The present disclosure relates to adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure.
Whether due to growth, pregnancy, injury, swelling or activity (e.g., walking versus running), to name a few, the desired length and/or width of footwear may change over time, and do so before footwear is otherwise “worn out.” The present disclosure addresses this need.
Disclosed herein, in various embodiments, is a sole structure for adjustable footwear having at least one aperture. The at least one aperture may be configured to facilitate adjustability of at least one of a size and a shape of the sole structure.
Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a sole structure for adjustable footwear having a plurality of apertures and a locking feature. The plurality of apertures are configured to facilitate adjustability of at least one of a size and a shape of the sole structure, according to various embodiments. The locking feature may be generally disposed around at least a section of a perimeter of the sole structure, and the locking feature may be configured to compress and retain the plurality of apertures in an adjusted shape.
Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is an adjustable footwear that includes a sole structure comprising a plurality of apertures. The plurality of apertures may be generally configured to facilitate adjustability of at least one of a size and a shape of the sole structure. The adjustable footwear may also include a footbed configured to engage with at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures. Engagement of the footbed with the sole structure is configured to at least one of adjust and retain the at least one aperture in an adjusted position.
The accompanying drawings may provide a further understanding of example embodiments of the present disclosure and are incorporated in, and constitute a part of, this specification. In the accompanying drawings, only one shoe (either a left shoe or a right shoe) may be illustrated, however, it should be understood that in such instances, the illustrated shoe may be mirror-imaged so as to be the other shoe. The use of like reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings is for convenience only, and should not be construed as implying that any of the illustrated embodiments are equivalent. The accompanying drawings are for purposes of illustration and not of limitation.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described in sufficient detail in this detailed description to enable persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice the present disclosure, however, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that mechanical and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Thus, this detailed description is for purposes of illustration and not of limitation.
For example, unless the context dictates otherwise, example embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments described herein. Similarly, references to “example embodiment,” “example embodiments” and the like indicate that the embodiment(s) described may comprise a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily comprise the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such references may not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s). Any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to plural includes singular embodiments.
Any reference to coupled, connected, attached or the like may be temporary or permanent, removeable or not, non-integral or integral, partial or full, and may be facilitated by one or more of adhesives, stitches, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clips, grommets, zippers and other means known in the art or hereinafter developed.
As used herein, the transitional term “comprising”, which is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. The transitional phrase “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim. The transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps “and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s)” of the claimed invention.
No claim limitation is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph or the like unless it explicitly uses the term “means” and includes functional language.
In describing example embodiments of the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure, certain directional terms may be used. By way of example, terms such as “right,” “left,” “medial,” “lateral,” “front,” “back,” “forward,” “backward,” “rearward,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “up,” “down,” and the like may be used to describe example embodiments of the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure. These terms should be given meaning according to the manner in which the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure is most typically designed for use, with the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure on a user's foot and with the user's shod foot disposed on or ready for placement on an underlying surface. Thus, these directions may be understood relative to the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure in such use. Similarly, as the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure is intended primarily for use as footwear, terms such as “inner,” “inward,” “outer,” “outward,” “innermost,” “outermost,” “inside,” “outside,” and the like should be understood in reference to the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure's intended use, such that inner, inward, innermost, inside, and the like signify relatively closer to the user's foot, and outer, outward, outermost, outside, and the like signify relatively farther from the user's foot when the adjustable footwear having apertures in sole structure is being used for its intended purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the foregoing definitional guidance is contradicted by an individual use herein of any of the foregoing terms, the term should be understood and read according to the definition that gives life and meaning to the particular instance of the term.
As used herein, a “footwear” refers to an athleisure shoe, a casual shoe, a formal shoe, a dress shoe, a heel, a sports/athletic shoe (e.g., a tennis shoe, a golf shoe, a bowling shoe, a running shoe, a basketball shoe, a soccer shoe, a ballet shoe, etc.), a walking shoe, a sandal, a flip flop, a boot, or other suitable type of shoe. Additionally, footwear can be sized and configured to be worn by men, women, or children.
In accordance with example embodiments, the present disclosure provides for an adjustable shoe comprising a sole structure and an upper, the sole structure having one or more apertures to provide for length and/or width adjustability of the shoe. The apertures can comprise slits, holes, perforations, cutouts, cutaways, weakened portions or the like. The apertures can extend to, and be open to, a perimeter of the sole structure. Alternatively, the apertures can be fully contained within the sole structure.
As used herein, “sole structure” refers to an outsole or portions thereof, a midsole or portions thereof, an insole or portions thereof, a wedge or portions thereof, or other suitable structure disposed between and/or adjacent to the foregoing parts of a shoe. A sole structure herein may comprise one or more of nylon, acetal homopolymer/polyoxymethylene, aluminum, graphite, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC-ET), polypropylene, acrylic resin, rubber, titanium, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polycarbonate. Such a material may comprise a shape-memory material.
Generally disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a sole structure of a shoe that comprises one or more apertures extending all or partially between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the sole structure. The one or more apertures are generally configured to facilitate and accommodate adjustability of the sole structure (e.g., in length and/or width). That is, as described in greater detail below, the apertures may allow for adjustment in one or multiple directions in response to an action (e.g., a single action) taken by a user.
With reference to
In various embodiments, the aperture comprises a scythe-shape having a substantially linear shank portion 122, a first bend 124 that directs the aperture toward one of the medial and lateral side of the sole structure, and then an arcing portion 126 that gradually bends the aperture back toward the other of the medial and lateral side of the sole structure. The arcing portion 126 may facilitate simultaneous length and width adjustments. Said differently, expansion of the dimensions of the arcing portion 126 may, for example, adjust both a length and a width of the sole structure 110. In various embodiments, the first bend 124 is a substantially abrupt bend between the shank portion 122 and the initial section of the arcing portion 126. In various embodiments, the angle of the first bend 124 is between about 90 degrees and about 170 degrees. In various embodiments, the angle of the first bend 124 is between about 135 degrees and about 160 degrees. As used in this context only, the term about means plus or minus 5% of the indicated value.
With reference to
In various embodiments, and with specific reference to
In various embodiments, the plurality of apertures comprises one or more branched channel structures in the forward portion of the sole structure and one or more branched channel structures in the rear portion of the sole structure. For example, the sole structure may include a pair of branched channel structures in the forward portion of the sole structure, with respective main channels extending substantially parallel to each other. The sole structure may additionally or alternatively include a pair of branched channel structures in the rear portion of the sole structure, with respective main channels extending substantially parallel to each other. In various embodiments, the main channel(s) in the forward portion are not parallel with the main channel(s) in the rear portion.
In various embodiments, and with continued reference to
In various embodiments, and with reference to
In various embodiments, and with reference to
In various embodiments, and with specific reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In various embodiments, and with reference to
A shoe as described herein can have an open configuration, in which one or more of the apertures 120 are all or partially open and the shoe 100 has a larger length and/or width than in a closed configuration. For example, the apertures 120 may be collapsed/compressed in order to adjust the size of the shoe.
A shoe as described herein can have a closed configuration, in which one or more of the apertures 120 are all or partially closed and the shoe 100 has a smaller length and/or width than in an open configuration. For example, the apertures 120 may be expanded in order to adjust the size of the shoe.
In some embodiments, the apertures are merely voids, while in other embodiments, the apertures are comprised of a filler material or structure, for example, a material less dense that the martial defining the apertures, an air pocket, a leaf spring, or one or a plurality of ribs (e.g., organized in a lattice structure and/or an auxetic pattern). The filler material or structure can bias, at least in part, the apertures from a closed to an open configuration, or, alternatively, from an open to a closed configuration.
In this regard, in some embodiments, the shoe is biased in an open configuration, while in other embodiments, the shoe is biased in a closed configuration. In still other embodiments, the shoe is bi-stable (i.e., in both an open configuration and a closed configuration).
In some embodiments, securement in and/or transition between, open and closed configurations, which may be incremental, is controlled by one or more of a belt, ratchet (e.g., a zip-tie mechanism), cord (e.g., extending through a sole structure out of the rear of the shoe), strap with hook and loop fasteners, or the like, in some embodiments with a quick release, surrounding all or a portion of the sole structure. For example, a strap can be belted through apertures in a perimeter of a sole structure. In other embodiments, securement in and/or transition between, open and closed configurations, is controlled by an air bladder. In still other embodiments, securement in and/or transition between, open and closed configurations, is controlled by a screw, cord or the like extending through one or more apertures, which may further be driven by a cam system, e.g., including an eccentric wheel. In yet other embodiments, securement in and/or transition between, open and closed configurations, is controlled by an eccentric wedge element positioned in one or more apertures that, when turned, transitions the aperture(s) from a closed to an open configuration, or, alternatively, from an open to a closed configuration. Moreover, a shoe in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise one or more visual, tactile or audible indicators of adjustment (e.g., a click every 2 mm or a mark corresponding to 2 mm). In connection with example embodiments, the sole structure may have a surrounding bumper surrounding all of a portion of the sole structure, the bumper having one or more folds, pleats or baffles, or overlapping or telescoping portions, to accommodate length and/or width adjustability of the shoe.
In various embodiments, the footbed of the shoe may be configured as a lock/locking strip that facilitates the adjustability accommodation. For example, engagement between footbed and the apertures of the sole structure may cause the sole structure to be locked/retained in place once the size adjustments have been effectuated. In various embodiments, the footbed comprises protrusions that extend into sole structure (e.g., into the apertures) to expand the sole structure. For example, the sole structure may be naturally compressed and insertions of the protrusions/spears may cause expansion of the sole structure. In various embodiments, the footbed may be swapped out to achieve a different sizing of the shoe (e.g., by causing different apertures to expand). Said differently, the adjustability of the shoe may correspond with a replaceable footbed, and thus users may change the footbed in order to change the desired size/shape of the sole structure.
To accommodate adjustment to length and/or width of the sole structure, an upper coupled to the sole structure may be comprised of an expandable material (e.g., a knit, stretch or elastic material), comprise one or more gussets or gores, and/or comprise overlapping or folding panels. Additionally, coupling of an upper to the sole structure may not be at the apertures (regardless of whether comprising a filler material or structure as described herein). For example, an adhesive may be selectively applied (e.g., screen printed) to the sole structure only around the apertures (i.e., not covering the apertures). Additionally, a footbed of a shoe in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise one or more features to accommodate length and/or width adjustability of the shoe, for example, one or more expandable/collapsible apertures, gussets, gores, overlapping or folding panels, or the like. Additionally, the sole structure may be covered with a hardened material to provide protection from objects extending through the apertures and/or to provide comfort relative to the apertures.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the embodiments described herein cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the preceding description, including various alternatives together with details of the structure and function of the devices and/or methods. The disclosure is intended as illustrative only and as such is not intended to be exhaustive. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made, especially in matters of structure, materials, elements, components, shape, size and arrangement of parts including combinations within the principles of the invention, to the full extent indicated by the broad, general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. To the extent that these various modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, they are intended to be encompassed therein.
The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/957,817 filed Jan. 7, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1830648 | Engel | Nov 1931 | A |
2112052 | Smith | Mar 1938 | A |
2776499 | Guintini | Jan 1957 | A |
3541708 | Rosen | Nov 1970 | A |
4083128 | Rossman | Apr 1978 | A |
4813157 | Boisvert et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
4968492 | Rosen | Nov 1990 | A |
5036604 | Rosen | Aug 1991 | A |
5203096 | Rosen | Apr 1993 | A |
5241762 | Rosen | Sep 1993 | A |
5768803 | Evy | Jun 1998 | A |
5813146 | Gutkowski et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
6000147 | Kellerman | Dec 1999 | A |
6138385 | Jungkind | Oct 2000 | A |
6442874 | Long | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6450510 | Liu | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6920707 | Greene et al. | Jul 2005 | B1 |
7055268 | Ha | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7225563 | Chen et al. | Jun 2007 | B2 |
7392604 | Greene et al. | Jul 2008 | B2 |
7610696 | Davis | Nov 2009 | B2 |
7634861 | Kilgore | Dec 2009 | B2 |
7917981 | Lakic | Apr 2011 | B1 |
8505220 | James | Aug 2013 | B2 |
9301571 | Langvin | Apr 2016 | B2 |
9491983 | Rushbrook | Nov 2016 | B2 |
9808045 | Carlson et al. | Nov 2017 | B2 |
10159302 | Carlson et al. | Dec 2018 | B2 |
10499707 | Hobson et al. | Dec 2019 | B2 |
10588382 | Rushbrook | Mar 2020 | B2 |
10602797 | Lintaman | Mar 2020 | B2 |
10645990 | Rushbrook | May 2020 | B2 |
10667579 | Elder et al. | Jun 2020 | B2 |
10736379 | Cook et al. | Aug 2020 | B2 |
10765170 | Langvin et al. | Sep 2020 | B2 |
10765175 | Panian et al. | Sep 2020 | B2 |
10779607 | Chandel | Sep 2020 | B1 |
10827800 | Tannuzzi | Nov 2020 | B2 |
10827803 | Bell et al. | Nov 2020 | B2 |
11033072 | Oda | Jun 2021 | B2 |
11044962 | Cheung | Jun 2021 | B2 |
20020178614 | Issler | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20040107604 | Ha | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040107605 | Caeran | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20050060913 | Chil et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050115114 | Miller | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20060107552 | Clark et al. | May 2006 | A1 |
20060130371 | Schneider | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060162191 | Mason | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20080127518 | Byrne et al. | Jun 2008 | A1 |
20080178493 | Scofield | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20080296871 | Hsieh | Dec 2008 | A1 |
20090172972 | Rosen | Jul 2009 | A1 |
20090307929 | Tvoua | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20100139122 | Zanatta | Jun 2010 | A1 |
20110185600 | Malek | Aug 2011 | A1 |
20130152426 | Lederer | Jun 2013 | A1 |
20130219744 | Case et al. | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20140041256 | Espinola | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140123516 | Cressman et al. | May 2014 | A1 |
20140182167 | James et al. | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140215770 | Evesque et al. | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20140237850 | Hull | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20140259752 | Feldman | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20150047222 | Rushbrook | Feb 2015 | A1 |
20150366288 | Miller | Dec 2015 | A1 |
20170055626 | Rushbrook | Mar 2017 | A1 |
20170056754 | Yu et al. | Mar 2017 | A1 |
20170188655 | Carlson et al. | Jul 2017 | A1 |
20170367439 | Fallon | Dec 2017 | A1 |
20180135213 | Bell et al. | May 2018 | A1 |
20180242694 | Webster | Aug 2018 | A1 |
20180255872 | Manasiya | Sep 2018 | A1 |
20180325216 | Toronjo | Nov 2018 | A1 |
20190297988 | Oden et al. | Oct 2019 | A1 |
20190380430 | Seid | Dec 2019 | A1 |
20200008516 | Chan et al. | Jan 2020 | A1 |
20200046080 | Burns et al. | Feb 2020 | A1 |
20200093220 | Oda | Mar 2020 | A1 |
20200253334 | Elder et al. | Aug 2020 | A1 |
20200352282 | Drake | Nov 2020 | A1 |
20200367604 | Langvin et al. | Nov 2020 | A1 |
20200375301 | Cheung | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20210037912 | Spencer | Feb 2021 | A1 |
20210204639 | Yang | Jul 2021 | A1 |
20210219651 | Rushbrook et al. | Jul 2021 | A1 |
20210227925 | Kim | Jul 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
203969442 | Dec 2014 | CN |
108851327 | Nov 2018 | CN |
109549280 | Apr 2019 | CN |
19851030 | May 2000 | DE |
1447018 | Aug 2004 | EP |
2432295 | May 2007 | GB |
3014857 | Aug 1995 | JP |
20030004590 | Jan 2003 | KR |
20050097793 | Dec 2005 | KR |
WO-9517108 | Jun 1995 | WO |
2006106612 | Oct 2006 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62957817 | Jan 2020 | US |