Patent Application
20090083994
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to footwear and in particular to an article of footwear configured to be worn during water sports, especially canoeing.
2. Description of Related Art
Articles of footwear for use in water sports have been previously proposed. Greene et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,802,703) teaches an article of footwear for sand sports. Greene teaches a mid-foot wrap that includes a first portion that extends across the instep of an upper and over an outsole. A second portion of the wrap extends around the rear of the upper and above the heel and below the ankle. Greene further teaches a strap associated with the wrap that has a first end that is secured to the wrap at a medial side. The strap of the Greene design extends across an instep of the upper to a lateral side. A fastener secures the strap to the wrap.
Moore (U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,592) teaches a performance water boot. The Moore design includes a water boot having an adjustable strap that crosses an upper between the instep region and the collar region of the boot. Moore teaches a heel cup that is designed to cooperate with the adjustable strap in order to seal off the heel and ankle regions of the upper. Moore teaches this arrangement to prevent water from entering the instep region and causing the foot to move within the boot.
Moore and Greene teach provisions for providing additional stability to multiple regions of a foot, including a lower region.
An article of footwear configured for water sports is disclosed. In one aspect, the invention provides an article of footwear configured to provide traction on a wet surface, comprising: a water durable upper and a slip-resistant sole; a strap system comprising a first front strap, a first rear strap, a second front strap and a second rear strap; the first front strap being configured to engage the second front strap at an instep region of a foot and the first rear strap being configured to engaged the second rear strap at the heel of the foot; and where the first front strap is integrally formed with the first rear strap and wherein the second front strap is integrally formed with the second rear strap.
In another aspect, the upper is configured to attach to the sole to form a first live hinge at a first periphery of the sole.
In another aspect, the strap system is configured to attach to the sole at an extended portion and form a second live hinge at a second periphery of the sole.
In another aspect, the second live hinge is disposed distally of the first live hinge.
In another aspect, the first rear strap and the second rear strap may be adjusted independently of the first front strap and the second front strap.
In another aspect, the sole includes channels configured to pump water out from under a bottom portion of the sole.
In another aspect, the invention provides an article of footwear configured to provide traction on a wet surface, comprising: a water durable upper and a slip-resistant sole, the upper being configured to attach to the sole; the upper including a bottom portion configured to attach to the sole and forming a first live hinge at a first periphery of the sole; a strap system configured to attach to an extended portion of the sole and forming a second live hinge at a second periphery of the sole; and where the second live hinge is disposed distally of the first live hinge.
In another aspect, the strap system includes a first front strap, a second front strap, a first rear strap and a second rear strap.
In another aspect, the first front strap is configured to engage the second front strap at an instep region of a foot.
In another aspect, the first rear strap is configured to engage the second rear strap at a heel of the foot.
In another aspect, the first front strap is integrally formed with the first rear strap and the second front strap is integrally formed with the second rear strap.
In another aspect, the sole includes a central contact region.
In another aspect, the sole includes channels configured to remove water from the central contact region.
In another aspect, the invention provides an article of footwear configured to provide traction on a wet surface, comprising: a water durable upper and a slip-resistant sole; the sole including a bottom portion; a central contact region of the bottom portion disposed between a first central channel and a second central channel; a plurality of lateral channels configured to intersect the first central channel and the second central channel; and where the first central channel, the second central channel and the plurality of lateral channels are configured to pump water away from the central contact region.
In another aspect, the bottom portion includes a ball region with a plurality of large recesses configured for removing water from under the bottom portion.
In another aspect, the bottom portion includes a plurality of curved channels configured for removing water from under the bottom portion.
In another aspect, the bottom portion includes a heel portion with U-shaped channels configured for removing water from under the bottom portion.
In another aspect, the upper is made of an elastic material.
In another aspect, the strap system is made of an elastic material.
In another aspect, the upper and the strap system are configured to conform to contours of a foot.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Preferably, boat 102 is a canoe. However, in other embodiments, boat 102 could be any type of boat that requires paddling. Examples of various boats configured for paddling include, but are not limited to, a row-boat, a kayak or another type of boat. In other embodiments, boat 102 could be any kind of boat, including motor boats, sailing boats, paddle boats or any other type of boat.
In a preferred embodiment, athlete 100 is wearing footwear 106 configured to assist athlete 100 in achieving various tasks associated with paddling. Preferably, article 106 may be adapted for water related activities. Some embodiments of article 106 include provisions that allow article 106 to function successfully in wet or nautical environments. These provisions can include features such as slip-resistant provisions, quick fastening provisions, insulating provisions as well as provisions for increased support. Such provisions are useful because athlete 100 may often be stepping in water, as well as stepping on wet and slippery surfaces. These various provisions will be discussed in the remainder of this detailed description.
Article of footwear 200 includes upper 204. In some embodiments, upper 204 may be made of a soft and elastic material. Examples of such materials include elastic materials and any type of water proof materials. In a preferred embodiment, upper 204 is made of neoprene or a similar material. Using this preferred material, upper 204 may be configured to provide insulation to foot 202 during use. More generally, upper 204 may be made of a water durable material. The term ‘water durable’ is used throughout this detailed specification and in the claims to refer to any material that is not affected by extended exposure to water. This is useful feature because article of footwear 200 may get wet many times during canoeing or similar water activities.
Furthermore, this general lightweight construction for upper 204 provides for extreme flexibility. When foot 202 is inserted, upper 204 conforms to the shape of foot 202 by expanding. However, as foot 202 is removed, upper 204 may crinkle or contract slightly, as seen in
Additionally, by using a flexible material, upper 204 conforms tightly to foot 202 in order to prevent excessive water from seeping through ankle collar 206. In some embodiments, to increase this feature, ankle collar 206 may include an additional elastic lining configured to close tightly around foot 202. Although water may be absorbed through upper 204 during use, excessive water may be prevented from building up because of the conforming nature of upper 204, which may help prevent slipping or chaffing of upper 204 due to excess water building up within upper 204.
Preferably, article of footwear 200 includes sole 201. In this embodiment, sole 201 may be a wrap-around sole. The term ‘wrap-around sole’ is used throughout the remainder of this detailed description and in the claims to refer to any sole including a periphery that extends vertically around the sides of upper 204. In this embodiment, sole 201 includes side wall periphery 210.
Additionally, in some embodiments, side wall periphery 210 may further include medial extended portion 212, lateral extended portion 214 and heel extended portion 216. Generally, portions 212, 214 and 216 may be constructed as flaps that extend further beyond side wall periphery 210. In some embodiments, portions 212, 214 and 216 may be attached directly to upper 204. In other embodiments, portions 212, 214 and 216 may not attach directly to upper 204, but may flap instead with respect to sole 201.
Preferably, heel extended portion 216 may be configured to attach directly to upper 204. Using this configuration, heel extended portion 216 may provide protection for heel 220 of article of footwear 200. Additionally, in this preferred embodiment, portions 214 and 216 are preferably not directly attached to upper 204, but instead can move independently of upper 204.
Preferably, sole 201 is made of a water resistant or waterproof material. In some embodiments, sole 201 may be made of a material configured to facilitate increased traction. In some embodiments, sole 201 may also be made of a substantially flexible material. In a preferred embodiment, sole 201 may be made of some type of rubber, including various elastomers.
In addition to sole 201 and upper 204, article of footwear 200 preferably includes toe member 230. In some embodiments, toe member 230 may be configured to attach directly to sole 201. In other embodiments, toe member 230 may be configured to attach to upper 204. In a preferred embodiment, toe member 230 may be configured to attach to both upper 204 and sole 201, simultaneously. Generally, toe member 230 may be made of any durable material including various kinds of rubber. This arrangement preferably provides additional protection to toe region 232 of article of footwear 200.
Preferably, article of footwear 200 includes provisions for fastening upper 204 and sole 201 to foot 202. In some embodiments, article of footwear 200 includes some kind of fastening straps. In a preferred embodiment, article of footwear 200 may include straps associated with a front portion and straps associated with a rear portion of article of footwear 200.
In this preferred embodiment, article of footwear 200 includes strap system 238. In some embodiments, strap system 238 may include medial fastening straps 240 and lateral fastening straps 242. Medial fastening straps 240 preferably include first front strap 244 and first rear strap 246 that are integrally formed together. Likewise, lateral fastening straps 242 preferably include second front strap 248 and second rear strap 250 that are integrally formed together.
In this embodiment, first front strap 244 is continuously formed with first rear strap 246. Also, in this embodiment, second front strap 248 is continuously formed with second rear strap 250. Using this preferred configuration may increase the support provided by straps 244, 246, 248 and 250. This configuration may also ease manufacturing and assembly.
Preferably, article of footwear 200 includes slip-resistant provisions. In some embodiments, article of footwear 200 may include a sole configured to provide extra traction in wet conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the sole may include provisions for channeling water away from article of footwear 200 in order to increase traction.
In some embodiments, bottom portion 400 may also include lateral channels 412. Preferably, lateral channels 412 extend from medial side 414 to lateral side 416 of bottom portion 400. In this preferred embodiment, lateral channels 412 may intersect central channels 402 and 404. In this embodiment, lateral channels 412 are generally perpendicular to central channels 402 and 404, however in other embodiments, lateral channels 412 could be disposed at any angle with respect to central channels 402 and 404.
Referring to
Generally, the widths of channels 402, 404 and 412 may vary. In this embodiment, second central channel 404 has a width W1. Preferable, the widths of channels 402 and 412 are substantially similar to width W1 of second central channel 404. The value of width W1 may vary between 0.1 millimeters and 2 millimeters. In a preferred embodiment, width W1 has a value of about 1 millimeter.
Referring to
In some embodiments, sole 201 may include additional provisions for increasing traction on wet surfaces. In this preferred embodiment, bottom portion 400 also includes large recesses 440 disposed at ball region 442. Typically, a majority of weight is put on the ball of the foot. Therefore, as a wearer steps down, excess water contacting ball region 442 may be pumped away with greater efficiency through large recesses 440.
In some embodiments, bottom portion 400 may also include additional curved channels. In this preferred embodiment, bottom portion 400 may include curved channels 450. In some cases, curved channels 450 may provide additional traction during pivoting, as bottom portion 400 may rotate about ball region 442. In other embodiments, curved channels 450 may provide additional longitudinal channels for the water to move along, thus increasing the distribution to lateral channels 412.
In some embodiments, bottom portion 400 may also include provisions for increasing traction at heel region 460. To provide increased traction as the heel is lowered, heel region 460 may include U-shaped channels 462. These channels preferably facilitate the pumping of water away from heel region 460, especially at central contact region 430.
It should be understood that large recesses 440, curved channels 450 and U-shaped channels 462 are optional. In other embodiments, only some of these provisions may be incorporated into bottom portion 400. In still other embodiments, none of these additional provisions may be used. Generally, by including some of these additional provisions, the type of traction achieved may be modified. Additionally, varying height H1 associated with tread elements 420 and width W1 associated with channels 402, 404 and 412, the amount of traction may also be varied.
Using these provisions associated with sole 201, article of footwear 200 may be configured to provide increased traction on a wet surface. This feature is especially important for articles of footwear used in various sports such as canoeing, kayaking and similar paddling sports. As athlete 100 steps on boat 102, rocks or other wet surfaces, sole 201 may facilitate reduced slipping.
Preferably, article of footwear 200 includes provisions for increasing support to foot 202. Often, straps are fixed at one end to a strobel stitch or similar fastening region where an upper is attached to a sole. Preferably, in the current embodiment, strap system 238 may be attached to sole 201 at a different location from upper 204. This may facilitate increased support for foot 202 as strap system 238 may wrap some of sole 201 against foot 202.
Referring to
Additionally, in this embodiment, strap system 238 forms second live hinge 808 at second periphery 710 of extended portions 702 (see
The utility of this design may be observed in
Following this, second rear strap 250 may be doubled over and fastened. Preferably, second rear strap 250 includes first fastening region 1004 and second fastening region 1006. Fastening regions 1004 and 1006 may be complementary sides of a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro®. Generally, any type of fasteners could be used.
Using this preferred configuration, second rear strap 250 may function as a cinch strap. This arrangement allows athlete 100 to quickly pull on the end of second rear strap 250 to increase tension in second rear strap 250. Preferably, such an arrangement keeps upper 204 securely fastened to a heel of athlete 100.
With this preferred arrangement, front straps 244 and 248 may be fastened into place at instep region 1302. This preferably tightens upper 204 to foot 202 at instep region 1302. Using straps 244, 246, 248 and 250 of strap system 238 may facilitate a tight closure of ankle collar 206 around foot 202, further decreasing the tendency of large amounts of water to splash into upper 204 and cause irritation or other problems.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.
