Patent Application
20230263267
Footwear, such as a shoe or a boot, is often subjected to wear inducing ground contact that degrades the outsole of the footwear. Once the outsole is worn beyond an acceptable limit, the footwear is often disposed of even when the upper of the footwear is still in good condition.
The configuration of the sole of an article of footwear is typically based on a design usage of the footwear. For example, the sole of a footwear designed for running will typically be designed to absorb higher ground impact forces as compared to the sole of a dress shoe or work boot. Accordingly, many people own multiple types of footwear based on the range of the types of footwear usage for the particular person.
The influence of the configuration of the sole of an article of footwear on how comfortable the footwear is for a particular user may be significant. While footwear is often available in many sizes, and often widths, the available foot wear may have soles that do not provide optimum comfort for the sizes and shapes of the feet of a particular person.
The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Embodiments described herein are directed to an article of footwear that include an upper with attachment straps and an insole with fastener members configured for removable coupling with the attachment straps for removable coupling of the insole with the upper. The article of footwear includes a replaceable outsole that is secured to the insole using removable fasteners. In many embodiments, the article footwear includes a replaceable midsole that is sandwiched between the outsole and the insole and secured in place by the removable fasteners. The article of footwear provides for easy replacement of the outsole, the midsole, and/or the insole without any specialized skill and/or specialized tools, thereby enabling easy replacement of a worn outsole and/or customization of the article footwear for a particular user and/or usage via the replacement of the outsole, the midsole, the insole, and/or the upper.
Thus, in one aspect, an article of footwear includes an upper, an insole, an outsole, and outsole retention fasteners. The upper includes flexible attachment straps and attachment strap fastener members. Each of the attachment strap fastener members is attached to one of the flexible attachment straps. The insole has an insole upper side and an insole lower side. The insole includes insole first fastener members and insole second fastener members. The insole first fastener members are disposed on the insole lower side. Each of the insole first fastener members is configured for removable coupling with a respective one of the attachment strap fastener members. The insole second fastener members are disposed on the insole lower side. The outsole includes outsole retention through holes. The outsole retention fasteners are configured for removable coupling with the insole second fastener members for removable coupling of the outsole with the insole. Each of the outsole retention through holes is configured to accommodate an outsole portion of one of the outsole retention fasteners.
In some embodiments, the insole includes insole attachment strap recesses disposed on the insole lower side. Each of the insole attachment strap recesses can be sized to accommodate a portion of one of the flexible attachment straps. Each of the insole attachment strap recesses can be further sized to accommodate the attachment strap first coupling member attached to the attachment strap.
Any suitable type of fastener can be used to removably couple the insole to the attachment straps. For example, in some embodiments, hook and loop fasteners are used to removably coupled the insole to the attachment straps. In some embodiments, snap button fasteners are used to removably couple the insole to the attachments straps.
Any suitable type of fastener can be used to removably couple the outsole to the insole. For example, in some embodiments, the insole includes threaded inserts. Each of the insole second fastener members can include one of the threaded inserts. Each of the outsole retention fasteners can include a threaded portion configured for mating with a respective one of the threaded inserts.
In many embodiments, the article of footwear includes a midsole. The midsole can include midsole retention through holes for selective retention of the midsole between the insole and the outsole. Each of the midsole retention through holes can be configured to accommodate a midsole portion of the one of the outsole retention fasteners. In some embodiments, the midsole includes midsole attachment strap recesses. Each of the midsole attachment strap recesses can be sized to accommodate at least a portion of the attachment strap first coupling member attached to one of the flexible attachment straps. Each of the midsole attachment strap recesses can be further sized to accommodate at least a portion of the attachment strap to which the attachment strap first coupling member is attached.
The upper can have any suitable configuration. For example, in some embodiments, the upper includes an inflatable Achilles support bladder. In some embodiments, the upper includes an inflatable toe support bladder. In some embodiments, the upper includes a bottom panel configured to separate a foot wearing the upper from the insole. The upper can include an inflatable Achilles support bladder and an inflation port in fluid communication with the inflatable Achilles support bladder. The upper can include an inflatable toe support bladder and an inflation port in fluid communication with the inflatable toe support bladder. The upper can include an inflatable arch support bladder and an inflation port in fluid communication with the inflatable arch support bladder for inflation of the inflatable arch support bladder. The upper can include an inflatable arch support bladder, an inflatable Achilles support bladder, an inflation connection tube that fluidly couples the inflatable arch support bladder and the inflatable Achilles support bladder, and an inflation port for inflation of the inflatable arch support bladder and the inflatable Achilles support bladder. The upper can include an inflatable toe support bladder, an inflatable arch support bladder, an inflation connection tube that fluidly couples the inflatable toe support bladder and the inflatable arch support bladder, and an inflation port for inflation of the inflatable arch support bladder and the inflatable toe support bladder. The upper can include an inflatable toe support bladder, an inflatable arch support bladder, an inflatable Achilles support bladder, an inflatable outer side surface bladder, one or more inflation connection tubes that fluidly couple the inflation toe support bladder, the inflatable arch support bladder, the inflatable Achilles support bladder, and the inflatable outer side surface bladder, and an inflation port for inflation of the inflatable arch support bladder, the inflatable toe support bladder, the inflatable Achilles support bladder, and the inflatable outer side surface bladder.
In many embodiments, the article of footwear includes a cushion insert configured to provide cushioning between a foot wearing the upper and the insole. In some embodiments, the cushion insert includes an inflatable arch support bladder and an inflation port that is externally accessible to accommodate inflation of the inflatable arch support bladder while the foot wears the article of footwear.
In another aspect, a footwear system includes the article of footwear and a replacement outsole. The replacement outsole is configured for use as a replacement for the outsole. The replacement outsole can include replacement outsole retention through holes. Each of the replacement outsole retention through holes can be configured to accommodate a replacement outsole portion of one of the outsole retention fasteners.
In some embodiments, the footwear system further includes a replacement insole. The replacement insole can be configured for use as a replacement for the insole. The replacement insole can have a replacement insole upper side and a replacement insole lower side. The replacement insole can include replacement insole first fastener members and replacement insole second fastener members. The replacement insole first fastener members are disposed on the replacement insole lower side. Each of the replacement insole first fastener members is configured for removable coupling with a respective one of the attachment strap fastener members. The replacement insole second fastener members are disposed on the replacement insole lower side. The outsole retention fasteners are configured for removable coupling with the replacement insole second fastener members for removable coupling of the replacement outsole with the replacement insole.
In another aspect, a footwear system includes the article of footwear and a replacement upper. The replacement upper is configured for use as a replacement of the upper. The replacement upper includes replacement upper flexible attachment straps and replacement upper attachment strap fastener members. Each of the replacement upper attachment strap fastener members is attached to one of the replacement upper flexible attachment straps. Each of the replacement upper attachment strap fastener members is configured for removable coupling with a respective one of the insole first fastener members. In some embodiments, the replacement upper has a different style than the upper.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed description and accompanying drawings.
In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.
Turning now to the drawing figures, in which like reference numbers refer to like features,
The upper 12 can include one or more inflation connection tubes that are connected with any suitable combination of the Achilles support bladder 44, the toe support bladder 46, and the arch support bladder 47. For example, the embodiment of the upper 12 illustrated in
The upper 12 can include any suitable combination of one or more inflation connection tubes and one or more support bladder inflation ports. For example, the upper 12 can include the inflation connection tube 44-47-ICT in combination with the Achilles support bladder inflation port 44-IP and/or the arch support bladder inflation port 47-IP. The upper 12 can include the inflation connection tube 46-47-ICT in combination with the Achilles support bladder inflation port 44-IP and/or the toe support bladder inflation port 46-IP. The upper 12 can include the inflation connection tube 44-47-ICT and the inflation connection tube 46-47-ICT in combination with one or more of the Achilles support bladder inflation port 44-IP, the toe support bladder inflation port 46-IP, and the arch support bladder inflation port 47-IP. The toe support bladder 46 and the Achilles support bladder 44 can be in fluid communication via an inflation connection tube that is not connected with the arch support bladder 47.
The upper 12 can further include an inflatable outer side surface bladder 49 that can be inflated to adjust the fit between the outer side portion of the upper 12 and the outer side portion of the wearer's foot. The inflatable outer side surface bladder 49 can have inflation port and/or can be in fluid connection with any combination of the Achilles support bladder inflation port 44-IP, the toe support bladder inflation port 46-IP, and the arch support bladder inflation port 47-IP via any suitable one or more inflation connection tubes.
The article of footwear 10 provides for easy replacement of the outsole 20, the midsole 18, and/or the insole 16 without any specialized skill and/or specialized tools. Accordingly, any worn out component of the article of footwear 10 (e.g., the upper 12, the insert 14, the insole 16, the midsole 18, the outsole 20, the outsole retention fasteners 22) can be easily replaced in a do-it-yourself manner. The article of footwear 10 can also be easily customized for a particular user and/or usage via the replacement of the outsole 20, the midsole 18, the insole 16, and/or the upper 12.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
