This application claims the benefit of and priority to French Application Number FR2207514, filed on Jul. 22, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of footwear, and more particularly to articles and methods relating to separable footwear.
Conventional articles of athletic footwear generally include at least two components, namely, an upper and a sole structure. The upper is often secured to the sole structure and forms a void on the interior of the footwear for receiving a foot.
The upper and sole structure of most conventional articles of footwear are permanently secured together through adhesive bonding or stitching, for example.
Accordingly, wear or damage occurring to either the upper or sole structure may require that the entire article of footwear be discarded. In addition, sole structures are generally configured for use during specific activities, particularly with athletic footwear. For example, a sole structure may incorporate pronation control elements that are beneficial for running, stability elements for court-style activities, or relatively soft cushioning for walking. A sole structure that is configured for one athletic activity, such as long-distance running, may not be suitable for use during another athletic activity, such as tennis. Each different type of sole or upper structure, therefore, may require a distinct corresponding component in footwear where the upper and sole structure are permanently secured together.
In contrast with the conventional article of footwear that includes a traditionally secured upper and sole structure, footwear configurations embodying a detachable upper and sole structure have been proposed. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,857 to Vizy et al. discloses footwear with a permanently attached upper and outsole that includes a separate midsole and heel counter structure, which is removable from the upper. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,385 to Halford and U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,344 to Ching both disclose an outsole structure that is detachable from the remainder of the footwear. As a further example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,023,859 and 5,799,417 to Burke et al. disclose an article of footwear with removable and exchangeable inserts that are positioned between the upper and a lower portion of the sole structure. The inserts protrude through the lower portion of the sole structure to provide a ground-contacting surface.
However, improvements are needed.
A footwear article may comprise a sole structure oriented at the bottom of the footwear and configured for ground contact, an upper portion. The upper portion may be releasably attached to the sole structure via a locking assembly. The locking assembly may comprise a sleeve integrated with the upper portion and a locking member insertable into the sleeve. The sole structure may include a locking channel formed along an external surface of a peripheral edge of the sole structure. The locking channel may be configured to receive the locking assembly.
A footwear article may comprise: an upper portion, the upper portion further comprising a sleeve configured to receive a locking member; and a sole structure oriented at a bottom of the footwear, the sole structure further comprising: a midsole comprising a peripheral channel configured to receive the sleeve and the locking member; and an outsole configured for ground contact, wherein the locking member is configured to be disposed in the sleeve while the sleeve is at least partially disposed in the peripheral channel, and wherein the locking member within the sleeve and peripheral channel operates to secure the upper portion to the sole structure.
The following drawings show generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various examples discussed in the present disclosure. In the drawings:
The present disclosure relates to a footwear article that may comprise a plurality of components coupled to one another, and may further comprise a locking assembly for securing an upper to a sole structure. The locking assembly may include a sleeve integrated with the upper portion, a locking member insertable into the sleeve, and a channel disposed about the periphery of the midsole configured to receive the sleeve containing the locking mechanism.
As an example,
The components of the footwear article 100 may be made from the same material or from different materials. The components of the footwear may be made from recycled, recyclable and or bio-based or biodegradable materials. The sole structure 104 may be oriented at the bottom of the footwear article 100. The sole structure 104 may comprise a midsole 106 configured for coupling with the upper portion 102 and an outsole 108 for contacting the ground. The midsole 106 may generally be formed in the shape of a base of an article of footwear. The midsole 106 may be configured to provide cushioning and shock absorption to a wearer. The midsole 106 can be formed from a compressible polymer foam element, for example a polyurethane (PU) foam or ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), polyether block amide (PEBA) copolymer based materials, rubber, etc., or any suitable material which attenuates ground reaction forces and provides cushioning when compressed between the foot and the ground when walking, running or performing other activities. The midsole 106 may be formed from recycled or recyclable materials (e.g., recycled EVA). The midsole 106 may be formed from one piece of material (e.g., foam block or rubber material).
The upper portion 102 of the footwear article 100 may at least partially be made from a textile formed from a natural material (e.g., cotton, linen, silk, hemp, leather, etc.), or any suitable synthetic material (e.g., nylon, polyester, etc.). The upper portion 102 may comprise or may be formed from a polymer material (e.g., PET). Other materials may be used.
As shown in the figures (e.g.,
The sleeve 110 may be formed in substantially the same shape of at least a portion of the periphery of a corresponding midsole 106. In some embodiments, the sleeve 110 may be shaped to be attached to a peripheral edge of the midsole 106 such that it fully corresponds to the periphery of the midsole 106. As an example, the sleeve 110 may be configured to fully surround the upper portion 102 in the general shape of the midsole 106. In another example, the sleeve 110 may only partially surround the upper portion 102 (i.e., may be formed in just a rear, lateral and/or medial side, or front portion of the upper portion 102, or some combination thereof). In such an embodiment, the sleeve 110 may be shaped to be attached to a portion of the periphery of a midsole 106 that is less than the entire length of the periphery.
The sleeve 110 may be formed from a durable natural or synthetic textile material (leather, cotton, linen, nylon, vinyl, polyester). The material used to form the sleeve 110 may the same or different from the material used to form any other upper portion 102 components.
The upper portion 102 may be attached to the midsole 106 via a locking assembly, as explained herein. The locking assembly may comprise the upper sleeve 110, and the locking member 113. A midsole locking channel may be configured to receive the locking assembly (i.e., the upper sleeve 110 and locking member 113) when the locking member 113 is partially or fully inserted into the upper sleeve 110.
The channel 118 may be formed separately and attached to the midsole 106. In such an embodiment, the midsole 106 may be formed with a peripheral groove into which the channel 118 may be inserted. The channel 118 may be attached to the midsole 106 via, for example, an adhesive. Alternatively, the channel 118 can be directly formed with the midsole 106, via, for example, a midsole mold having the channel 118 directly integrated into the external surface of the midsole sidewall.
The channel 118 may be a partially enclosed or almost fully enclosed pipe or belt that runs substantially about the periphery of the sidewall of the midsole 106 as is at least partially set into the peripheral groove. The channel 118 may a hollow tube. The channel may comprise a longitudinal slit 119 be at least partially formed a within the tube. The longitudinal slit 119 may be configured to expand to receive the locking assembly as the locking member 113 is fed into the sleeve 110 after the locking assembly has been inserted into one or more ends of the channel 118. The channel 118 may be comprised of a flexible material, but may be substantially rigid to hold the locking assembly against the sidewall of the midsole 106 and prevent the slit from expanding after insertion of the locking assembly into the channel 118.
The channel 118 may be under sufficient tension to remain in place against the sidewall of the midsole 106. The channel 118 may be at least partially inset into the sidewall of the midsole 106.
The channel 118 may terminate at a heel portion of the midsole 106. The heel portion of midsole 106 may include a gap 122 between two endpoints 124, 126 of the groove 120 and/or the channel 118. The gap 122 may provide one or more entry points (e.g., entry points 124, 126) for inserting the sleeve 110 and locking member 113 into the channel 118. The gap 122 may be about 5 mm-1 cm wide. The entry point or entry points may enable the locking member 113 and upper sleeve 110 to be inserted into the channel 118 (i.e., at first and second entry points 124, 126). To this end, the inside and outside diameters of the channel 118 at the entry points 120, 122 may be greater than the inside and outside diameters of the remaining length of the channel 118. For instance, the inside diameter of the substantial portion of the length of the channel 118 may be about 5-6 mm, and the outside diameter may be about 8 mm, and the inside diameter of the channel 118 at the entry points 124, 126 may be about 8 mm, and the outside diameter of the channel 118 at the entry points 124, 126 may be about 11 mm. The inside and outside diameters may taper from greater to smaller as the distance between an entry point and the remaining channel 118 increases (i.e., until the point where the channel begins to curve around the heel just before the medial and lateral sides of the midsole). For instance, about 1-2 cm of the channel may be wider at the heel portion of the midsole than the remaining length of the channel. The inside diameter of the channel 118 may also be greater than the diameter of the locking assembly when the locking member 113 is inserted into the sleeve 110, so as to fully accommodate the locking assembly and, optionally, any adhesive used to further secure the locking assembly within the channel 118.
The locking assembly (i.e., the locking member 113 at least partially inserted into the sleeve 110) may then be used to couple the upper and the sole structure 104 via the channel 118. Upon insertion of the locking assembly into the channel 118, the locking assembly may optionally be adhered to the midsole 106 via an adhesive.
Thereafter, as is shown in
Additional embodiments of a footwear article are shown in
The outsole 108 may be made from rubber, plastic/polymer and/or foam materials (e.g., EVA, PU, TPR). The outsole 108 may comprise a foam portion coupled to a rubber base. The materials may be recycled, recyclable and/or bio-based or biodegradable. Other materials may be used.
The footwear article 100 may further comprise other components. As an example, the footwear article 100 may include an insole between the midsole 106 and the outsole 108. The insole may be made from a bio-based foam, a recyclable foam or other cushioned or supportive materials).
The footwear article 100 may further comprise laces. The laces may be made from plastic such as recycled or recyclable polymers. The laces may comprise or may be formed from cotton such as organic cotton or regenerative cotton. Other materials may be used.
The components of the footwear article 100 may further comprise a plurality of segments made from the recyclable and/or biodegradable materials. As an example, the upper portion 102 may comprise a plurality of separable segments made from the same type of material or different types of materials. The materials may be recyclable or bio-degradable.
The present disclosure comprises at least the following aspects:
Aspect 1: A footwear article comprising: an upper portion, the upper portion further comprising a sleeve 110 configured to receive a locking member 113; and a sole structure 104 oriented at a bottom of the footwear, the sole structure 104 further comprising: a midsole 106 comprising a peripheral channel configured to receive the sleeve 110 and the locking member 113; and an outsole 108 configured for ground contact, wherein the locking member is configured to be disposed in the sleeve while the sleeve is at least partially disposed in the peripheral channel, and wherein the locking member within the sleeve and peripheral channel operates to secure the upper portion to the sole structure.
Aspect 2: The footwear article of Aspect 1, wherein the sleeve comprises at least one open end configured to receive the locking member.
Aspect 3: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-2, wherein the sleeve is configured to lay substantially flat and expand into an elongate tube.
Aspect 4: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-3, wherein the sleeve is shaped to be attached to a peripheral edge of the midsole.
Aspect 5: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-4, wherein the locking member is a flexible rod.
Aspect 6: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-5, wherein the locking member includes first and second ends having corresponding positive and negative shapes.
Aspect 7: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-6, wherein the locking member is formed from extruded, molded or 3D printed from a thermoplastic polymer material, a composite polymer material, or a silicon material.
Aspect 8: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-7, wherein the midsole further comprises a peripheral groove configured to receive the peripheral channel.
Aspect 9: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-8, wherein the channel terminates at a heel portion of the midsole.
Aspect 10: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 1-9, wherein the channel includes endpoints spaced apart at the heel portion of midsole.
Aspect 11: The footwear article of Aspect 10, wherein the endpoints are entry points for inserting the locking member and sleeve into the channel.
Aspect 12: The footwear article of Aspect 11, wherein an inside diameter of the channel at the entry points is greater than an inside diameter of a remaining length of the channel.
Aspect 13: The footwear article of Aspect 10, wherein an outside diameter of the channel at the entry points is greater than an outside diameter of a remaining length of the channel.
Aspect 14: A method of making the separable footwear article of any of Aspects 1-13.
Aspect 15: A footwear article comprising: an upper portion comprising a locking assembly; and a sole structure comprising a peripheral channel configured to receive the locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly is configured to be at least partially disposed in the peripheral channel, and wherein the locking assembly within the peripheral channel operates to secure the upper portion to the sole structure.
Aspect 16: The footwear article of Aspect 15, wherein the locking assembly comprises an upper sleeve and a locking member.
Aspect 17: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 15-16, wherein the upper sleeve is shaped to be attached to a peripheral edge of the sole structure.
Aspect 18: The footwear article of any one of Aspects 15-17, wherein the locking member is a flexible rod.
Aspect 19: The footwear article of any of Aspects 17-18, wherein the upper sleeve comprises at least one open end configured to receive the locking member.
Aspect 20: The footwear article of any of Aspects 15-19, wherein the peripheral channel includes endpoints spaced apart at the heel portion of sole structure, and wherein the endpoints are entry points for inserting the locking assembly into the peripheral channel.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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FR2207514 | Jul 2022 | FR | national |