U.S. patent application number 15/629856 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-28 for sole structure with adjustable flexibility.
The applicant listed for this patent is Under Armour, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kevin P. Fallon.
Application Number | 20170367439 15/629856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60675061 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170367439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fallon; Kevin P. |
December 28, 2017 |
Sole Structure with Adjustable Flexibility
Abstract
An improved sole structure for article of footwear is disclosed
herein. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole
coupled to the midsole. The midsole includes a channel extending
from the toe end to the heel end of the midsole. The sole structure
further includes a housing with a plurality of segments disposed
within the channel. A cable is threaded through the plurality of
segments of the housing with a first end of the cable being
disposed proximate to the toe end of the midsole, and the second
end of the cable extends out of the rear end of the midsole. A
tensioning mechanism is operatively coupled to the second end of
the cable to alter the amount of tension in the cable, and,
ultimately, alter the amount of flexibility of the sole
structure.
Inventors: |
Fallon; Kevin P.; (Portland,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Under Armour, Inc. |
Baltimore |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60675061 |
Appl. No.: |
15/629856 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62353264 |
Jun 22, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/223 20130101;
A43B 13/04 20130101; A43B 3/246 20130101; A43B 13/141 20130101;
A43B 5/00 20130101; A43B 13/125 20130101; A43B 13/122 20130101;
A43B 13/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/14 20060101
A43B013/14; A43B 13/04 20060101 A43B013/04; A43B 13/10 20060101
A43B013/10; A43B 13/12 20060101 A43B013/12 |
Claims
1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure
comprising: a midsole having a front end and a rear end; a channel
disposed within the midsole, the channel spanning from the front
end to the rear end of the midsole; a housing disposed within the
channel, the housing comprising a plurality of segments hingedly
coupled to one another; a cable threaded through each of the
segments of the housing and extending out of the rear end of the
midsole, the cable having a first end and a second end, the first
end being disposed proximate to the front end of the midsole, and
the second end being disposed out of the midsole proximate to the
rear end of the midsole; and a tension mechanism coupled to the
second end of the of the cable, the tension mechanism configured to
alter an amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the
amount of tension in the cable alters a degree of flexibility of
the midsole.
2. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the tension mechanism is
a ratchet configured to at least partially wind the cable around
the ratchet.
3. The sole structure of claim 2, wherein rotation of the ratchet
in a first direction increases the amount of tension in the cable
and reduces the degree of flexibility of the sole structure, and
rotation of the ratchet in a second direction decreases the amount
of tension in the cable and increases the degree of flexibility of
the stole structure.
4. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the cable is a steel
cable.
5. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the midsole further
includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the channel being
disposed within the top surface of the midsole.
6. The sole structure of claim 5, wherein the plurality of segments
of the housing are disposed on a base that aligns with the top
surface of the midsole when the housing is disposed within the
channel.
7. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of
segments of the housing comprises an opening configured to receive
at least a portion of the cable.
8. An article of footwear comprising the sole structure of claim 1
and an upper coupled with the sole structure.
9. An article of footwear comprising: an upper; and a sole
structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising: a
channel disposed within the sole structure, a cable disposed within
the channel and extending out of the sole structure, the cable
having a first end and a second end, the first end being affixed
within the channel, and the second end being disposed out of the
sole structure, and a tension mechanism coupled to the second end
of the of the cable, the tension mechanism configured to alter an
amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the amount of
tension in the cable alters a degree of flexibility of the sole
structure.
10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the sole structure
further includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the channel
being disposed within the top surface of the sole structure.
11. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising: a
flexible housing disposed within channel and at least partially
enclosing the cable, the flexible housing including a plurality of
segments hingedly coupled to one another via a base.
12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the base aligns
with the top surface of the sole structure when the flexible
housing is disposed within the channel.
13. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the tension
mechanism is disposed on a heel end of the sole structure.
14. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure
comprising: a midsole; a channel disposed within the midsole; a
flexible housing disposed within the channel; a cable threaded
through the flexible housing and extending out of the midsole, the
cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being
disposed within the channel, and the second end being disposed out
of the midsole; and a tension mechanism coupled to the second end
of the of the cable, the tension mechanism configured to alter an
amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the amount of
tension in the cable alters a degree of flexibility of the
midsole.
15. The sole structure of claim 14, wherein the midsole includes a
toe end, a heel end, a medial side, and a lateral side.
16. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the channel is disposed
in the midsole such that the channel extends from the lateral side
to the medial side.
17. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the channel is a first
channel, the first channel being disposed within the midsole
proximate to the medial side and extending from the toe end to the
heel end, and further comprising: a second channel disposed in the
midsole proximate the lateral side and extending from the toe end
to the heel end.
18. The sole structure of claim 17, wherein the flexible housing is
a first flexible housing disposed within the first channel, the
cable is a first cable threaded through the first flexible housing,
and further comprising: a second flexible housing disposed within
the second channel; a second cable threaded through the second
flexible housing and extending out of the midsole, the second cable
having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed
within the channel, and the second end being disposed out of the
midsole.
19. The sole structure of claim 18, wherein the tension mechanism
is a first tension mechanism coupled to the first cable, the
tension mechanism configured to alter the amount of tension in the
first cable to alter the degree of flexibility of the medial side
of the midsole, and further comprising: a second tension mechanism
coupled to the second cable, the tension mechanism configured to
alter an amount of tension in the second cable to alter the degree
of flexibility of the lateral side of the midsole.
20. An article of footwear comprising the sole structure of claim
14 and an upper coupled with the sole structure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/353,264, entitled
"Sole structure with Adjustable Midsole Flexibility", filed Jun.
22, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the sole structure of an
article of footwear, and, in particular, a sole structure with a
device configured to adjust the flexibility of the midsole.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional footwear contains a sole structure comprising a
midsole and an outsole, where the midsole is designed to be
flexible and provide support to the foot of a user, while the
outsole is configured to be durable, resilient, and wear resistant.
However, the sole structures of conventional footwear are limited
to a singular degree of flexibility. In other words, the
flexibility of each layer (e.g., midsole, outsole, insole, etc.) of
the sole structures of the conventional footwear is fixed and not
adjustable. By sole structures being limited to a singular degree
of flexibility, the conventional footwear is often designed for a
singular use (e.g., running, cross-training, climbing, basketball,
etc.). This prevents the conventional footwear from being useful
for activities that differ from its intended use. In addition, by
the sole structure of the conventional footwear having a singular
degree of flexibility, the sole structure of the conventional
footwear is only comfortable and/or supportive to a limited number
of users.
[0004] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a sole
structure for an article of footwear where the flexibility of the
sole structure is adjustable by the user of the article of
footwear. It would be further desirable to provide a sole structure
with adjustable flexibility to provide proper support to a wide
variety of users. It would also be desirable to provide a sole
structure with adjustable flexibility to enable users to adjust the
amount of comfort of the article of footwear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The adjustable sole structure for an article of footwear
includes a midsole and an outsole coupled to the midsole. The
midsole further includes a channel sized and shaped to receive a
housing having a plurality of segments that are hingedly coupled to
one another via a base of the housing. The channel extends from
proximate the toe end to proximate the rear end of the midsole. A
cable, having a first end and a second end, is threaded through
each one of the plurality of segments of the housing. When the
housing is disposed within the channel of the midsole such that the
first end of the cable is disposed proximate to the toe end of the
midsole and the second end of the cable extends outwardly from the
rear end of the midsole. A tensioning mechanism, or ratchet, is
operatively coupled to the second end of the cable and coupled to
the rear end of the midsole. Rotating the ratchet in a first
direction may increase the tension in the cable, and rotating the
ratchet in a second direction may decrease the tension in the
cable. As the tension in the cable is increased, the degree of
flexibility in the sole structure is decreased. Conversely, as the
tension in the cable is decreased, the degree of flexibility in the
sole structure is increased. Thus, a user of the article of
footwear containing an adjustable sole structure may adjust the
flexibility of the sole structure based on their desired properties
and their intended use for the article of footwear.
[0006] In another embodiment, a sole structure for an article of
footwear includes a midsole, a channel disposed within the midsole,
and a flexible housing disposed within the channel. The sole
structure may further include a cable threaded through the flexible
housing, where the cable includes a first end and a second end. The
first end of the cable is disposed within the channel, while the
second end of the cable is disposed outside of the channel and the
midsole. The sole structure may further include a tension
mechanism. The tension mechanism may be coupled to the second end
of the cable. Furthermore, the tension mechanism may be configured
to alter the amount of tension in the cable such that the
alteration of the tension in the cable alters the degree of
flexibility of the midsole.
[0007] In yet another embodiment, an article of footwear includes
an upper and a sole structure coupled to one another. The sole
structure of the article of footwear includes a channel disposed
within the sole structure, and a cable disposed within the channel
of the sole structure. The cable contains a first end and a second
end, where the first end of the cable is disposed and affixed
within the channel, and the second end of the cable is disposed
outside of the channel and the sole structure. The sole structure
also includes a tension mechanism that is coupled to the second end
of the cable. The tension mechanism is configured to alter an
amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the tension in the
cable alters a degree of flexibility of the sole structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of an embodiment
of the sole structure of an article of footwear according to the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a midsole of
the embodiment of the sole structure illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a cable housing of
the embodiment of the sole structure illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view the cable housing illustrated
in FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view the cable housing
illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the cable housing
illustrated in FIG. 3 in a flexed or bent position.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an article of
footwear containing the embodiment of the sole structure
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0015] Like reference numerals have been used to identify like
elements throughout this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying figures which form a part hereof wherein like
numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by
way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural
or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of
the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed
description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope
of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0017] Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying
description. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and
their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or
scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any
discussion herein regarding "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an
exemplary embodiment," and the like indicate that the embodiment
described may include a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic, and that such particular feature, structure, or
characteristic may not necessarily be included in every embodiment.
In addition, references to the foregoing do not necessarily
comprise a reference to the same embodiment. Finally, irrespective
of whether it is explicitly described, one of ordinary skill in the
art would readily appreciate that each of the particular features,
structures, or characteristics of the given embodiments may be
utilized in connection or combination with those of any other
embodiment discussed herein.
[0018] Various operations may be described as multiple discrete
actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in
understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of
description should not be construed as to imply that these
operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these
operations may not be performed in the order of presentation.
Operations described may be performed in a different order than the
described embodiment. Various additional operations may be
performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional
embodiments.
[0019] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A
and/or B" means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the
present disclosure, the phrase "A, B, and/or C" means (A), (B),
(C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
[0020] The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like,
as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are
synonymous.
[0021] As described herein with reference to the example embodiment
of FIGS. 1-6, a sole structure 100 of an article of footwear (also
referred to herein as a shoe), in accordance with the invention,
includes a toe (i.e., front) end 102 that corresponds with the toes
of the user's foot, a heel (i.e., rear) end 104 that corresponds
with the heel of the user's foot, a medial side 200 that is
oriented along the medial or big toe side of the user's foot, and a
lateral side 202 that is oriented along the lateral or little toe
side of the user's foot. The sole structure 100 may include a
forefoot region 106 that generally aligns with the ball and toes of
a user's foot (i.e., when a user is wearing a shoe equipped with
the sole structure 100), a midfoot region 107 that generally aligns
with the arch and instep areas of the user's foot, and a hindfoot
region 108 that generally aligns with the heel and ankle areas of
the user's foot. While the example embodiment depicted in the
figures (including FIGS. 1-6) show a sole structure 100 configured
for a left foot, it is noted that the same or similar features can
also be provided for a sole structure 100 configured for a right
foot (where such features of the right footed sole structure are a
reflection or are "mirror image" symmetrical in relation to the
left footed sole structure, e.g., the embodiment depicted in FIGS.
1-6). The invention of the sole structure 100 illustrated in FIGS.
1-6 may be utilized for any type of article of footwear, including,
but not limited to, shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, etc.
[0022] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the sole structure 100
includes a midsole structure, or midsole, 110, an outsole
structure, or outsole, 120, a cable housing 130, a cable 140, and a
tension mechanism 150. The midsole 110 may be constructed from a
thermoplastic or thermoset material, such as an ethylene-vinyl
acetate (EVA) foam material, that is configured to provide cushion
and support to a foot as the sole structure 100 impacts a support
surface. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the midsole 110 includes
a top surface 112 and a bottom surface 114 opposite the top surface
112. The bottom surface 114 of the midsole further includes a
plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10), a plurality of grooves
118(1)-118(8), and an arch 119. The plurality of protuberances
116(1)-116(10) may extend downwardly from the bottom surface 114 of
the midsole 110 in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions 106,
107, 108. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the plurality of
protuberances 116(1)-116(10) may extend laterally across the width
of the sole structure 100 (e.g., from the medial side 200 to the
lateral side 202 of the sole structure 100). Similarly, the
plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) may extend laterally across the
width of the sole structure 100, where the plurality of grooves
118(1)-118(8) may be disposed between the plurality of
protuberances 116(1)-116(10). Thus, the plurality of grooves
118(1)-118(8) separate the plurality of protuberances
116(1)-116(10) from one another. In addition, the arch 119, which
is disposed in the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 100 in the
midfoot region 107 of the sole structure 100, separates
protuberance 116(6) from protuberance 116(7). Similar to the
plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) and the plurality of
grooves 118(1)-118(8), the arch 119 may also extend laterally
across the width of the sole structure 100. While FIG. 1 only
illustrates that the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 110 contains
the protuberances 116(1)-116(10) and the grooves 118(1)-118(8) that
extend laterally across the width of the sole structure 100, in
other embodiments, the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 110 may
contain a set of protuberances and grooves that form another
pattern (e.g., longitudinally, checkered, latticed, etc.) across
the bottom surface 114.
[0023] The outsole 120 may be in the form of a plurality of plates
122(1)-122(10), which each include a top surface 124 and a bottom
surface 126 opposite the top surface 124. The plurality of plates
122(1)-122(10) are disposed on the plurality of protuberances
116(1)-116(10), where the top surface 122 of each of the plurality
of plates 122(1)-122(10) is coupled to one of the plurality of
protuberances 116(1)-116(10) formed in the bottom surface 114 of
the midsole 110. The plurality of plates 122(1)-122(10) may be
coupled to the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) via any
conventional means, including, but not limited to, co-molding,
adhesives, etc. The bottom surfaces 126 of plurality of plates
122(1)-122(10) of the outsole 120 are configured to contact a
support surface and support the sole structure 100 on the support
surface. The outsole 120 may be constructed from a material (e.g.,
rubber) that is durable and contains a durometer value greater than
the midsole 110. The term "durometer value", as used herein, refers
to any standard or other suitable durometer measurement (e.g., a
Shore A durometer hardness value) that provides an indication of
hardness and/or flexibility of the material, where lower durometer
values indicates a softer/more flexible material and higher
durometer values indicate a harder/less flexible material. In
general, harder materials have more wear resistance, but they are
also less flexible. Conversely, softer materials possess less wear
resistance, but are more flexible. As further illustrated in FIG.
1, the outsole 120 may be not disposed within the plurality of
grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119, creating sole structure 100
flexure lines along the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the
arch 119. In other words, the sole structure 100 more easily flexes
and bends at the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch
119 than at the areas of the sole structure 100 occupied by the
plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) and the plurality of
outsole plates 122(1)-122(10) because of the higher durometer value
of the outsole plates 122(1)-122(10). In addition, the sole
structure 100 more easily flexes and bends at the plurality of
grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119 because midsole 110 is
thinner at the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119
when compared to the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10).
[0024] As further illustrated in FIG. 1, disposed within the
midsole 110 is a cable housing 130 and a cable 140. The cable
housing 130 is disposed within the midsole 110 proximate to the top
surface 112 and spans along the majority of the length of the
midsole 110 (e.g., from the toe end 102 to the heel end 104). The
cable housing 130 includes a first end 132 and a second end 134,
where the first end 132 is disposed in the midsole 110 proximate to
the toe end 102 of the sole structure 100 and the second end 134 is
disposed in the midsole proximate to the heel end 104 of the sole
structure 100. The cable 140 is at least partially disposed within
the cable housing 130 and extends rearwardly from the second end
134 of the cable housing 130, through the midsole 110, and out of
the heel end 104 of midsole 110. The cable 140 may be constructed
from, but not limited to, galvanized steel, stainless steel,
natural fibers (e.g., cotton, jute, sisal, etc.), nylon,
polypropylene, polyester, etc. In addition, the cable 140 may be in
the form of a wire, a rope, twine, a chain, etc. FIG. 1 further
illustrates that a tension mechanism, ratchet system, or ratchet,
150 is operatively coupled to the midsole 110 proximate to the heel
end 104 sole structure 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the
ratchet 150 is disposed above the top surface 112 of the midsole
110. Thus, the ratchet 150 is not disposed within the midsole 110
of the sole structure 100. In other embodiments, however, the
ratchet 150 may be disposed below the top surface 112 of the
midsole 110, on the medial sides 200 of the sole structure 100, or
on the lateral side 202 of the sole structure 100. As further
illustrated, the cable 140 exits the midsole 110 proximate the heel
end 104 of the sole structure 100 and bends upwardly to couple to
the ratchet 150.
[0025] Turning to FIG. 2, the midsole 110 contains a channel 210
disposed within the top surface 112 of the midsole 110. The channel
210 may be formed within the top surface 112 of the midsole 110 by
any suitable process including, without limitation, etching,
engraving, carving, impressing, scoring, incising, stamping,
defined during formation of the component (e.g., formed in a
molding process), etc. As further illustrated, the channel 210 is
longitudinal with a first end 212 and a second end 214. The first
end 212 of the channel 210 may be disposed proximate to the toe end
102 of the sole structure 100. Conversely, the second end 214 of
the channel 210 may be disposed proximate to the heel end 104 of
the sole structure 100. Thus, the channel 210 extends
longitudinally along the upper surface 112 of the midsole 110 from
proximate the toe end 102 to proximate the heel end 104. The
channel 210 may be disposed centrally along a lateral widthwise
direction of the midsole 110. Thus, the channel 210 may be
equidistant from the medial side 200 and the lateral side 202 of
the midsole 110. In other embodiments, the channel 210 may be
disposed in the top surface 112 of the midsole 110 closer to medial
side 200 than the lateral side 202, or vice versa. As further
illustrated in FIG. 2, the channel 210 includes a ledge 216 and a
lower trench 218. The ledge 216 may be disposed within the channel
210 below the top surface 112 of the midsole 110, and along all
sides of the channel 210. The trench 218 may be disposed farther
into the midsole 110 from the top surface 112 than the ledge 216.
The trench may also be centrally disposed within the channel 210.
The channel 210 is sized and shaped to receive the cable housing
130 and the cable 140.
[0026] The midsole 110 further includes an opening 220 disposed in
the heel end 104 of the midsole 110. The opening 220 may be in
fluid communication with the channel 210. The opening 220 may be
sized and shaped to slidably receive the cable 140. Thus, as the
cable 140 extends rearwardly from the cable housing 130, the cable
140 extends through the opening 220 in the midsole 110.
[0027] The cable housing 130, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3-5,
includes a first end 132 and a second end 134. The cable housing
130 includes a base 300 having a top surface 302 and a bottom
surface 304. As illustrated, a plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13)
extend upwardly or vertically from the top surface 302 of the base
300 while flanges 310 extend horizontally or outwardly from the
base 300. The flanges 310 may extend from the base 300 in both the
longitudinal and lateral directions. As illustrated, the cable
housing 130 includes thirteen segments 136(1)-136(13). Other
embodiments of the cable housing 130 may include more or fewer than
thirteen segments 136(1)-136(13). The plurality of segments
136(1)-136(13) are separated by a plurality of slots or slits
320(1)-320(12). Each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13)
further includes an opening 330. The opening 330 of each segment is
sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the cable 140.
While only segment 136(1) and segment 136(13) are illustrated with
openings 330, each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13)
includes an opening 330 so that the cable 140 may be threaded
through each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13). As
further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, segments 136(2)-136(12) are
substantially equal in length, with segments 136(1) and 136(13)
being shorter in length than that of segments 136(2)-136(12).
Segments 136(1) and 136(13) may be equal in length to one another.
In another embodiment of the cable housing 130, each of the
segments 136(1)-136(13) may be equal in length.
[0028] As further illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the segments
136(1)-136(13) extend the same distance from top surface 302 of the
base 300. The cross sectional view of the cable housing 130
illustrated in FIG. 5 further illustrates the dimensions of the
segments 136(1)-136(13) and the flanges 310. The flanges 310 may
have a dimension of a first height H1, while the segments
136(1)-136(13) have the dimensions of H2, H3, and D1. Second height
H2 may represent the distance the opening 330 of each of the
plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13) is positioned above the top of
the flange 310. Furthermore, the third height H3 may represent the
distance the opening 330 of each of the plurality of segments
136(1)-136(13) is positioned below the top of the plurality of
segments 136(1)-136(13). The diameter D1 may represent the diameter
of the opening 330 of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13). As
illustrated, the combination of the dimensions H2, H3, and D1
represent the distance the segments 136(1)-136(13) extend
vertically from the base 300. Furthermore, the combination of the
dimensions H1, H2, H3 and D1 represent the total height of the
cable housing 130. In one embodiment of the cable housing 130, the
heights H1, H2, H3 and the diameter D1 may be equal to one another.
For example, the heights H1, H2, H3 and the diameter D1 may all
equal 1.5 mm. However, in another embodiment, the dimensions of the
heights H1, H2, H3 and the diameter D1 may differ from one another.
For example, the heights H1, H3 and the diameter D1 may all equal
1.5 mm, but the second height H2 may be equal to 3.5 mm. Thus, in
this embodiment, the segments 136(1)-136(13) extend farther from
the top surface 302 of the base 300 and from above the flanges 310
than the previous embodiments.
[0029] As further illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 300 may have a
width of W1, while the flanges 310 may extend outwardly in the
horizontal direction from the base 300 a distance of W2. In some
embodiments of the cable housing 130, the width W1 of the base 300
may be equal to the distance W2 that a flange 310 extends from the
base 300. Thus, the total width of the cable housing 130 would be
three times the width of the base 300. For example, the width W1 of
base 300 and the width W2 of each flange 310 may be approximately
4.5 mm. Thus, the total width of this embodiment cable housing 130
would be approximately 13.5 mm. In other embodiments of the cable
housing 130, the dimensions of W1 and W2 may differ from one
another. In these embodiments, the flanges 310 may extend outwardly
from the base 300 a greater or lesser amount than the width W1 of
the base 300. For example, the base 300 may have a width W1 of
approximately 4.5 mm, while the width W2 of each flange 310 may be
approximately 9.75 mm. Thus, the total width of the cable housing
130 would be 24 mm. In yet another embodiment of the cable housing
130, the flanges 310 may be of varying widths such that the width
of the flange 310 most proximate to the medial side 200 of the sole
structure 100 may be longer or shorter than the width of the flange
310 most proximate to lateral side 202 of the sole structure
100.
[0030] The cable housing 130 is sized and shaped to fit within the
channel 210 of the midsole 110. The cable housing 130 sits within
the channel 210 of the midsole 110 with the segments 136(1)-136(13)
of the cable housing 130 disposed within the trench 218 of the
channel 210. In addition, the flanges 310 of the cable housing 130
are configured to engage, and/or rest upon, the ledges 216 of the
channel 210. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the cable housing 130
is disposed within the channel 210 of the midsole 110 inverted from
the orientation illustrated in FIG. 3. When disposed within the
channel 210, the bottom surface 304 of the base 300 of the cable
housing 130 is aligned with the top surface 112 of the midsole 110.
The bottom surface 304 of the base 300 of the cable housing 130 may
sit flush with the top surface 112 of the midsole 110. Furthermore,
the cable housing 130 may be disposed within the channel 210 of the
midsole 110 such that the first end 132 of the cable housing 130 is
disposed proximate to the first end 212 of the channel 210 and the
second end 134 of the cable housing 130 is disposed proximate to
the second end 214 of the channel 210. While not illustrated, the
openings 330 of the segments 136(1)-136(13) may align with the
opening 220 disposed in the heel end 104 of the midsole 110.
[0031] As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the cable 140 is threaded
through each the segments 136(1)-136(8) via the openings 330 in
each of the segments 136(1)-136(8). While FIG. 6 only illustrates a
cable housing with eight segments 136(1)-136(8) and seven slits
320(1)-320(7), the embodiment of the cable housing 130 illustrated
in FIG. 6 operates in substantially the same manner as the cable
housing 130 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. The cable 140 may
include a first end 600 and a second end 602, where the first end
600 is affixed to or through the first segment 136(1). While the
second end 602 of the cable 140 is disposed proximate to the second
end 134 of the cable housing 130, the second end 602 of the cable
140 may not be affixed to the cable housing 130. Thus, a portion
610 of the cable 140, proximate to the second end 602, extends from
the second end 134 of the cable housing 130.
[0032] As illustrated, when the cable housing 130 is flexed or bent
so that the first end 132 is bent rearwardly toward the second end
134, or vice versa, where the bottom surface 304 of the base 300 is
at least partially bent over itself, the segments 136(1)-136(8)
separate from one another at the location of the slits
320(1)-320(7). Thus, the base 300 and the flanges 310 of the cable
housing 130 may be configured to bend and flex, which results in
separation of the segments 136(1)-136(8) from one another. The
cable 140 may be fixed to the first segment 136(1) of the housing,
while a portion of the cable 140 may be capable of sliding through
the remaining segments 136(1)-136(8) of the housing 130. As the
cable housing 130 is flexed, a larger portion of cable 140 is
pulled or slid through the segments 136(1)-136(8) (i.e., a larger
portion of the cable 140 is disposed between the first segment
136(1) and the last segment 136(8)) than when the cable housing 130
is in its resting, or horizontal, state (i.e., the cable housing
130 is not flexed). In other words, the length of the portion 610
of the cable 140 that extends outwardly from the second end 134 of
the cable housing 130 is largest when the cable housing 130 is in
the resting state (i.e., the smallest portion or amount of the
cable 140 is disposed between the first segment 136(1) and the last
segment 136(8). When the cable housing 130 is flexed, the second
end 602 of the cable 140 is pulled toward the second end 134 of the
cable housing 130, decreasing the length of the portion 610 of the
cable 140.
[0033] As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the second end 602 of the
cable 140 is threaded through the opening 220 of the midsole 110
and operatively connected to the ratchet 150. As previously
explained, the ratchet 150 is configured to rotate with respect to
the midsole 110 of the sole structure 100. As the ratchet 150 is
rotated in a first direction (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise),
the second end 602 of the cable 140 and the portion 610 the cable
140 are at least partially wound around the ratchet 150. In other
words, rotating the ratchet 150 in the first direction reduces the
amount of slack, if any, in the cable 140. As the ratchet 150 is
rotated in the first direction, tension is created in the cable 140
between the first end 600 and the second end 602 because the first
end 600 is affixed to the cable housing 130 proximate the first end
132 of the cable housing 130 and the ratchet 150 is winding at
least a portion 610 of the cable 140 proximate to the second end
602. Rotation of the ratchet 150 imparts a pulling force onto the
cable 140 from proximate the second end 602 of the cable 140. The
tension in the cable 140 increases as the degree in which the
ratchet 150 rotates in the first direction increases. The increased
tension in the cable 140 increases the stiffness in the cable
housing 130 because the amount of cable 140 that may pass through
the openings 330 of the segments 136(1)-136(13) when the cable
housing 130 is bent or flexed is reduced. In other words, as the
tension in the cable 140 increases, the amount of force imparted by
the cable 140 onto the segments 136(1)-136(13) of the cable housing
130 to press the segments 136(1)-136(13) together also increases.
The amount of force required to bend or flex the cable housing 130
is increased when the tension in the cable 140 is increased. Thus,
increasing the tension in the cable 140 reduces the cable housing's
130 ability to flex and bend, which, in turn, reduces the midsole's
110 ability to flex and bend. It then follows that rotating the
ratchet 150 in the first direction increases the stiffness and
reduces the flexibility of the sole structure 100.
[0034] Conversely, rotating the ratchet 150 a second direction,
opposite the first direction, unwinds the cable 140 from the
ratchet 150. Thus, rotating ratchet 150 in the second direction
decreases the amount of tension in the cable 140, and increases the
slack in the cable 140. This results in a decrease in the stiffness
of the cable housing 130 and the sole structure 100, and an
increase in the flexibility of the cable housing 130 and the sole
structure 100. While not illustrated, the ratchet 150 may be
further equipped with a quick release mechanism that enables the
tension in the cable 140 to be quickly returned to its minimal
amount. The quick release mechanism may be a button on the ratchet
150 that allows the cable 140 to be quickly unwound. In another
embodiment, the cable 140 may be quickly unwound by pushing the
ratchet 150 into the footwear or pulling the ratchet 150 outwardly
from the footwear to release the cable 140.
[0035] The ratchet 150 may be capable of small rotations of only a
couple degrees, which enables the precise adjustment to the tension
in the cable 140. Thus, the tension in the cable 140 may be set to
a desired amount, which means the flexibility and stiffness of the
sole structure 100 may be dialed to an exact degree/amount desired
by the user of the sole structure 100. The minute and precise
rotations of the ratchet 150 further prevent big jumps or changes
in the flexibility and stiffness of the sole structure 100.
[0036] The ratchet 150 may be positioned on the sole structure 100
to enable the user of the sole structure 100 to easily locate the
ratchet 150. Furthermore, the ratchet 150 is also easily located by
a user because the ratchet 150 protrudes from the sole structure
100, as illustrated in FIG. 1. By locating the ratchet 150 on the
sole structure 100 so that it is easily locatable by the user, a
user may be able to quickly find the ratchet 150 on the sole
structure 100 to adjust the tension in the sole structure 100
without having to look at the article of footwear. A user may then
adjust the tension in the sole structure 100 during use, or without
a long break in the activity they are performing. For example, if
the sole structure 100 is equipped on a pair of baseball cleats, a
user may be able to adjust the stiffness and flexibility of the
sole structure 100 of their baseball cleats prior to entering the
batter's box, or prior to fielding a ground ball. In another
example, where the sole structure 100 is equipped on a pair of
football cleats, the user may be able to adjust the stiffness and
flexibility after each play.
[0037] The rotation of the ratchet 150 further enables a user to
make quick adjustments to the stiffness and flexibility of the sole
structure 100 of the shoe they are wearing. Rotating the ratchet
150 enables quicker adjustments to that compared to belts, laces,
replacing insert members, etc. As explained previously, these
adjustments may be made while the sole structure 100 is in use.
Thus, rotation of the ratchet 150 to increase or decrease the
stiffness of the sole structure 100 enables the user of the sole
structure 100 to make fast adjustments to the flexibility of the
sole structure 100 as the user sees fit during an activity. The
rotational ratchet 150 enables users to adjust the sole structure
100 stiffness depending on the specific uses of the sole structure
100 during an activity.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 7, an article of footwear 700 may be
equipped with the sole structure 100, as described herein. The
article of footwear 700 may includes an upper 710 disposed on sole
structure 100. More specifically, the upper 710 may be disposed on
and coupled to the midsole 110 of the sole structure 100 via any
conventional and/or other suitable manner (e.g., via any form of
adhesion or bonding, via a woven connection, via one or more types
of fasteners, etc.). The upper 710 may be constructed from various
materials that are configured to conform and contour to a foot that
is placed within the article of footwear 700. In some embodiments,
various materials may be used to construct the upper 710,
including, but not limited to, leather, synthetic leather, rubber,
textile fabrics (e.g., breathable fabrics, mesh fabrics, synthetic
fabrics), etc. One material used for the upper 710 may be
configured to have a high degree of stretchability and
compressibility, while another material used for the upper 710 may
have a lower degree of stretchability and compressibility. The
materials used for the upper 710 maybe generally lightweight and
flexible, and may be configured to provide comfort to the user and
provide other desirable features. Moreover, the materials used for
the upper 710 may be configured to have desirable aesthetics and
functional features that incorporate durability, flexibility, air
permeability and/or other types of desirable properties to the
upper 710. The upper 710 and sole structure 100 cooperate to define
a foot cavity adapted to receive a human foot. An opening provides
access to the cavity, and enables a foot to enter and be disposed
within the cavity. In addition, while not illustrated, the ratchet
150 may be operatively coupled to the upper 710 rather than to the
midsole 110.
[0039] Because the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 are aligned
in the midsole 110 in the longitudinal or lengthwise direction
(i.e., the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 are positioned
within the midsole 110 such that they extend from proximate the toe
end 102 to proximate the heel end 104 of the sole structure 100),
rotation of the ratchet 150 in the first direction increases the
longitudinal stiffness of the sole structure 100. In other
embodiments of the sole structure 100, the cable housing 130 and
the cable 140 may be disposed within the midsole 100 in the
lateral, traverse, or widthwise direction (i.e., the cable housing
130 and the cable 140 are positioned within the midsole 110 such
that they extend from proximate the medial side 200 to proximate
the lateral side 202 of the sole structure 100). In this
embodiment, rotation of the ratchet 150 in the first direction
increases the lateral stiffness of the sole structure 100. In yet
another embodiment, a sole structure 100 may be equipped with cable
housings 130 and cables 140 aligned in the midsole 110 in both the
longitudinal and the lateral directions to adjust the stiffness and
flexibility of the sole structure in both directions.
[0040] In other embodiments of the sole structure 100, the midsole
110 may contain a plurality of cable housings 130 and cables 140
aligned in either the longitudinal or the lateral directions. For
example, a sole structure 100 may include three cable housings and
cables aligned in the longitudinal directions, one set proximate
the medial side 200, a second set proximate the lateral side 202,
and the third set centrally located in the sole structure 100. This
creates three longitudinal zones within the sole structure 100,
where a user can individually dial in the stiffness of each of the
zones based on the needs of the activity they are performing.
[0041] In another embodiment of the sole structure 100, the lengths
of the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 may be configured to be
disposed within the midsole in only one of the forefoot 106,
midfoot 107, or hindfoot 108 regions. This would allow the user of
the sole structure to only adjust the stiffness/flexibility of the
sole structure 100 in one of these regions 106, 107, 108.
[0042] It is to be understood that terms such as "left," "right,"
"top," "bottom," "front," "rear," "side," "height," "length,"
"width," "upper," "lower," "interior," "exterior," "inner," "outer"
and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or
portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any
particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term
"exemplary" is used herein to describe an example or illustration.
Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed
as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one
example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the
invention.
[0043] Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and
described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it
is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown,
since various modifications and structural changes may be made
therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and
within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In
addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be
incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is
appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a
manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in
the following claims.
* * * * *