U.S. patent application number 12/553206 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for article of footwear with performance characteristic tuning system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nike, Inc.. Invention is credited to Matthew A. Nurse.
Application Number | 20110047816 12/553206 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43622710 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110047816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nurse; Matthew A. |
March 3, 2011 |
Article Of Footwear With Performance Characteristic Tuning
System
Abstract
An article of footwear with a performance characteristic tuning
system is provided. The article of footwear may include a
stiffening plate configured to add stiffness to the article of
footwear. In addition, the article of footwear includes one or more
tuning members connected to the stiffening plate and configured to
adjust the stiffness of the article of footwear. The stiffening
plate and tuning members may be connected to a midsole of the
article of footwear or an outsole. In some arrangements, the
article of footwear also includes an outsole member. The outsole
member may be a plurality of outsole units arranged along various
portions of the article of footwear and configured to provide
traction and/or impact attenuation to the wearer.
Inventors: |
Nurse; Matthew A.; (Lake
Oswego, OR) |
Assignee: |
Nike, Inc.
Beaverton
OR
|
Family ID: |
43622710 |
Appl. No.: |
12/553206 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/28 ; 36/30R;
36/68 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/28 ; 36/30.R;
36/68 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/18 20060101
A43B013/18; A43B 13/12 20060101 A43B013/12; A43B 13/42 20060101
A43B013/42 |
Claims
1. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper; a sole unit
connected to the upper, the sole unit including a midsole, an
outsole and at least one tuning member arranged within the sole
unit, wherein the at least one tuning member is adjustable to alter
at least one performance characteristic of the article of
footwear.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one
tuning member may be adjusted to add or remove stiffness to the
article of footwear.
3. The article of footwear of claim 1, further including a
stiffening plate to which the at least one tuning member is
connected.
4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the stiffening plate
is connected to a bottom surface of the midsole.
5. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the stiffening plate
is connected to a bottom surface of the upper.
6. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the at least one
tuning member is connected to the stiffening plate at a toe region
and a heel region of the article of footwear.
7. The article of footwear of claim 1, further including an
outsole.
8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the outsole includes
a plurality of outsole members.
9. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the outsole is
arranged to expose at least a portion of a bottom surface of the
article of footwear.
10. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper having a void
configured to receive the foot of a wearer; a sole unit connected
to the upper and including a midsole, an outsole and a plurality of
tuning strings arranged within the sole unit, wherein each of the
tuning members of the plurality of tuning members is independently
configured to alter at least one performance characteristic of the
article of footwear.
11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein each of the tuning
members is configured to alter the stiffness of the article of
footwear.
12. The article of footwear of claim 10, further including a
stiffening plate to which the plurality of tuning members is
connected.
13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the stiffening
plate is connected to a bottom surface of the midsole.
14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the stiffening
plate is connected to a bottom surface of the upper.
15. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein each of the tuning
members is connected to the stiffening plate at a toe region and a
heel region of the stiffening plate.
16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein each of the tuning
members is connected to the stiffening plate only at the toe region
and the heel region and is not connected to the stiffening plate at
any location between the toe region and the heel region.
17. The article of footwear of claim 10, further including an
outsole.
18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the outsole
includes a plurality of outsole members.
19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the outsole is
arranged to expose at least a portion of a bottom surface of the
article of footwear.
20. A performance characteristic tuning system, comprising: a
stiffening plate; and a plurality of tuning members arranged
longitudinally along a length of the stiffening plate, the tuning
members having a side-by-side arrangement and each of the tuning
members of the plurality of tuning members are independently
configurable to alter at least one performance characteristic of an
article of footwear.
21. The performance characteristic tuning system of claim 20,
wherein the stiffening plate includes a plurality of recesses for
receiving each of the tuning members.
22. The performance characteristic tuning system of claim 20,
wherein the stiffening plate further includes a plurality of guide
regions configured to align the tuning members.
23. The performance characteristic tuning system of claim 20,
wherein the tuning members are connected to the stiffening plate at
a toe region of the stiffening plate and a heel region of the
stiffening plate.
24. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper; a stiffening
plate connected to the upper and configured to alter a stiffness of
the article of footwear; a plurality of tuning members connected to
the stiffening plate and configured to alter the stiffness of the
article of footwear; and a plurality of outs ole members connected
to the stiffening plate and covering a portion of the stiffening
plate.
25. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein each of the
outsole members further includes an outer traction surface and an
outsole support member.
26. The article of footwear of claim 25, wherein the stiffening
plate further includes a plurality of guide regions configured to
align the plurality of tuning members.
27. The article of footwear of claim 26, wherein the plurality of
guide regions protrude from the stiffening plate.
28. The article of footwear of claim 27, wherein the outsole
support member includes recesses configured to correspond to the
guide regions of the stiffening plate and the tuning members.
29. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the plurality of
outsole members is configured to contact a ground surface.
30. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the plurality of
outsole members exposes at least a portion of the stiffening
plate.
31. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the plurality of
outsole members includes three outsole members.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to articles of footwear. In
particular, the invention relates to articles of footwear having
adjustable tuning members that store and release energy.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the world of sports, athletes are often looking for any
advantage to improve performance. The ability to store and release
energy in an article of footwear may provide this desired
performance improvement. During the stance phase of gait, it is
thought that the plantar fascia has the ability to store energy
which is released during the propulsive phase of the gait cycle. As
the foot flexes at the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, the fascia
tightens to assist in locking the midfoot for an efficient take
off. This foot structure may also aid in transmitting forces from
the Achilles tendon to the forefoot during the propulsive phase of
the gate cycle. During the late stages of ground contact, the
energy stored in the plantar fascia is released.
[0003] Providing an article of footwear that compliments and/or
enhances this natural energy storage and release may provide a
variety of performance enhancing advantages.
SUMMARY
[0004] The following presents a general summary of aspects of the
invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the
invention and various features of it. This summary is not intended
to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but it simply
provides a general overview and context for the more detailed
description that follows.
[0005] Aspects of this invention relate to articles of footwear,
such as those generally used in athletic activities. In some
arrangements, the article of footwear may include a stiffening
plate configured to add stiffness to the article of footwear. In
addition, the article of footwear includes one or more tuning
members connected to the stiffening plate and configured to adjust
the stiffness of the article of footwear. The stiffening plate and
tuning members may be connected to a midsole of the article of
footwear or an outsole.
[0006] In some arrangements, the article of footwear also includes
an outsole member. The outsole member may be a plurality of outsole
units arranged along various portions of the article of footwear
and configured to provide traction and/or impact attenuation to the
wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A more complete understanding of the present invention and
certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the
following detailed description in consideration with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an article of footwear that may be used in
conjunction with aspects of a performance characteristic tuning
system according to illustrative aspects of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an example performance characteristic tuning
system according to illustrative aspects of the invention.
[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate example foot positions in which
energy is stored and released by the performance characteristic
tuning system according to illustrative aspects of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an example article of footwear having a plurality
of outsole members used in conjunction with the performance
characteristic tuning system according to illustrative aspects of
the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates example outsole support members that may
be used in conjunction with the outsole members of FIG. 4 according
to illustrative aspects of the invention.
[0013] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate one example article of footwear
with tuning members extending upward along a sidewall according to
illustrative aspects of the invention.
[0014] The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not
necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] In the following description of various example structures
in accordance with 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 articles, including
one or more articles of footwear. Additionally, it is to be
understood that other specific arrangements of parts and structures
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," "front," "back," "rear,"
"side," "underside," "overhead," 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 and/or the orientations in typical use. Nothing in this
specification should be construed as requiring a specific three
dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall
within the scope of this invention. Aspects of the invention may be
used with any of several types of articles of footwear including
athletic footwear, such as footwear designed for sports such as
basketball, running, football, soccer, track and field events such
as jumping, and the like. Nothing in the specification or figures
should be construed to limit the invention to use with any single,
particular article of footwear or type of article of footwear
described.
A. General Description of an Illustrative Article of Footwear
Having a Performance Characteristic Tuning System
[0016] In general, as described above, aspects of this invention
relate to an article of footwear. More detailed descriptions of
aspects of this invention follow.
[0017] 1. Example Articles of Footwear Having a Performance
Characteristic Tuning System
[0018] In some arrangements, an article of footwear may include
portions that alter the stiffness or flexibility of the article of
footwear. For instance, an article of footwear may include a
stiffening plate that is connected to the article of footwear. In
some arrangements, the stiffening plate may be part of a sole
structure of the article of footwear and may be connected to a
bottom surface of a midsole of the article of footwear or may be
arranged between layers of a midsole of the article of footwear. In
other arrangements, the stiffening plate may be connected to a
bottom surface of an upper of the article of footwear. The
stiffening plate may extend from a toe region of the article of
footwear to a heel region of the article of footwear. In some
arrangements, the stiffening plate or a portion thereof may wrap
upward along a sidewall or sole of the article of footwear. In some
examples, tuning members associated with the stiffening plate may
also wrap or extend vertically upward along the sidewall, as well
as horizontally along a bottom surface.
[0019] In some examples, the article of footwear may include one or
more tuning members connected to the stiffening plate. The tuning
members may extend from the toe region of the article of footwear
to the heel region and may be connected at the toe region and the
heel region. In some arrangements, the tuning members might be
connected to the plate only at the toe region and the heel region
and might not be connected to the stiffening plate at locations
between the toe region and the heel region.
[0020] In some examples, the article of footwear may further
include an outsole. For instance, the outsole may include a
plurality of outsole members configured to cover at least a portion
of the stiffening plate and expose at least a portion of the
stiffening plate. The outsole members may include an outer traction
surface configured to contact the ground and provide traction for
the wearer. In addition, the outsole members may include an outsole
support member arranged between the outer traction surface and the
remainder of the article of footwear. In some arrangements, the
outsole support member may be arranged between the outer traction
surface and the stiffening plate. The outsole support members may
be configured to provide impact attenuation for the wearer and may
include recesses configured to correspond to features of the
stiffening plate and/or tuning members.
[0021] Additional aspects and specific examples of the articles
described above will be described in detail more fully 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.
B. Specific Examples of the Invention
[0022] Referring to the figures and the following discussion,
articles of footwear in accordance with the present invention are
described. Footwear is depicted and discussed as running shoes,
however, the concepts disclosed with respect to footwear may be
applied to a wide range of other athletic footwear styles,
including walking shoes, tennis shoes, soccer shoes, basketball
shoes, football shoes, and cross-training shoes, for example. In
addition, the concepts of the present invention may be applied to a
wide range of non-athletic footwear, including work boots, sandals,
loafers, and dress shoes. Accordingly, the present invention is not
limited to the precise embodiments disclosed herein, but applies to
footwear generally.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates one example article of footwear 100 that
may generally be used with aspects of the invention described
herein. Footwear 100 includes an upper 120 that is connected to a
sole structure 130. Upper 120 may be a conventional or
non-conventional upper that includes, for example, layers of foam
materials, synthetic textiles, and leather that are stitched or
adhesively bonded to each other to form a comfortable structure for
receiving a foot. Sole structure 130 may include an insole or sock
liner which is a thin impact attenuating member generally located
within upper 120 and at a position that corresponds with the sole
of the foot, thereby enhancing the comfort of footwear 100. Sole
structure 130 also may include a midsole 132 that forms the primary
impact attenuating layer of footwear 100 and serves, therefore, to
attenuate ground reaction forces and absorb energy when footwear
100 is compressed against the ground. In addition, sole structure
130 includes an outsole 134. Outsole 134 forms the primary
ground-contacting surface of footwear 100 and may be fashioned from
a wear-resistant material, such as carbon black rubber compound,
and may include texturing to enhance traction. Various example
outsole configurations will be described more fully below.
[0024] During running or other activities that compress sole
structure 130 between the foot and the ground, footwear 100
provides impact force attenuation. That is, footwear 100 attenuates
ground reaction forces and absorbs energy that would otherwise be
transferred to the leg and foot of the individual. The degree of
impact attenuation provided by footwear 100 is generally related to
the overall stiffness of sole structure 130. In general, a greater
stiffness corresponds with lesser impact attenuation, whereas
lesser stiffness corresponds with greater impact attenuation.
Accordingly, stiffness and impact force attenuation are generally
correlated through an inverse relationship.
[0025] In addition, a natural gait of a human includes flexing of
the foot in various regions, as well as flexing of the ankle. For
instance, a wearer may begin his or her gait by placing the heel of
a foot on the ground. As the wearer moves his or her body in a
forward direction, the foot will flex until the foot is in contact
with the ground, i.e., the heel, ball of foot, and toe region are
contacting the ground. The wearer will then lift the other foot and
place the heel of that foot in contact with the ground. As the
wearer moves his or her body in a forward motion, the second foot
will contact the ground and the first foot will pivot at the ankle
as the shin of the wearer moves forward. In addition, the first
foot will flex as the heel leaves the ground, then as the ball of
the foot leaves the ground. Finally, as the toes of the first foot
leave the ground, the foot will return to an unflexed position in
order to contact the ground with the heel again. Throughout this
process, the foot flexes as well as pivots with respect to the
shin, at the ankle. As will be discussed more fully below, this
natural motion of walking may be enhanced by footwear that aids in
returning the shoe and foot to the flat or unflexed position when
the foot leaves the ground.
[0026] The various elements of sole structure 130 will now be
discussed in detail. To aid in the following discussion, footwear
100 may be divided into three general regions: a forefoot or toe
region 111 that generally corresponds with a front portion of the
foot, including the toes; a midfoot region 112 that generally
corresponds with a middle portion of the foot that includes the
arch; and a heel region 113 that generally corresponds with the
heel. Regions 111-113 are not intended to demarcate precise areas
of footwear 100. Instead, regions 111-113 are intended to define
general areas that aid in the following discussion.
[0027] Midsole layer 132 may be attached directly to upper 120
throughout the length of footwear 100 and supplies a portion of the
impact attenuation characteristics provided by sole structure 130.
In toe region 111, midsole layer 132 generally extends between
upper 120 and outsole 134. An upper surface of the midsole layer
132 may be contoured to conform to the shape of the foot.
Accordingly, midsole layer 132 may include a raised arch on the
medial side of midfoot region 112, raised peripheral areas
extending around sides of the foot, and a depression for receiving
the heel, for example. The thickness of midsole layer 132 may vary
along the length of footwear 100. For example, midsole layer 132
may have a relatively constant thickness in heel region 113 and
midfoot region 112. In toe region 111, however, the thickness of
midsole layer 132 may decrease to a point at the front of footwear
100. Suitable materials for midsole layer 132 include foam
materials, such as ethylvinylacetate and polyurethane foam, which
are commonly incorporated into the midsoles of conventional
footwear. If desired, the midsole 132 may include one or more
fluid-filled bladders, e.g., embedded within the foam of the
midsole material, and/or one or more discrete columnar elements,
e.g., made of foam or other impact-attenuating materials, akin to
the columnar elements present in articles of footwear commercially
available from NIKE, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an article of footwear having a
performance characteristic tuning system 200 according to aspects
described herein. The article of footwear and performance
characteristic tuning system 200 generally includes a stiffening
plate 220 extending from the toe region 211 of the article of
footwear to the heel region 213. The stiffening plate 220 may be
configured to alter the stiffness or flexibility of the article of
footwear. In some arrangements, the plate 220 may be configured to
store energy when stretched and release energy when the plate is
released, as will be discussed more fully below. The stiffening
plate 220 may be formed as a separate piece and connected to the
article of footwear using known methods of attachment, such as
adhesives, stitching, mechanical fasteners, and the like. In some
arrangements, the plate 220 may be integrally formed with a sole
structure (such as sole structure 130 in FIG. 1) to provide
additional impact attenuation. In other arrangements, the
stiffening plate 220 may be formed separately and may be connected
to a conventional midsole or a layer of a conventional midsole
(such as midsole 132 in FIG. 1). For instance, the plate 220 may be
arranged between midsole layers or the plate may be arranged on a
bottom surface of the midsole such that it is visible and, in some
instances, accessible from the bottom of the article of footwear.
In still other arrangements, the plate 220 may be connected to the
upper (such as upper 120 in FIG. 1) of the article of footwear and
may be configured to provide impact attenuation, as well as energy
storage and release, as will be discussed more fully below.
[0029] The stiffening plate 220 may be formed of any suitable
material, such as a variety of plastics, including polyethylene,
PEAK, nylon, ZYTEL, as well as carbon fiber, and the like. The
plate 220 material may be selected based on desired performance
characteristics of the article of footwear. For instance, a stiffer
or harder material may be selected for an article of footwear
requiring greater stability, less flexibility, etc. On the other
hand, a softer or more flexible material may be selected for
articles of footwear in which flexibility is a highly desirable
characteristic.
[0030] As shown throughout the figures, the plate 220 may be a
single piece formed using known methods of manufacture, such as
various molding operations (e.g., injection molding, compression
molding, etc.), rapid manufacturing additive fabrication
techniques, such as laser sintering, and the like. The single piece
plate 220 may be flexible along the entire length of the plate 220.
In some arrangements, the plate 220 may be formed to permit
additional flexibility in certain areas of the plate 220 or,
alternatively, to restrict flexibility in certain areas of the
plate 200. For instance, the plate may be formed having varying
thickness which may alter the stiffness of the plate in thicker
areas.
[0031] The arrangement of FIG. 2 also includes a plurality of
tuning members 230. The tuning members 230 provide an adjustable
means of adding or restricting flexibility to the plate 220 and
thus, the article of footwear. For instance, the plate 220 may have
a first flexibility based on the material selected for manufacture,
etc. The tuning members 230 may then be used to further adjust the
flexibility of the plate 220. That is, the tuning members 230 may
be of a material to add stiffness to the plate 220, and may be
tightened or loosened to provide the desired flexibility for a
chosen wearer, activity, etc.
[0032] As shown in the figures, the stiffening plate 220 may
include five tuning members 230. However, this is merely one
example. In fact, any number of tuning members 230 may be used. The
number of tuning members 230 might only be limited by the size of
the plate 220 (e.g., the width). The tuning members 230 may extend
from a toe region 211 through the midfoot region to the heel region
213 of the shoe. In some arrangements, such as shown in FIG. 2, the
tuning members 230 may not extend to the top most portion of the
toe region 211 but rather may extend to a point below that region.
This may allow more even spacing of the tuning members 230, ease of
attachment, etc.
[0033] The plate 220 may include a plurality of recesses in which
the tuning members 230 may rest. Alternatively, the plate 220 may
provide a generally smooth surface on which the tuning members 230
are arranged. In addition, the plate 220 may include one or more
guide regions 240a-240d that aid in aligning and maintaining
alignment of each tuning member 230. For instance, the plate 220 in
FIG. 2 includes several guide regions, one at the heel region 240a,
one or more at the midfoot region 240b, 240c and one at the toe
region 240d. These guides 240a-240d may be formed into the plate
220 during manufacture of the plate 220, i.e., the guides 240a-240d
may be molded into the plate 220. In some arrangements, the guides
may be formed separately from the plate and connected to the plate
via known methods of attachment such as adhesives, stitching,
mechanical fasteners and the like. The guides 240a-240d may include
a plurality of channels or recesses into which the tuning members
230 are received. The guides 240a-240d generally aid in alignment
of the tuning members 230 and aid in maintaining the position of
the tuning members 230. Although the arrangements shown depict the
tuning members 230 extending generally parallel to each other, in
some arrangements, the tuning members may be arranged at an angle
and/or one or more tuning members 230 may overlap one or more other
tuning members.
[0034] In some arrangements, the tuning members 230 may be
connected at the toe region 211 and at the heel region 213. In some
arrangements, the tuning members 230 may be connected using snap
fits, mechanical fasteners, and the like. In some arrangements, the
tuning members 230 may only be connected to the stiffening plate
220 at the toe region 211 and the heel region 213 and are not
connected to the plate 220 at any location between the toe region
211 and the heel region 213. This two-point connection allows the
tuning members 230, as well as the stiffening plate 220, to store
energy during portions of the gait in which a user's foot is in
contact with the ground at both the toe 211 and heel region 213.
For instance, FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate one example of the energy
storage and release of the system described herein. FIG. 3A
illustrates a foot positioned with both the toe region 311 and heel
region 313 in contact with the ground surface. In this arrangement,
the tuning members and/or the plate (shown collectively as 325) are
stretched to a tension. Additional tension is added to the tuning
members and/or plate 325 as the heel of the foot leaves the ground
and the toe remains in contact with the ground, further stretching
the tuning members and/or plate 325 as shown in FIG. 3B. In
stretching, the tuning members and/or stiffening plate 325 store
energy. This stored energy is then released as the toe of the
wearer leaves the ground, thereby aiding in propelling the article
of footwear back to an unflexed position and propelling the user
forward.
[0035] In some arrangements, the plate may be formed of two or more
pieces, rather than as a single piece. For instance, the plate may
include a heel counter and/or a toe cap element. In these
arrangements, the plates may be formed such that they are "pulled
together" by the tuning members during the propulsion phase of the
gait, similar to the plantar fascia being loaded. In some examples,
the tuning members 230 may wrap upward, along a sidewall, such as a
sidewall of a midsole. Some examples of this arrangement are shown
in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0036] With further reference to FIG. 2, the tuning members 230 may
be formed of any suitable material, such steel, nylon, rubber,
various elastic materials, elastic and inelastic materials in
combination, and the like. The gauge of the material used in
forming the tuning members 230 may vary to provide varying
characteristics and may alter the energy storage and release
properties of the tuning members 230. For instance, a certain gauge
tuning member 230 may be selected because it may store more energy
due to greater tension created when the tuning member 230 is
stretched. Thus, greater energy may be released.
[0037] In some arrangements, the tuning members 230 may be evenly
spaced along the width of the article of footwear. In still other
arrangements, such as shown in FIG. 2, the spacing of the tuning
members 230 may vary along the length of the article of footwear.
In still other arrangements, tuning members 230 might be grouped
such that some tuning members 230 are evenly spaced while others
are not.
[0038] In some arrangements, the tuning members 230 may be
configured to permit different regions of the article of footwear
to have varying stiffness or flexibility characteristics. For
instance, the type or size of the tuning member 230 for the medial
side of the foot may be different from the type or size of the
tuning member 230 for the lateral side of the foot to provide a
different stiffness on the medial side than the lateral side. This
may allow for customization for a particular wearer or for
additional performance enhancement for a particular sport or
activity.
[0039] One advantage of using tuning members 230 in conjunction
with the stiffening plate 220 is that the tuning members 230 may
allow for the stiffness of the system to be adjusted, either at the
manufacturing level or, in some arrangements, at the user level.
For instance, the material selected for the tuning members 230,
and/or the configuration of the tuning members 230, may provide
varying degrees of stiffness depending on the desire of the wearer,
the activity for which the shoe will be used, etc. Additionally or
alternatively, the user may be able to adjust the stiffness of the
system as desired. For instance, the plate 220 and tuning members
230 may be removable and interchangeable with tuning members 230
having different performance characteristics. In other
arrangements, the tuning members 230 may be configured to be
tightened or loosened in order to adjust the stiffness associated
with the system 200. For instance, in some arrangements, the tuning
members 230 may be tightened or loosened in a manner similar to a
guitar string. That is, the article of footwear may include one or
more pegs or dials around which the tuning members 230 may be
wound. As the dials are rotated, the tuning members 230 may tighten
or loosen depending on the direction of movement of the dial. In
some examples, the dials may be arranged in a heel region or an
arch region of the article of footwear.
[0040] In some arrangements, the tuning members 230 may be used
without a stiffening plate 220. For instance, the tuning members
230 may be directly connected to an upper, sole, midsole, heel
counter, toe counter, etc. of the article of footwear and may not
include any stiffening plate. In still other arrangements, the
tuning members 230 may wrap upward and extend vertically along a
portion of a sidewall, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an article of footwear having a
performance characteristic tuning system including outsole members
300. The system 300 includes a stiffening plate 320 and tuning
members 330 similar to those described above. In addition, the
system 300 includes an outsole and, in this arrangement, a
plurality of outsole members 350a-350c. The outsole members
350a-350c are configured to contact the ground and to provide
traction for the wearer. In the arrangement shown, three outsole
members 350a-350c are included in the system. The outsole members
350a-350c shown generally cover at least a portion of the plate 320
and tuning members 330 and expose at least a portion of the plate
320 and tuning members 330. However, in some arrangements, a
conventional outsole may be used that would extend from the toe
region to the heel region to cover the plate 320 and tuning members
330. As shown in FIG. 4, the outsole members 350a-350c are arranged
in areas that contact the ground during a user's gait. For
instance, the heel region includes a substantially u-shaped outsole
member 350a that surrounds an outer perimeter of the heel region.
This arrangement may add stability to the article of footwear.
Another outsole member 350b is arranged at the ball of the foot and
yet another outsole member 350c is arranged around at least a
portion of a perimeter of the toe region. This will aid in
providing balance and stability to the wearer as the toe region of
the foot pushes off to leave the ground. Although a three-piece
outsole member configuration is shown, additional arrangements may
be used in which more or fewer outsole members are provided. For
example, the outsole members 350b, 350c arranged in the toe and
midfoot region may be formed as a single member to add additional
stability for the wearer.
[0042] The outsole members 350a-350c generally include an outer
surface 360 configured to provide traction to the wearer. The outer
surface 360 may include a pattern or texture including recesses,
protrusions, etc. that aid in providing traction. In addition, the
arrangement includes outsole support members (370a-370c in FIG. 5)
to which the outsole is connected and which may provide additional
impact attenuation for the wearer. FIG. 5 illustrates example
outsole support members 370a-370c which may be used in conjunction
with the arrangement shown in FIG. 4. The outsole support members
370a-370c may be formed of any suitable material, such as various
plastics, etc. that may be lightweight and supportive. The outsole
support members 370a-370c may be generally hollow or solid, as
desired. In addition, the outsole support members 370a-370c include
a plurality of recesses 380 that correspond to the position of the
tuning members and/or the tuning member guides. In some
arrangements, the outsole support members 370a-370c may be
configured to mate with the stiffening plate or tuning member
guides to provide impact attenuation. Connection of the outsole to
the outsole support members may provide a ground contacting surface
for the article of footwear. This arrangement aids in maintaining
the position of the outsole support members 370a-370c around the
various features of the plate and the tuning members.
[0043] The outsole support members 370a-370c may be connected to
the plate using various known methods of connection, such as
adhesives, stitching, mechanical fasteners, and the like.
[0044] Although the outsole members may be connected to the
stiffening plate, the tuning members may be free floating with the
outsole support members in order to permit the tuning members to
stretch and release to provide the energy storage and release
associated with the performance characteristic tuning system
described herein.
CONCLUSION
[0045] While the invention has been described in detail in terms of
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.
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