U.S. patent application number 12/882869 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-06 for footwear with separable upper and sole structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIKE, INC.. Invention is credited to Eric P. Avar, Michael R. Friton, James A. Grove, Bruce J. Kilgore.
Application Number | 20110000104 12/882869 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32770255 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110000104 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grove; James A. ; et
al. |
January 6, 2011 |
Footwear with Separable Upper and Sole Structure
Abstract
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes upper and a
sole structure. The upper defines an interior void that is
configured to receive the sole structure and a foot. A lower
surface of the upper defines a plurality of apertures, and the sole
structure includes a plurality of projections that extend through
the apertures to form a ground-engaging surface. The projections
are connected to a foot-supporting member that remains within the
upper. A locking system is incorporated into the upper and sole
structure to secure the sole structure to the upper.
Inventors: |
Grove; James A.; (Tigard,
OR) ; Avar; Eric P.; (Lake Oswego, OR) ;
Kilgore; Bruce J.; (Lake Oswego, OR) ; Friton;
Michael R.; (Portland, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD.
1100 13th STREET, N.W., SUITE 1200
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-4051
US
|
Assignee: |
NIKE, INC.
Beaverton
OR
|
Family ID: |
32770255 |
Appl. No.: |
12/882869 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12207309 |
Sep 9, 2008 |
7814682 |
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12882869 |
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11443617 |
May 30, 2006 |
7444763 |
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12207309 |
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11134112 |
May 19, 2005 |
7076890 |
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11443617 |
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10349398 |
Jan 21, 2003 |
6915596 |
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11134112 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/101 ;
36/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/223 20130101;
A43B 3/24 20130101; A43B 13/26 20130101; A43B 7/145 20130101; A43B
13/36 20130101; A43B 3/244 20130101; A43B 23/0245 20130101; A43B
3/246 20130101; A43B 3/242 20130101; A43B 7/14 20130101; A43B
7/1425 20130101; A43B 7/1445 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/101 ;
36/15 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/24 20060101
A43B003/24; A43C 13/00 20060101 A43C013/00 |
Claims
1. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper having an ankle
opening and a connection element located opposite the ankle
opening, the connection element forming at least a portion of a
bottom portion of the upper, and the connection element defining an
aperture; and a sole structure that is securable to and separable
from the upper, the sole structure having a foot-supporting element
and a projection extending from the foot-supporting element, the
sole structure being insertable through the ankle opening such that
the foot-supporting element is positioned adjacent an upper surface
of the connection element and such that the projection extends
through the aperture to provide a ground-contacting surface,
wherein at least a portion of the foot-supporting element and the
projection are formed of a polymer foam material.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the connection
element forms a first portion of a locking system and the sole
structure forms a second portion of the locking system, the first
portion being engagable with the second portion to secure the sole
structure to the upper.
3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the locking system
is a mechanical locking system.
4. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the first portion is
an edge of the aperture and the second portion is an indentation
defined in the sole structure, the edge being receivable by the
indentation.
5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the indentation
extends partially around the projection.
6. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the indentation
extends partially around the projection and is located adjacent to
the foot-supporting element.
7. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the edge and the
indentation have corresponding shapes.
8. The article of footwear of claim 1, when an upper surface of the
foot-supporting element is contoured.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least a portion
of a periphery of an upper surface of the foot-supporting element
is raised in relation to a central area of the upper surface of the
foot-supporting element.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a heel portion of
an upper surface of the foot-supporting element includes a
depression for receiving a heel of a foot.
11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a textile is
secured to an upper surface of the foot-supporting element.
12. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper having an ankle
opening and a connection element located opposite the ankle
opening, the connection element forming at least a portion of a
bottom portion of the upper, and the connection element defining a
plurality of apertures; and a sole structure having a
foot-supporting element and a plurality of projections connected to
the foot-supporting element, the sole structure being insertable
through the ankle opening such that the foot-supporting element is
positioned adjacent an upper surface of the connection element and
the projections extend through the apertures to provide
ground-contacting surfaces, wherein edges of at least a portion of
the apertures and indentations in at least a portion of the
projections form a locking system, the edges being joinable with
the indentations to secure the sole structure to the upper.
13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the indentations
extend partially around the projections.
14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the indentations
extend partially around the at least a portion of the projections
and are located adjacent to the foot-supporting member.
15. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the edges and the
indentations have corresponding shapes.
16. The article of footwear of claim 12, where an upper surface of
the foot-supporting element is contoured.
17. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein at least a portion
of a periphery of an upper surface of the foot-supporting element
is raised in relation to a central area of the upper surface of the
foot-supporting element.
18. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein a heel portion of
an upper surface of the foot-supporting element includes a
depression for receiving a heel of a foot.
19. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein a textile is
secured to an upper surface of the foot-supporting element.
20. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper having an ankle
opening and a connection element located opposite the ankle
opening, the connection element forming at least a portion of a
bottom portion of the upper, and the connection element defining an
aperture; and a sole structure that is securable to and separable
from the upper, the sole structure having a foot-supporting element
and a projection extending from the foot-supporting element, the
sole structure being insertable through the ankle opening such that
the foot-supporting element is positioned adjacent an upper surface
of the connection element and such that the projection extends
through the aperture to provide a ground-contacting surface,
wherein the connection element forms a first portion of a locking
system and the sole structure forms a second portion of the locking
system, the first portion being engagable with the second portion
to secure the sole structure to the upper, wherein the first
portion is an indentation in an edge of the aperture and the second
portion is a protrusion defined in the projection, the protrusion
being receivable by the indentation.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This non-provisional U.S. Patent Application is a
continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/207,309, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office on Sep. 9, 2008 and entitled "Footwear with Separable Upper
and Sole Structure." U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/207,309 is
a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/443,617 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,763, which issued Nov.
4, 2008), which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
on May 30, 2006 and entitled "Footwear with Separable Upper and
Sole Structure." U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/443,617 is a
continuation application of and claims priority to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/134,112 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,890, which
issued on Jul. 18, 2006), which was filed in the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office on May 19, 2005 and entitled "Footwear With
Separable Upper And Sole Structure." U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/134,112 is a continuation application of and claims priority
to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/349,398 (now U.S. Pat. No.
6,915,596, which issued on Jul. 12, 2005), which was filed in the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 21, 2003 and is entitled
"Footwear With Separable Upper And Sole Structure." The present
application claims priority to each of these prior U.S. Patent
Applications, and each of these prior U.S. Patent Applications is
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventional articles of athletic footwear generally include
two primary elements, an upper and a sole structure. The upper is
secured to the sole structure and forms a void on the interior of
the footwear for securely and comfortably receiving a foot. The
upper is generally formed from multiple elements that are stitched
and adhesively bonded together to form a comfortable structure for
receiving the foot. Conventional athletic footwear may include, for
example, an exterior formed of leather and polymer textile
materials that are resistant to abrasion and provide the footwear
with a particular aesthetic. Foam materials may be located on the
interior of the upper to enhance the comfort of the upper, and
moisture-wicking textiles may be positioned adjacent the foot to
limit the perspiration within the upper.
[0003] The sole structure attenuates ground reaction forces and
absorbs energy as the footwear contacts the ground, and often
incorporates multiple layers that are conventionally referred to as
a midsole and an outsole. The midsole forms the middle layer of the
sole and serves a variety of purposes that include controlling
potentially harmful foot motions, such as over pronation, and
shielding the foot from excessive ground reaction forces. The
outsole forms the ground-contacting element of footwear and is
usually fashioned from a durable, wear resistant material that
includes texturing to improve traction. The sole structure may also
include an insole, which is a thin, cushioning member located
within the upper and adjacent to a sole of the foot to enhance
footwear comfort.
[0004] 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
structure, therefore, requires a distinct upper in footwear where
the upper and sole structure are permanently secured together.
[0005] In contrast with the conventional article of footwear that
includes a permanently secured upper and sole structure, footwear
configurations embodying an upper and detachable sole structure
have been proposed. 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. 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. Finally,
U.S. Pat. No. Numbers 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.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention is an article of footwear having an
upper and a sole structure. The upper includes an ankle opening and
a pair of side portions extending downward from the ankle opening.
The upper also includes a connection element located opposite the
ankle opening and extending between the side portions. The
connection element forms a bottom portion of the upper and defines
an aperture. The sole structure includes a foot-supporting element
and a projection connected to the foot-supporting element. The sole
structure is insertable through the ankle opening such that the
foot-supporting element is positioned adjacent an upper surface of
the connection element and the projection extends through the
aperture to provide a ground-contacting surface.
[0007] The footwear configuration described above provides
separability between the upper and the sole structure. That is, the
upper and sole structure may be separated into two discrete
components of the footwear. During use, however, the upper and sole
structure are intended to remain securely connected. In order to
enhance the connection between the upper and sole structure, a
locking system may be incorporated into the footwear. In an
exemplary embodiment, the locking system includes an indentation in
the projection that receives an edge of the aperture, thereby
effectively securing the upper to the sole structure. The
indentation may be positioned, for example, adjacent the
foot-supporting element.
[0008] The footwear may also include additional features, including
an outsole section and a textile liner. The sole structure may
include a polymer foam, particularly in the projection. The outsole
section, which may be formed of a rubber material, may be
positioned on a lower surface of the projection to enhance the
abrasion-resistance and durability of the sole structure.
Similarly, the foot-supporting element may be formed of a polymer
foam material. In order to enhance the comfort of the sole
structure, a textile liner may be secured to the upper surface of
the foot-supporting member.
[0009] The advantages and features of novelty characterizing the
present invention are pointed out with particularity in the
appended claims. To gain an improved understanding of the
advantages and features of novelty, however, reference may be made
to the following descriptive matter and accompanying drawings that
describe and illustrate various embodiments and concepts related to
the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The foregoing Summary of the Invention, as well as the
following Detailed Description of the Invention, will be better
understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a lateral elevational view of an article of
footwear having a separable upper and sole structure in accordance
with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded elevational view of the footwear.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom and medial side of
the footwear.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the footwear.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the footwear, as defined
by line 5-5 in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the footwear.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the sole structure.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the upper.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a lateral elevational view of the article of
footwear with an alternate locking system.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the footwear with the
alternate locking system, as defined by line 10-10 in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following discussion and accompanying FIGS. 1-8 disclose
an article of footwear 10 having an upper 20 and a sole structure
30 in accordance with the present invention. In contrast with
conventional articles of footwear that have a permanently-attached
upper and sole structure, upper 20 and sole structure 30 are
separable. This structure provides a plurality of advantages over
the conventional, non-separable footwear. For example, upper 20 and
sole structure 30 may be separately cleansed in a manner that best
suits the respective materials forming each component. If one of
upper 20 and sole structure 30 becomes worn or otherwise damaged,
the damaged component may be replaced without the necessity of
replacing the undamaged component. Furthermore, upper 20 and sole
structure 30 may be interchanged with alternate uppers or sole
structures to suit a particular activity or a preference of an
individual.
[0022] For purposes of reference in the following discussion,
footwear 10 is divided into a heel portion 11, a midfoot portion
12, and a forefoot portion 13, as defined in FIG. 1. Heel portion
11 generally corresponds with the area of footwear 10 that receives
the heel and ankle of the individual, midfoot portion 12 generally
corresponds with the area of footwear 10 that receives the arch,
and forefoot portion 13 generally corresponds with the area of
footwear 10 that receives the toes. Portions 11-13 are not intended
to demarcate precise areas of footwear 10. Rather, portions 11-13
are intended to encompass general areas of footwear 10 to aid in
the following discussion.
[0023] Upper 20 incorporates a plurality of elements that are
stitched or otherwise connected to form a comfortable structure for
receiving the foot. Each element may include an individual material
or selected textile, foam, leather, and polymer materials that are
stitched or adhesively bonded together. The textile materials, for
example may include a mesh cloth that provides enhanced
air-permeability and moisture-wicking properties. The foam
materials may be a lightweight thermoset foam that conforms to the
shape of the foot and enhances the comfort of footwear 10. Finally,
the leather and polymer materials may be positioned in high-wear
portions of upper 20, or in portions of upper 20 that require
additional stretch-resistance or support. Accordingly, upper 20 may
be manufactured from generally conventional materials.
[0024] The various elements forming upper 20 define a lateral side
21a, an opposite medial side 21b, an ankle opening 22, and a
connecting element 23. Lateral side 21a and medial side 21b
generally cover the sides, heel, and instep portion of the foot and
may include laces or another tightening system for tightening upper
20 around the foot and securing the foot within footwear 10.
Lateral side 21a and medial side 21b define ankle opening 22 and
extend downward from ankle opening 22 to join with connecting
element 23. Ankle opening 22 provides access to a void within upper
20 that accommodates both sole structure 30 and the foot. Upper 20
is, therefore, configured to receive sole structure 30 and the foot
through ankle opening 22. Lateral side 21a, medial side 21b, and
ankle opening 22 have, therefore, a generally conventional
configuration. In contrast with a conventional upper, however,
upper 20 includes connecting element 23, which is secured to
lateral side 21a and medial side 21b and extends across a bottom of
upper 20 to form a lower surface of upper 20.
[0025] Connecting element 23 is secured to a lower portion of
lateral side 21 a and medial side 21b to form a lower surface of
upper 20. A variety of attachment techniques may be utilized for
securing connecting element 23 to lateral side 21a and medial side
21b, including stitching, adhesive bonding, thermobonding, or a
combination of stitching and bonding, for example. Connecting
element 23 extends onto a toe area of lateral side 21a and medial
side 21b in forefoot portion 13. This configuration limits forward
movement of the foot relative to footwear 10. Connecting element 23
may also extend upward on the lateral side, on the medial side, or
in heel portion 11.
[0026] Connecting element 23 may be a single element, as depicted
in FIGS. 5 and 8, or a plurality of elements that are joined
together. The primary purpose of connecting element 23 is to form a
plurality of apertures 24a-24g in a lower surface of upper 20.
Suitable materials for connecting element 23 include a plurality of
flexible and mildly stretchable polymers, including polyether block
amide, thermoplastic polyurethane, or a variety of rubber or
elastomeric materials. A combination of materials may also be
utilized. For example, a majority of connecting element 23 may be
formed from a textile or leather material, and a polymer may be
secured to the textile or leather around each of apertures
24a-24g.
[0027] Sole structure 30 is separable from upper 20 by disengaging
sole structure 30 from upper 20 and drawing sole structure 30
through ankle opening 22, thereby removing sole structure 30 from
the void formed within upper 20. The primary elements of sole
structure 30 are a foot-supporting element 31 and a plurality of
projections 32a-32g. Foot-supporting element 31 extends from heel
portion 11 to forefoot portion 13 and provides an upper surface for
contacting and supporting the foot. The upper surface of
foot-supporting element 31 may be contoured to include a depression
in heel portion 11 for seating the heel; an arch in midfoot portion
12 for supporting the arch; and an area in forefoot portion 13 for
supporting forward portions of the foot, including the toes.
Peripheral areas of foot-supporting element 31 may be raised to
form a general depression in the upper surface of foot-supporting
member 31, thereby providing an area for securely receiving the
foot. In order to enhance the comfort of sole structure 30, a
textile liner 33 may be attached, through adhesive bonding for
example, to the upper surface of foot-supporting element 31.
[0028] A lower surface of foot-supporting element 31 contacts
connecting element 23 when sole structure 30 is received by the
void within upper 20. In addition, projections 32a-32g extend
through apertures 24a-24g, respectively, and extend downward from
upper 20 to form a ground-contacting portion of footwear 10. Each
projection 32a-32g includes one of a plurality of outsole sections
34a-34g that imparts a durable and abrasion-resistant lower surface
to projections 32a-32g. Suitable materials for outsole sections
34a-34g include any of the various rubber materials that are
conventionally utilized in footwear outsoles, including blown
rubber, carbon rubber or a combination of blown and carbon
rubbers.
[0029] With the primary exceptions of liner 33 and outsole sections
34a-34g, sole structure 30 is formed of a polymer foam material
that provides cushioning as footwear 10 contacts the ground. More
specifically, sole structure 30 acts to attenuate ground reaction
forces and absorb energy as sole structure 30 is compressed between
the foot and the ground. This may occur, for example, during
activities that involve walking or running Suitable materials for
sole structure 30 are, therefore, any of the conventional polymer
foams that are utilized in the midsoles of athletic footwear, such
as ethylvinylacetate and polyurethane foam. Sole structure 30 may
also incorporate a fluid-filled bladder in heel portion 11 or along
the entire length of foot-supporting element 31 in order to provide
additional cushioning, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,156;
4,219,945; 4,906,502; and 5,083,361 to Marion F. Rudy, and U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,993,585 and 6,119,371 to David A. Goodwin et al.
[0030] Projections 32a-32g may have a variety of shapes within the
scope of the present invention, including circular, elliptical,
triangular, hexagonal, square, or any other geometrical or
non-geometrical shape. As depicted in FIG. 7, projections 32a-32g
each have different non-geometrical shapes and are distributed
throughout footwear 10. More specifically, projections 32a-32b are
positioned in forefoot portion 13, projections 32c-32e are
positioned in midfoot portion 12, and projections 32f-32g are
positioned in heel portion 11. Similarly, projections 32a, 32c,
32e, and 32f are positioned on a lateral side of footwear 10, and
projections 32b, 32d, and 32g are positioned on a medial side of
footwear 10.
[0031] When sole structure 30 is properly positioned within upper
20, projections 32a-32g extend downward and through apertures
24a-24g, respectively. The shapes of projections 32a-32g generally
correspond with the shapes of apertures 24a-24g to provide a secure
connection between connecting element 23 and sole structure 30. The
secure connection ensures, for example, that sole structure 30
remains properly positioned relative to upper 20 during walking,
running, or other ambulatory activities. The secure connection also
ensures that dirt, stones, twigs and other debris do not enter
upper 20 through apertures 24a-24g. In order to enhance the secure
connection, apertures 24a-24g may be formed to have an area that is
slightly smaller than the area of projections 32a-32g. Apertures
24a-24g may stretch, therefore, when receiving projections 32a-32g.
Furthermore, projections 32a-32g may each define one of an
indentation 35a-35g that extends at least partially around
projections 32a-32g. Indentations 35a-35g may be utilized to
receive the edges of apertures 24a-24g, thereby forming a locking
system that securely connects sole structure 30 to upper 20. The
area of engagement between apertures 24a-24g and projections
32a-32g, which includes indentation 35a-35g, may have approximately
the same area as apertures 24a-24g, or a slightly greater area to
ensure a secure connection.
[0032] The edges of apertures 24a-24g and indentations 35a-35g form
the locking system that securely connects sole structure 30 to
upper 20. A secure connection is generally formed when the edges of
apertures 24a-24g extend into indentations 35a-35g. The connection
may be enhanced, however, when the shape of the edges of apertures
24a-24g generally correspond with the shape of indentations
35a-35g. As depicted in FIG. 5, therefore, the edges of apertures
24f and 24g have a shape that corresponds with and engages the
surfaces of indentations 35f and 35g. That is, the edges of
apertures 24f and 24g have a generally convex shape that engages a
generally concave shape formed by the surfaces of indentations 35f
and 35g. In further embodiments, apertures 24a-24g and indentations
35a-35g may be structured to form other corresponding shapes. In
addition, the indentations may be formed in the edges of apertures
24a-24g and projections 32a-32g may form protrusions that mate with
the indentation in the edges of apertures 24a-24g.
[0033] Indentations 35a-35g may extend entirely around each of
projection 32a-32g. As depicted in the figures, however,
indentations 35a-35g extend only partially around each of
projections 32a-32g. More specifically, indentations 35a-35g are
located only on portions of projections 32a-32g that face outward
from footwear 10. With respect to projection 32c, for example,
indentation 35c is positioned on the lateral side of projection 32c
and extends at least partially onto front and rear portions of
projection 32c. Indentation 35c is not located, however, on the
medial side of projection 32c.
[0034] Indentations 35a-35g receive the edges of apertures 24a-24g
to form a locking system that securely connects sole structure 30
to upper 20. As discussed above, the edges of apertures 24a-24g
extend into indentations 35a-35g, and the shape of the edges of
apertures 24a-24g generally correspond with the shape of
indentations 35a-35g. In portions of apertures 24a-24g that do not
extend into indentations 35a-35g, the edge of apertures 24a-24g may
have a rounded configuration, as depicted in FIG. 5, in order to
increase the surface area of contact between connecting element 23
and sole structure 30.
[0035] The locking system described above provides an example of a
mechanical locking system that is suitable for footwear 10. The use
of an aperture edge and indentation is not the only type of
mechanical locking system that may be utilized to form a secure
connection between sole structure 30 and upper 20. As depicted in
FIGS. 9 and 10, for example, upper 20 may include a series of
tubular structures 25 that extend around connection element 23, and
sole structure 30 may include a series of corresponding tubular
structures 36 that align with tubular structures 25 of upper 20 and
fit between tubular structures 25. Various pins 37, for example,
could be placed through tubular structures 25 and 36 to secure
upper 20 and sole structure 30 together. Accordingly, upper 20 and
sole structure 30 have corresponding tubular structures 25 and 36
that are similar to the configuration of a hinge, with pins 37
serving the purpose of the pin in the hinge structure.
[0036] The structure of footwear 10 described above provides a
variety of advantages over conventional footwear, wherein the sole
is permanently attached to the upper. During running, for example,
some individuals may prefer a sole structure that limits the degree
to which the foot pronates upon contact with the ground. The same
individual, however, may prefer a sole structure that exhibits a
high degree of stability during court-style activities, such as
basketball or tennis. Rather than purchase multiple pairs of
upper-sole structure combinations that are permanently secured
together, the individual may acquire a single upper 20 and multiple
sole structures 30, each sole structure 30 being suitable for
different activities. The individual may then select one of the
multiple sole structures 30 for use with upper 20. Similarly, the
individual may acquire multiple uppers 20 for use with a single
sole structure 30.
[0037] Upper 20 and sole structure 30 are formed from different
materials. Whereas a large portion of upper 20 includes textiles,
sole structure 30 is primarily formed from polymer foam and rubber.
Upper 20 and sole structure 30 may benefit, therefore, from
cleansing techniques that are specifically suited to their
respective materials. Accordingly, upper 20 may be separated from
sole structure 30 and each may be cleansed in an appropriate
manner.
[0038] Outsole sections 34a-34g are formed of a rubber material to
provide durable, ground-contacting elements of footwear 10.
Although outsole sections 34a-34g are abrasion-resistant,
significant use of footwear 10 may eventually wear through portions
of outsole sections 34a-34g. Rather than dispose of footwear 10,
sole structure 30 may be properly recycled and replaced with an
alternate sole structure 30, thus extending the lifespan of
footwear 10. Similar considerations apply to upper 20.
[0039] From an aesthetic viewpoint, the interchangeability of upper
20 and sole structure 30 also provides the individual with the
ability to customize the appearance of footwear 10. For example,
footwear 10 may be purchased to have an upper 20 and sole structure
30 with substantially similar colors. By interchanging upper 20
with an alternate upper 20, the color combination of footwear 10
may be customized to the preferences of the individual. Support for
a particular athletic team, for example, may also be demonstrated
by selecting upper 20 and sole structure 30 combinations that
reflect the colors of the athletic team.
[0040] The present invention is disclosed above and in the
accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of embodiments.
The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide an
example of the various features and concepts related to the
invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in
the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and
modifications may be made to the embodiments described above
without departing from the scope of the present invention, as
defined by the appended claims.
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