemable member. The protective glove may include a finger region, a thumb region, a palm region, a wrist region, and a separable region. The wrist region and the separable region may define an opening into the protective glove. The opening may include an edge. The separable region may be adjacent to the wrist region and the thumb region. The redeemable member may include an exterior surface and an interior surface, where at least one of the exterior surface or the interior surface has indicia thereon, and where the redeemable member is adhered to the separable region.

A device with a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion is lifted to form a substantially L-shaped bracket. Device is configured to be disposed on the forehead of the wearer, preferably coupled with protective headgear. When the rotatable portion is lifted, the bracket is configured for receiving an edge of eyewear. When the eyewear is pulled upward and back due to forces exerted by straps disposed around a user's head, the bracket exerts an equal and opposite force on the edge of the eyewear, holding the eyewear in place. Bracket may include grips for easier use in inclement weather or when the user's hands are otherwise encumbered.

A mask coupling apparatus coupled to an outer surface of a helmet and couplings of a mask including an adjusting mechanism comprising a single elastic strap coupled to the mask at both ends via the couplings, where the ends of the elastic strap are free to adjust the length of the mask coupling apparatus.

A device to aid in the stabilization and preparation of food while protecting the user's fingers.

An article having an inner article layer and an outer article layer to be worn by a mammal comprising a thermally insulating layer of a reflective metalized polymeric insulation material having moisture vapour transference properties adjacent to at least one of the inner and outer article layers. An apparatus and method for producing a reflective metalized polymeric thermally insulating assembly having moisture vapour transference properties suitable for use in the article is also provided. The insulation material provides enhanced thermal retention.

This is a warning to everyone with a mortgage. The rates on new mortgage deals are getting more expensive, and there is a plausible chance of UK base rates increasing. If you have a mortgage, you should check urgently if you can slice the rate down – you may gain £1,000s right now.

Summer’s now over, and sadly there’s little you can do to repair a holiday ruined by flight delay or cancellation (eg from a strike like Ryanair’s) but many are entitled to up to £550 per person compensation. In fact this applies even for delays as far back as 2012.

“I am not a number. I am a free man!” I’m afraid not, you’re a number… when it comes to credit scoring anyway. The famous cry for help of the eponymous Prisoner from the cult 1960s TV show of the 1960, could have been written for today’s world of mass computer assessed finance.

This is a warning to every UK worker aged 22 or over. You’re about to get a pay rise, but it may cost you, and you may not even be told.

This April, whether we're in, out or, most likely, just shaken all about, one thing is certain... it’s the time of annual public service price rises. While you can't prevent the rises, there are often other ways to cut these bills. I want to show how you can steal a March (sorry) on April's hikes.

'Tax-Free Childcare' is a confusing and inaccurately named scheme that launched in April 2017. It can be worth thousands of pounds, but only 250,000 of the 1.5 million eligible families are collecting it.

A YOUNG driver caught with more than 15 times the legal amount of party drug ecstasy in his system has been banned from the roads.

The mood music for savers isn’t good. The world economic outlook is gloomy and there’s huge uncertainty here in the UK, so the City’s long-term interest rates have plummeted. And it’s these that many fixed savings rates are based on – so they’re dropping too. On top of that, the two top easy-access savings accounts cut their rates within days of each other.

Are you ripping yourself off? At least 11m people in the UK are overpaying on their energy bills, usually by £100s a year. Sorting it is one of the biggest and easiest savings you can make – yet the majority still don’t do it. More so, even if you’re scared of switching firm, right now you may be able to save £100s and stick with your existing provider. So as we’re in the core of winter, carpe diem (translation: get off your bum and try to give it a go).

Mis-sold Wonga customers have been legally robbed.

An article may include a first polymeric material layer having a surface. A first conductive trace may form at least a portion of the first layer surface. The article may further include a second polymeric material layer. The second layer may have a first surface, a portion of the second layer first surface being bonded to a portion of the first layer surface. The second layer may have a portion of a channel defined therein, the channel at least partially coinciding with a portion of the first conductive trace. The article may also include a first patch interposed between the first layer surface and the second layer first surface. The first patch may span the channel and cover a portion of the first conductive trace.

A polymeric housing may have a channel defined therein. A first conductive trace may at least partially coincide with the channel. A first wire may have a first conductor surrounded by a first insulating jacket. The first conductor may be in electrical communication with the first conductive trace. A jacket bonding region of the first jacket may be welded to a housing bonding region of the housing. The jacket bonding region and the housing bonding region may be formed from a common type of polymer.

The invention described herein is a self-cleaning footwear system comprising a sole, where a plurality of check valves are located within said sole. The plurality of check valves are preferably configured between an upper sole and a lower sole to allow debris to flow downwards but not upwards. The plurality of check valves preferably further comprise flap assemblies, where a length of flexible material preferably further comprises a semi-circular flap on one end. The flexible material is preferably a rubber-type material. The sole could be attached to normal footwear, as shown in a sandal. Alternately, the sole could be attached to any type of footwear.

A stretchable animal foot covering comprising an elongated body with a foot-receiving chamber on opposite ends of the elongated body that is formed from stretchable material that is at least partially closed at the ends to form the foot-receiving chambers.

The invention relates to a product for pilgrims performing the rites of Haj and Umrah. Used to reduce the crushes resulting from pilgrims colliding because, for example, pilgrims places their shoes close to the gate from which they entered thinking that it will be easy to return to the same place once they have performed the rites of circumambulation (tawaf) and running (sa'ay). However, in reality the pilgrims must walk against the flow, causing collisions and severe crushes, or he is forced to leave his shoes behind, which is a burden for cleaning staff, looks untidy and is a nuisance for pilgrims, the main figures for the inventions are FIG. 7 before wearing the shoes and FIGS. 8,9,10 and 11 after wearing it.

A rigid foot orthotic for walking or running. The orthotic is designed to bend slightly at the heel and near the toes—or the front and back portions of a person's step. The middle guides the ankles slightly outward but gently guides the inner foot down to the toe for the “push off” or forward motion of the step.

A shoe having a bio foot pad, including a plurality of circumferential elastic fibers surrounded by a viscoelastic material; wherein said fibers impart a biphasic characteristic to said viscoelastic material; and wherein said fibers under compression develop a plurality of hoop stresses to facilitate load conversion and distribution of axial forces exerted against a heel area of a user.

A removable heel connector apparatus comprises a shoe, a heel connector, a heel, a heel release. The heel connector includes a bolt to connect the heel against withdrawal from the shoe. The heel may be withdrawn from the shoe by depressing the heel release. The heel connector also includes a torque balance providing strength and durability in use to a shoe with removable heel as if an ordinary shoe without removable heel.

A method for providing parts of waterproof and breathable shoes, parts of waterproof and breathable shoes provided with the method, and waterproof and breathable soles provided with the shoe parts. The method uses a mold including a first element and a second element, at least one of which has hollow regions of a matrix of impressions, which are filled with polymeric material in the fluid state by depositing it in the hollow regions or by injecting it while the mold is closed; a support made of flexible sheet is interposed between the first element and the second element and includes a waterproof and breathable functional element, on which, when the mold is closed, the polymeric material sets and adheres to the support.

An article of apparel includes a base layer and an auxetic layer coupled to the base layer. The auxetic layer includes an auxetic structure defining a repeating pattern of shapes, with each of the shapes defined by perimeter walls and an interior recess. The auxetic layer includes a first region and a second region. Each interior recess in the first region provides a void exposing the base layer, and each interior recess in the second region is at least partially filled with a recess material.

The inventive subject matter shown and described is directed to an item of footwear with a tensioning system, comprising: a shell for enclosing a foot and at least a portion of a lower leg; a pair of opposing edges generally aligned along the top of foot portion of the shell and/or a front lower leg portion, the edges generally aligning with a longitudinal axis of the foot and/or lower leg, the opposing edges defining opposite sides of the shell; a foot retraction system comprising a tension path and at least two anchor points disposed along the path on the opposite sides of the shell and supporting at least one tensionable cable section disposed along the path, at least one anchor point comprising a tensioning mechanism, the tensioning mechanism allowing for adjustable tensioning of the cable section, the anchor points being arranged on opposite sides of the shell that support the edges, at least one being on a lateral or medial side of a boot and not on the top of the foot and front of the lower leg, so that tensioning of the cable causes the opposing edges to converge together. The inventive subject matter is particularly suitable for use in boots for snow and skating sports or any other such sport where sliding movement of the foot or leg relative to the item of footwear is undesirable and where secure coupling of the item to the foot and leg facilitates transfer of power to a board, ski, skate blade, set of skate wheels, etc., that is coupled to the item.

A footwear ornamentation assembly includes at least one insert and a plurality of design members that can be mounted on the insert or a flip-flop for decoration purposes. The at least one insert is releasably affixed on top of a flip-flop sole. The plurality of design members present different appearances. A method for decorating a flip-flop using the flip-flop ornamentation assembly includes selecting the at least one insert from a plurality of inserts, affixing the selected insert to a top of the flip-flop sole, selecting one or more design members from the plurality of design members, and mounting the selected one or more design members to the at least one of the selected insert and the flip-flop.

The present invention relates to a sole element, such as an insole, for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe, as well as to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe. A sole element for a shoe comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion comprises a deformable material, which is adapted to generate heat by being deformed. The sole element moreover comprises a transport element adapted for selectively directing the generated heat from the second portion to the first portion.

Shoes and/or shoe elements facilitate natural foot motion and/or reduce forces tending to fight natural foot motion. In at least some such structures, a wearer's heel is secured to the hindfoot region of a shoe (e.g., by a strap system) in a manner that permits heel/forefoot rotation and that allows the lower leg to remain straight. In other structures, a shoe can include a heel supporting component that is separate from a midsole component, and this heel supporting component can move toward the lateral side and/or medial side of the shoe along an interface between the heel supporting component and the midsole component. Other suitable shoe and shoe component structures also are described.

The present invention relates generally to a device for supporting the foot and more particularly to a device for relieving pressure from specific areas of the foot, and for relaxing and shortening the musculatures of the foot by raising the arch. Through specific shapes and materials, the design intends to aid in alignment, add comfort, and prevent and relieve many foot problems and other lower extremity ailments. The device is uniquely designed to sit in the midfoot region of an article of footwear to relieve pressure from the heel and forefoot, redistribute pressure more evenly across the foot, and support the foot arches. The device may be constructed from flexible material which allows the orthotic to form to the shape of the shoe it is placed in. The medial wing portion of the orthotic device may utilize the medial wall of a shoe to increase arch support.

A foot support system for any shoe; walking, athletic, men, women's dress shoes, children's shoes. The system includes a base that conforming to the contour of a human foot, a heel post attached to the base and extending substantially under heel bone to relieve pressure on contact and provide stability and heel support, a transverse metatarsal stabilization bar located posterior or behind the metatarsal heads in the mid foot for stability of control of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal. A first ray extension originates at the metatarsal stabilization bar posterior to the metatarsal heads in the middle of the foot and ending distal-end to the mid-section of the first toe. Fifth ray extension originates at the transverse metatarsal stabilization bar posterior to the metatarsal heads in the middle of the foot and ending distal-end to the mid-section of the fifth toe. The orthotic system can be designed as an insert independent of a convention shoe sole, or may be incorporated into the sole of the shoe.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper layer comprised of a plate member and a lower layer comprised of a plurality of segmented portions separated by flexing regions. The flexing regions may comprise portions of a compressible material. The sole structure accommodates vertical bending and torsion, while limiting lateral bending.

An article of footwear has a sole assembly that is further comprised of a chassis, a reinforcing member and a forefoot plate. The reinforcing member includes lateral and medial forefoot portions that fit with corresponding recesses in the forefoot plate and the reinforcing member in the forefoot region of the chassis. The reinforcing member includes a central portion that figs with a corresponding recess in the heel region of the chassis. The chassis and the forefoot plate include ridges on their outer surfaces. Cleats extending from ridges in the forefoot of the chassis are vertically aligned with protrusions on ridges in the forefoot plate. The protrusions can help diffuse forces applied by the cleats against the inner components of the sole and foot to reduce point loading.

A footwear effects toning of the leg muscles. It includes two soles and a redress mechanism contained within each of the soles for redressing the positions of the soles, in order to adjust corresponding feet positions by toning the leg muscles. A shock absorbing pebble for use within the soles, includes an elastic membrane that deforms under pressure, and that defines two chambers that are connected by means of a gas permeable membrane. In a balanced position, the first chamber is filled with a mixture of gas along with fluid, and the second chamber is filled with gas. As an external force is applied to the membrane, gas molecules are forced into the second chamber, inflating it until equilibrium is achieved, thus dampening the external force.

An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a chamber that encloses a pressurized fluid. The chamber includes subchambers laterally extending in a medial to lateral direction of the bladder. A bottom surface of the chamber may include at least one bond that laterally extends across the bottom surface of the chamber from one side edge to another side edge of the chamber in the medial to lateral direction. The bond may cooperate with an indentation in the bottom surface that separates one subchamber from an adjacent subchamber. A diameter of the subchambers may decrease in a direction from a heel region of the bladder to a forefoot region of the chamber.

A shoe, and method of manufacture, comprised of (i) a shoe upper having an arrangement of holes in the bottom surface, (ii) an outer sole having an arrangement of holes corresponding to the arrangement of holes in the bottom surface of the shoe upper, and (iii) an inner sole disposed within the shoe upper, the inner sole having a plurality of pegs that extend from its bottom surface that are arranged in alignment with the arrangement of holes in the shoe upper and outer sole when the inner sole is disposed within the shoe upper, each peg extending downwardly through its associated hole in the shoe upper and the outer sole, so that, in the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface of each peg is exposed to, and forms part of, bottom surface of the shoe.

An insole liner for a shoe is disclosed. The liner consists of a wedge shaped member having opposite back and front ends, a top surface and a bottom surface. The liner has a polyurethane base layer, a middle layer made of silicone gel and a top layer made from memory foam. The wedge shaped member has a thickness which tapers from the back end towards the front end. The base layer has a shore hardness which progressively decreases from the back end of the wedge shaped member to the front end of the wedge shaped member and wherein the middle layer has a shore hardness which progressively increases from the back end of the wedge shaped member to the front end of the wedge shaped member. Finally, the bottom surface has a plurality of projections.

The separate insole 2 with the, ventilation system is separately insertable in the shoe and the separate insole 2 has longitudinal grooves I downwards, which extend from the space of the heel to the space of the toe through bottom surface an elastic foam layer of the separate insole 2. The rear ends of the longitudinal grooves 1 have an air inlet in the space of the heel and the front ends of the longitudinal grooves 1 have an air outlet in the space of the toe. During step, the longitudinal grooves 1 are gradually compressed from the heel to the toe and air is forced from the longitudinal grooves 1 to the inner toe space of the shoe.

An article of footwear may be constructed of a matrix of beads. For example, by preconfiguring the row length and the number of beads in a given row, the bead matrix may be configured to form a three dimensional shape that pulls towards a centerline or is concave.

The present disclosure illustrates a vamp with an embossed pattern. The vamp includes plain cloth and an embossed layer. The plain cloth is breathable fabric blended with hot-melt adhesive yarn. The embossed layer is formed on the plain cloth by a cold press process performed with cold press apparatus. The embossed layer formed on the vamp serves as a predetermined design pattern or as a structural reinforcement. The herein described process of manufacturing the vamp may be used as a basis to improve the manufacturing efficiency and quality of the vamp to produce a high quality shoe product at a reasonable price. The resulting shoe product has present-day desired characteristics and features beyond those provided in shoes made with conventional vamps, and may include added comfort, specific protection features and appear aesthetically appealing and fashionable.

The present invention relates to an interchangeable footwear device. The device may include a flip-flop sandal design wherein the device may include interchangeable structural features to allow a user to change features as associated with a particular terrain. The interchangeable footwear device includes a gripping system to traverse a number of different terrains. The footwear may include a sole member having a thong member attached to a top of the sole and a heel strap selectively attached to the sole. The heel strap may be selectively attached to the sole with a fastener that may be manually adjusted in a secured or unsecured position to remove the heel strap from the sole. In particular, the interchangeable footwear device may include a gripping unit selectively attached to the sole member of the footwear. The gripping unit may include a toe grip pad and a heel grip pad.