Patent Application
20060130365
The invention relates generally to impact-attenuating elements. Such elements may be provided in a wide variety of different products, e.g., in footwear products and other foot-receiving devices, such as in the heel and/or toe areas of footwear products.
Conventional articles of athletic footwear have included two primary elements, namely an upper member and a sole member or structure. The upper member provides a covering for the foot that securely receives and positions the foot with respect to the sole structure. In addition, the upper member may have a configuration that protects the foot and provides ventilation, thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration. The sole structure generally is secured to a lower portion of the upper member and generally is positioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces, the sole structure may provide traction and control foot motions, such as pronation. Accordingly, the upper member and the sole structure may operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a variety of ambulatory activities, such as walking and running.
The sole member or structure of athletic footwear generally has exhibited a layered configuration that includes a comfort-enhancing insole, a resilient midsole formed from a polymer foam material, and a ground-contacting outsole that provides both abrasion-resistance and traction. The midsole is the primary sole structure element that attenuates ground reaction forces and controls foot motions. Suitable polymer foam materials for the midsole include ethylvinylacetate or polyurethane that compress resiliently under an applied load to attenuate ground reaction forces. Conventional polymer foam materials are resiliently compressible, in part, due to the inclusion of a plurality of open or closed cells that define an inner volume substantially displaced by gas.
The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of at least some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
Aspects of this invention relate to impact-attenuating elements, systems and products in which they are used (such as footwear, other foot-receiving devices, and the like), and methods of manufacturing foot-receiving devices including such elements, systems, and products. In at least some examples, impact-attenuating elements in accordance with this invention may include: (a) a first impact-attenuating material included in a first region (e.g., foam having a first density); and (b) a second impact-attenuating material included in a second region (e.g., foam having a higher density than that of the first material). The two impact-attenuating materials may face and/or contact one another along an interface. The first and second regions of impact-attenuating materials, in at least some examples of the invention, may combine to form at least a portion of an integral structure (e.g., a cylindrically shaped member) and may be oriented with respect to one another such that at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in the foot-receiving device.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to foot-receiving devices, such as pieces of footwear, that include one or more impact-attenuating elements, e.g., of the types described above. Foot-receiving devices in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include: (a) a foot-covering member (e.g., an upper member); (b) a foot-supporting member (e.g., a sole member) engaged with the foot-covering member (directly or indirectly), wherein the foot-supporting member includes a foot-contacting surface; and (c) an impact-attenuating element located between the foot-covering member and the ground-contacting element and/or engaged (directly or indirectly) with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. The impact-attenuating element(s) may be movably and/or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, and they may be designed such that changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member results in a change of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element. Structural elements may be included as part of the impact-attenuating element and/or the foot-receiving device to enable varying the impact-attenuating characteristic(s) of the impact-attenuating element and/or fixing the position or orientation of the impact-attenuating element with respect to the foot-receiving device structure.
Still additional aspects of the invention relate to the production and/or use of foot-receiving devices including impact-attenuating elements, e.g., of the types described above. Such methods may include, for example: (a) providing a foot-receiving device including a foot-covering member and a foot-supporting member engaged (directly or indirectly) with the foot-covering member; and (b) engaging an impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
In the following description of various examples of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example systems and environments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “front,” “back,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.
To assist the reader, this specification is broken into various subsections, as follows: Terms; General Description of Customizable Impact-Attenuating Elements According to the Invention; Specific Examples of the Invention; and Conclusion.
The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings provided below:
“Foot-receiving device” means any device into which a user places at least some portion of his or her foot. In addition to all types of footwear (described below), foot-receiving devices include, but are not limited to: bindings and other devices for securing feet in snow skis, cross country skis, water skis, snowboards, and the like; bindings, clips, or other devices for securing feet in pedals for use with bicycles, exercise equipment, and the like; bindings, clips, or other devices for receiving feet during play of video games or other games; and the like.
“Footwear” means any type of product worn on the feet, and this term includes, but is not limited to: all types of shoes, boots, sneakers, sandals, thongs, flip-flops, mules, scuffs, slippers, sport-specific shoes (such as golf shoes, tennis shoes, baseball cleats, soccer or football cleats, ski boots, etc.), and the like. “Footwear” may protect the feet from the environment and/or enhance a wearer's performance (e.g., physically, physiologically, medically, etc.).
As noted above, various impact-attenuating elements and systems have been known, including such elements and systems for use in footwear products. Conventionally, the insole, midsole, and/or outsole portions of footwear products may include foam or other materials that attenuate shock and dampen vibrations, e.g., in the heel and/or toe areas of a shoe. Typically, footwear comes with fixed support and/or impact-attenuating characteristics, characteristics that are predetermined by the shoe manufacturer. If a user desires to change the support and/or impact-attenuating characteristics of a piece of footwear, he or she may add separate insole or orthotic elements to the shoe. Such elements, however, typically are not designed to fit into a specific shoe structure, and thus these elements may move around in the shoe, migrate during use, bunch up, and/or take up too much room inside the shoe such that the shoe no longer fits comfortably on the wearer's foot. Also, these elements tend to pull out of the shoe and/or move inside the shoe when the foot is removed, thereby making their use inconvenient and their loss a distinct possibility.
Footwear comfort and desired impact-attenuating characteristics for a piece of footwear are not a “one size fits all” proposition. Rather, different support or impact-attenuating characteristics may be desired in a piece of footwear, e.g., depending on the type of activity engaged in and/or specific characteristics associated with a user and/or a user's typical gait or stride. For example, different support and/or impact-attenuating characteristics may be preferred, depending on whether a particular piece of footwear is designed or being used for walking, jogging, sprinting, track-and-field events, basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer, cross training, tennis, or other sports. The types of activities in which the user engages also may change over time. As still additional examples, some users have a tendency to pronate or supinate in their stride, and such users might benefit from specially positioned support and/or impact-attenuating elements in a piece of footwear. User preference also may play a role in positioning and/or selecting characteristics of support and/or impact-attenuating elements in footwear, e.g., to help affect or control a user's gait characteristics, to increase comfort, to provide desired support characteristics, etc.
Accordingly, it would be useful to provide support and/or impact-attenuating elements in and/or for footwear and other foot-receiving device products that can be freely customized and adjusted by users, e.g., for particular uses, for particular stride or gait types, and/or for particular user preferences.
In general, aspects of this invention relate to impact-attenuating elements, products in which they are used (such as footwear, other foot-receiving devices, and the like), and methods for making and/or using foot-receiving device products including such elements. In at least some instances, impact-attenuating elements also may provide support for the user's foot. Impact-attenuating elements for use in foot-receiving devices (e.g., footwear, etc.) in accordance with at least some example aspects of this invention may include, for example: (a) a first impact-attenuating material included in a first region; and (b) a second impact-attenuating material included in a second region, wherein the second impact-attenuating material differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material. The first and second regions of impact-attenuating materials, in at least some examples of the invention, may combine to form at least a portion of an integral structure and may be oriented with respect to one another such that at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in the foot-receiving device.
In at least some example impact-attenuating element structures according to this invention, the first impact-attenuating material may be a foam material having a first density, and the second impact-attenuating material may be a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density. The first and second impact-attenuating materials may face one another, or even contact one another, e.g., along an interface. The impact-attenuating element structure may be a cylindrically-shaped structure formed, at least in part, from the first and second impact-attenuating materials, and if desired, the interface between the two impact-attenuating materials may extend along a diagonal of the cylindrically-shaped structure. If desired, the impact-attenuating element structure may include a handle member (e.g., formed from an impact-attenuating material) or some other suitable structure to facilitate handling by the user, e.g., to help the user grasp and move the element within the foot-receiving device structure, to allow removal of the element from the foot-receiving device structure, etc.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to foot-receiving devices, such as pieces of footwear, that include one or more impact-attenuating elements, e.g., of the types described above. Foot-receiving devices in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include: (a) a foot-covering member (e.g., an upper member); (b) a foot-supporting member (e.g., a sole member) engaged (directly or indirectly) with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member may include a ground-contacting element (e.g., an outsole) and/or a foot-contacting surface; (c) an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member and/or the foot-supporting member; and (d) means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element. As another example, foot-receiving devices in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include: (a) a foot-covering member (e.g., an upper member); (b) a foot-supporting member (e.g., a sole member) engaged (directly or indirectly) with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes a ground-contacting element (e.g., an outsole) and/or a foot-contacting surface; and (c) an impact-attenuating element engaged (directly or indirectly) with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. The impact-attenuating element(s) may be movably and/or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, and it (they) may be mounted at any position in the foot-receiving device structure without departing from the invention (e.g., in the heel area, in the toe area, etc.). The impact-attenuating element(s) further may be designed, positioned, and/or structured such that changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member results in a change of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element in the foot-receiving device structure. In at least some examples, an axial direction of the impact-attenuating member, when mounted in a foot-receiving device, will extend through the foot-contacting surface of the foot-supporting member.
In at least some examples of this invention, one or more impact-attenuating characteristics of an impact-attenuating element in a foot-receiving device may be changed by rotating at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. Such rotation may be used, for example, to provide foam material of different density at different areas or regions of the foot (e.g., to move higher density foam to a medial or lateral region of the foot, etc.). As another example, one or more impact-attenuating characteristics may be changed by removing an impact-attenuating element from a foot-receiving device, physically inverting it and/or otherwise changing its orientation, and returning it to the foot-receiving device in the inverted position (and potentially also rotated with respect to its original position in the foot-receiving device structure). Again, such inversion and/or rotation may be used to provide foam of different density at a desired position within the foot-receiving device.
As mentioned above, in at least some examples, the impact-attenuating element(s) may have the structures described above. Also, one or more portions of the foot-receiving device (e.g., the foot-covering member, the foot-supporting member, the impact-attenuating element(s), etc.) may include structure(s) for maintaining at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. As one more specific example, an outer surface (or some other portion) of the impact-attenuating element(s) may be shaped so as to fit into a corresponding recess or receptacle provided in the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member such that one or more walls of the recess or receptacle (e.g., formed from an impact-attenuating material, such as foam) act as a retaining element to maintain the impact-attenuating element in place. As additional alternatives, adhesives (e.g., weak adhesives) or mechanical connectors, such as snaps, buckles, securing straps, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, other fasteners, or the like, may be used to hold the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the remainder of the foot-receiving device structure. As still additional examples, mechanical structures, such as ribs, raised pegs, retaining walls, grooves, and the like, may be provided in the recess and/or receptacle structure to engage corresponding openings or other structures provided in the impact-attenuating element structure (or vice versa).
Still additional example aspects of this invention relate to the production and/or use of foot-receiving devices including various impact-attenuating elements, including impact-attenuating elements of the types described above. Such methods may include, for example: (a) providing a foot-receiving device including a foot-covering member and a foot-supporting member engaged (directly or indirectly) with the foot-covering member; and (b) engaging an impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member such that a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element. Aspects of this invention further may include changing the position or orientation of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change the impact-attenuating characteristics of the foot-receiving device product. This “changing” may be accomplished in any desired manner without departing from the invention, such as by rotating (or “dialing”) at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, by inverting at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, and the like. The impact-attenuating element may be provided, for example, in the heel area of a piece of footwear (or other foot-receiving device), in the toe area, etc.
After positioning or orienting at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in the foot-receiving device product, this portion of the impact-attenuating element may be maintained in place with respect to the foot-covering member and/or the foot-supporting member. As mentioned above, any desired manner of retaining the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the remainder of the foot-receiving device structure may be used without departing from the invention, for example, using one or more retaining elements, one or more mechanical connectors, weak adhesives, etc.
“Foot-covering members” described and used in examples of the invention include, for example, but are not limited to upper members of the types provided in some conventional footwear products. In general, such “foot-covering members” may include portions that extend at least partially over and/or cover at least some portion of the wearer's foot, e.g., so as to assist in holding the foot-receiving device in place with respect to the wearer's foot. “Foot-supporting members” described and used in examples of the invention include, for example, but are not limited to sole members of the types provided in some conventional footwear products. In general, such “foot-supporting members” may extend at least partially beneath at least some portion of the wearer's foot, e.g., so as to assist in attenuating the reaction forces to which the wearer's foot would be exposed, for example, when stepping down in the foot-receiving device. “Ground-contacting elements” or members described and used in examples of the invention include, for example, but are not limited to outsole elements of the types provided in some conventional footwear products. In general, such “ground-contacting elements” may be made of suitable and conventional materials to provide long wear and protect the foot and/or prevent the remainder of the foot-receiving device structure from wear effects, e.g., when contacting the ground or other surface in use of the foot-receiving device product.
Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below. The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not be construed as limiting the invention.
The various figures in this application illustrate examples of impact-attenuating elements useful in systems and methods according to examples of this invention. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout.
The second impact-attenuating material 104 may differ in various respects compared to the first impact-attenuating material 102 such that at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the second impact-attenuating material 104 differs from the corresponding characteristic(s) of the first impact-attenuating material 102. For example, in the illustrated example structure 100, the impact-attenuating materials 102 and 104 may be formed from foam or other impact-attenuating material, and the material making up the first impact-attenuating material 102 may have a lower density than the material making up the second impact-attenuating material 104 such that the second impact-attenuating material 104 provides greater support, better stability, and/or a different, more firm impact-attenuating effect as compared to the first impact-attenuating material 102.
In at least some example structures according to the invention, the first impact-attenuating material 102 may face the second impact-attenuating material 104 along an interface 108, and in at least some example structures, the two impact-attenuating materials 102 and 104 may contact one another along this interface 108. This interface 108, as illustrated in
By providing impact-attenuating materials 102 and 104 of different densities and arranging these materials along a sloping interface 108 such that the cross sectional area of each impact-attenuating material 102 and 104 changes continuously along the axial length L of the impact-attenuating element 100, at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element 100 may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element 100 in the device in which it is placed. Of course, other ways of changing and/or controlling the impact-attenuating characteristics of an element 100 are possible without departing from the invention. Various example features of the invention will be described in more detail below.
As mentioned above, the example impact-attenuating element 100 illustrated in
The impact-attenuating element 100 need not include an impact-attenuating material interface 108 that is a smooth, constantly sloped line or curve in all examples of the invention. Rather, if desired, the interface 108 may be curved or shaped such that some portions of the interface surface are more sloped than other portions. Also, as another example, the interface may be stepped, with constant or differing sized steps, flat or slanted steps, etc., without departing from the invention. In still other examples, if desired, the interface slope or steps on one side of open area 106 may differ (e.g., in size slope, number, or orientation, etc.) from the interface slope or steps on the other side of open area 106. Many other variations in the interface 108 slope, orientation, size, shape, and/or arrangement may occur without departing from the invention. As still additional examples, no clear-cut interface 108 is required in all examples of the invention. Rather, if desired, the density or other impact-attenuating characteristic of the material may change gradually across the volume of the impact-attenuating element 100. In other words, the regions of different impact-attenuating material need not have a clear interface between them in all examples of the invention (e.g., a more gradual change in the materials, densities, or regions is possible in at least some examples of the invention).
Also, impact-attenuating elements in accordance with at least some examples of the invention are not limited to those having two regions with different impact-attenuating material. Any number of impact-attenuating materials and/or interfaces may be provided in an impact-attenuating element without departing from the invention. Moreover, it is not necessary for the two impact-attenuating materials to differ compositionally. Rather, if desired, in at least some examples of the invention, an impact-attenuating element may be constructed from a single piece or type of impact-attenuating material wherein one area or region of a unitary piece of impact-attenuating material is treated in some manner so as to change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the material in that region as compared to the corresponding impact-attenuating characteristic(s) of the material in another region. Such treatments may include heat treatment, chemical treatments, addition of foam material modifiers during production of at least one region, laser processing, other processing, etc. Even when two (or more) discrete regions of impact-attenuating materials are provided, the general composition of the materials may be the same in each region without departing from the invention, e.g., each region may comprise a polyurethane foam material, but the foam materials may have different densities.
The impact-attenuating element 100 in this example footwear structure 200 is provided as at least a portion of the sole member 202 in the heel area of the shoe 200. More specifically, in this example structure, the impact-attenuating element 100 is provided as a portion of the shoe's midsole 202b, arranged between the outsole member 202c and footwear footbed (e.g., the shoe insole 202a and/or upper member 208). The impact-attenuating element 100 may fit into opening(s) or receptacle(s) formed in or provided as part of the midsole 202b, outsole 202c, upper member 208, etc. As illustrated in
The sole member 202 may be attached to the footwear upper member 208 in any desired manner, including through the use of stitching, adhesives, and in other conventional manners well known and understood in the art. The sole member 202 and the upper member 208 also may be made from any desired materials and in any desired construction without departing from the invention, including with conventional materials and of conventional constructions known and used in the art. In the illustrated example, the impact-attenuating element 100 is sandwiched between the footwear footbed and the outsole 202c such that the impact-attenuating element 100 may act akin to a “trampoline” to provide support, stability, and the ability to attenuate ground reaction forces.
In this example structure, the athletic shoe 200 may be designed and used for general walking or similar types of exercise or use. Accordingly, the impact-attenuating element 100 is arranged in the heel area of the shoe 200 to provide impact-attenuation and foot support better suited for these types of activities.
For users that tend to pronate or supinate somewhat when walking, the impact-attenuating element 100 may be rotated somewhat (e.g., about axis 204 in the direction of arrow 206) to thereby provide more support in the lateral or medial portions of the shoe 200. Rotation of the impact-attenuating element 100 in this manner may help better support the user's foot such that the step down is better supported, feels more stable, and feels smoother, making the walk more comfortable. Positioning of the impact-attenuating element 100 in the shoe 200 also may ultimately change or affect the user's gait, e.g., to help reduce or eliminate pronation or supination. If desired, in at least some examples of the invention, the rear heel area of the sole member 202 may be detachably engaged with the upper member 208 and/or another portion of the sole member 202 (e.g., near the heel counter area) to allow user access to the impact-attenuating element 100, e.g., so that it may be repositioned and/or reoriented, if necessary or desired. As another example, if desired, users may gain access to the impact-attenuating element 100 through an opening provided in the upper member, the midsole member, and/or the insole member, to allow repositioning and/or reorienting of the impact-attenuating element 100.
The same impact-attenuating element 100 (and indeed the same overall shoe) may be used for a running shoe product 300 as illustrated in
In this example structure, the athletic shoe 300 is designed and used for running, jogging, or similar types of exercise. Accordingly, the impact-attenuating element 100 is arranged in the heel area of the shoe 300 to provide impact-attenuation and foot support better suited for these types of activities. As shown in
Of course, individual users may customize the position and/or orientation of the impact-attenuating element 100 with respect to the shoe 300 (e.g., the sole member 302 and/or the upper member 308) to best suit their comfort, running style, typical running speed, etc. This may be accomplished, for example, by rotating the impact-attenuating element 100 somewhat (e.g., about axis 304 in the direction of arrow 306) to thereby provide more support in the lateral or medial portions of the shoe 300 (e.g., depending on the user's preference, typical gait or stride characteristics, etc.). Rotation of the impact-attenuating element 100 in this manner may help such users step down more smoothly, making the run or jog more comfortable. Any type of removable engagement between the impact-attenuating element 100 and the shoe structure 300 may be used so as to enable this type of adjustment and/or customization, if desired, without departing from the invention.
Thus, as shown in
The same impact-attenuating element 100 (and indeed the same physical shoe product, if desired) also may be used by users involved in cross-training exercises. An example shoe product 400 useful for cross-training purposes is illustrated in
In this example structure, the athletic shoe 400 is designed and used for cross-training purposes, e.g., potentially a variety of different exercises and/or activities. Accordingly, in its illustrated arrangement, the impact-attenuating element 100 is provided in the heel area of the shoe 400 to provide impact-attenuation and foot support suitable for different types of activities. As shown in the arrangement of
Of course, individual users may customize the position or orientation of the impact-attenuating element 100 with respect to the shoe 400 (e.g., the sole member 402 and/or the upper member 408) to best suit their comfort, movement style, the type of exercise being performed, etc. This may be accomplished, for example, by rotating the impact-attenuating element 100 somewhat (e.g., about axis 404 in the direction of arrow 406) to thereby provide more support in the lateral or medial portions of the shoe 400 (e.g., depending on the user's preference, the upcoming activities, etc.). Rotation of the impact-attenuating element 100 in this manner may help such users step down more smoothly, making the exercise more comfortable. Any type of removable engagement between the impact-attenuating element 100 and the shoe structure 400 may be used so as to enable this type of adjustment and/or customization, if desired, without departing from this invention.
Thus, as shown in
Various ways of maintaining the impact-attenuating element 100 in place with respect to the foot-receiving device structure 502 may be used without departing from the invention. For example, the midsole, outsole, upper member, or other portion of the foot-receiving device structure 502 may include a receptacle (e.g., a cup-shaped receptacle element that defines opening 504) or the like into which the top and/or bottom portion(s) of the impact-attenuating element 100 is (are) designed to fit. If desired, the side walls defining the opening 504 may be formed from foam or other impact-attenuating material (e.g., like that used in element 100 and/or other portions of the midsole structure). The top and/or bottom surface(s) of the receptacle may include raised ribs designed to fit into corresponding slots or grooves defined in the top and/or bottom of the impact-attenuating element 100 or vice versa. Additionally or alternatively, as another example, one or more side surfaces of the receptacle may include raised ribs designed to fit into corresponding slots or grooves defined in the side walls of the impact-attenuating element 100 or vice versa. As still another example, the top and/or bottom surfaces of the receptacle and the impact-attenuating element 100 each may include raised ribs and slot or groove portions without departing from the invention. As still another example, the top, bottom, and/or side surfaces of the receptacle and/or the impact-attenuating element may be roughed and/or otherwise formed from suitable materials and/or formed with suitable surfaces or surface treatments so as to create a high coefficient of friction between these elements, to thereby hinder and/or prevent easy rotation of the impact-attenuating element 100 with respect to the receptacle by a simple friction fit.
As still another example, if desired, the impact-attenuating element 100 may be releasably held in place with respect to the foot-receiving device structure 502 by some type of mechanical connector or fixing element, such as a stop member that extends from the wall of a receptacle into a side of the impact-attenuating element. As additional examples, one or more set screws, brake members, adhesives, lock or bolt type elements, or the like, also may be used to hold the impact-attenuating element 100 in place with respect to the foot-receiving device structure 502. The impact-attenuating element 100 also may be formed as a plug or a part that slides and/or otherwise is received onto a shelf and/or into a drawer type system provided as part of the foot-receiving device structure 502.
As still additional examples, the physical shape of the impact-attenuating element and/or the receptacle into which it fits, if any (e.g., part of the foot-receiving device structure), may at least partially help maintain the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the remainder of the foot-receiving device structure.
In use, a user may change the impact-attenuating characteristics of the impact-attenuating element 600 (and thus the characteristics of the entire foot-receiving device structure including this impact-attenuating element 600) by lifting or otherwise removing the impact-attenuating element 600 out of the opening 606 provided in the midsole, outsole, or other portion of the foot-receiving device structure via handle 608 (e.g., opening 606 may be defined by a corresponding receptacle in the midsole, outsole, upper member, etc.). The impact-attenuating element 600 then may be turned, flipped over, replaced by another, have an impact-attenuating structure added to or taken away from it, or the like, and it then may be replaced within the opening 606 (or otherwise re-engaged with the foot-receiving device structure). As evident from comparing
In use, a user may change the impact-attenuating characteristics of the impact-attenuating element 700 (and thus the characteristics of the entire foot-receiving device structure including this impact-attenuating element 700) by lifting or otherwise removing the impact-attenuating element 700 out of the opening 706 provided in the midsole, outsole, insole, upper member or other portion of the foot-receiving device structure via handle 708 (e.g., opening 706 may be defined by a corresponding receptacle in the midsole, outsole, upper member, etc.). The impact-attenuating element 700 then may be turned, flipped over, replaced by another, have an impact-attenuating structure added to or taken away from it, or the like, and it then may be replaced within the opening 706 (or otherwise engaged with the foot-receiving device structure). As evident from comparing
Of course, other ways of engaging impact-attenuating elements with foot-receiving devices structures, maintaining them in place with respect to one another, and/or allowing user access to them for customization or change purposes may be used without departing from the invention.
Various factors may be taken into consideration when determining the specific orientation or position of one or more impact-attenuating elements in a given piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device. For example, the orientation and/or position of the impact-attenuating element(s) or portions thereof may be selected based on one or more characteristics of the intended end user, such as: the user's weight, the user's shoe size, the user's foot width, the user's moving speed, the user's jumping ability, the user's tendency to pronate, the user's tendency to supinate, and the like. Also, the orientation and/or position of the impact-attenuating element(s) or portions thereof may be selected, at least in part, depending on the intended use of the footwear or other foot-receiving device product. For example, different impact-attenuating element orientations or positions may be selected depending on whether the footwear or foot-receiving device is used for walking, running, basketball, soccer, football, baseball, softball, sprinting, track events, field events, video game play, training exercises, cross-training, etc. A user's personal preferences and/or comfort also may be used in determining the selected orientation or positioning of the impact-attenuating element(s). Further customization may take place by substituting one impact-attenuating element for another, adding an additional structure to an existing impact-attenuating element, removing a portion of an existing impact-attenuating element, or the like.
The potential variability and customization features allow manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, trainers, coaches, users, or others to selectively determine and/or change the support and/or impact-attenuating characteristics of a piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device by selecting different impact-attenuating element positions or orientations and/or by selecting different impact-attenuating elements. In this manner, if desired, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, trainers, users, or others can customize a pair of footwear or other foot-receiving device, e.g., based on one or more characteristics of the intended user and/or one or more characteristics of the ultimate intended end use of the product. Moreover, this customization can take place at any stage in the distribution chain, for example, at the construction factory by the manufacturer, by wholesalers or retailers (e.g., at a warehouse or a point of sale location, to replenish depleted stock, etc.), by consumers at the time and/or after the product has been purchased, etc. As one example, users may be allowed to freely select and/or change the position or orientation of at least a portion of an impact-attenuating element in a shoe based on their immediate needs and/or the characteristics they desire in the footwear or foot-receiving devices at a given time (e.g., by switching one impact-attenuating element position or orientation for another at a point of use location). As an even more specific example, the impact-attenuating characteristics of a piece of footwear may be selected by a user about to engage in a jogging exercise and then quickly changed later in time, when the user plays basketball or soccer with a group of friends.
As another example, shoe retailers or wholesalers may have a supply of impact-attenuating elements or portions thereof available to insert into footwear or foot-receiving devices at a point of sale location, e.g., based on the characteristics of the intended user, the intended use, and/or to replenish depleted stock, and the purchaser can select one or more impact-attenuating elements, e.g., based on their individual characteristics, intended use(s), personal preferences, etc. Impact-attenuating elements labeled with various different characteristics and/or footwear labeled with various settings (e.g., for different user characteristics (e.g., weight, etc.) or intended use characteristics (e.g., jogging, etc.) as described above) may be made available to the users.
When incorporated into an article of footwear, impact-attenuating elements of the type described above (or at least some portions thereof) may be enclosed within a polymer foam material or other material, such as a polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate material making up at least a portion of a midsole of the footwear article. Alternatively, if desired, portions of the impact-attenuating element(s) may be exposed through apertures in the foam material and/or through other portions of the sole member so as to be visible from an exterior of the footwear. As another alternative, if desired, the impact-attenuating element may be entirely enclosed by the foam material and/or other materials making up the midsole and/or other portions of the sole member.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
This application claims priority benefits based on U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 60/714,518 filed Nov. 29, 2004 (converted to a provisional application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/998,156). This provisional patent application is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60714518 | Nov 2004 | US |
