US20080168681A1 - Modular shoe construction - Google Patents
Modular shoe construction Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080168681A1 US20080168681A1 US12/013,695 US1369508A US2008168681A1 US 20080168681 A1 US20080168681 A1 US 20080168681A1 US 1369508 A US1369508 A US 1369508A US 2008168681 A1 US2008168681 A1 US 2008168681A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- outsole
- midsole
- plate
- footwear construction
- heel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/24—Collapsible or convertible
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
- A43B13/026—Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
- A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B17/00—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
- A43B17/14—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/0036—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design
- A43B3/0047—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design parts having a male and corresponding female profile to fit together, e.g. form-fit
Definitions
- the present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to an environmentally friendly modular footwear construction.
- Footwear including a midsole typically is constructed with a process in which the midsole is “direct attached” to the upper in a mold.
- an outsole is glued to the midsole, opposite the upper.
- Other attachment methods include various combinations of stitching and adhesive between one or more of the upper, outsole and midsole. Many of these methods are longstanding, but some concerns have been raised with regard to their environmental impact, particularly with regard to the nature of the adhesives that are commonly used.
- the present invention provides a modular footwear construction including an upper and a removable outsole that can be secured together without adhesives.
- the present invention is directed to a footwear construction including an upper, a removable outsole and a removable footbed.
- the upper includes a bottom having a tread surface.
- the outsole includes a bottom that extends underneath the bottom of the upper and also includes tread surface.
- the footbed fits inside the upper and includes both a cushioning midsole and a structural plate. The midsole and the plate each have structure that enables a mechanical interlock therebetween.
- the footwear construction includes an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the outsole to the upper.
- the attachment mechanism includes a first position in which the outsole is secured to the upper and a second position in which the outsole can be manually removed from the upper by the wearer.
- the attachment mechanism may be a heel strap that extends between the outsole and the upper and interfits with a protrusion on the upper.
- the attachment mechanism includes a toe cap on the outsole that extends over a toe portion of the upper, and a forefoot strap on the outsole that extends over a forefoot portion of the upper.
- the removable outsole allows the wearer to convert back-and-forth between a rugged, outdoor shoe with the outsole attached, and a slipper-like, indoor shoe with the outsole removed.
- the tread surface on the bottom of the upper provides an attractive, functional and clean, article of footwear for the wearer to wear while indoors.
- the mechanical interlock between the midsole and the structural plate, and the attachment mechanism between the upper and the outsole provide a glueless, and therefore environmentally friendly, footwear construction.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof
- FIG. 3 is a side view of the one embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a top view of the one embodiment
- FIG. 5 is a rear view of the one embodiment
- FIG. 6 is a side view of the upper according to one embodiment
- FIG. 7 is top view thereof
- FIG. 8 is a rear view thereof
- FIG. 9 is a bottom view thereof.
- FIG. 10 is a side view of the outsole according to one embodiment
- FIG. 11 is a top view thereof
- FIG. 12 is rear view thereof
- FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the midsole according to one embodiment
- FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the plate according to one embodiment
- FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the interlocked midsole and plate
- FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the interlocked midsole and plate taken along line 16 - 16 in FIG. 15 ;
- FIG. 17 is a side view of the footbed partially inserted into the upper
- FIG. 18 is a side view of the upper partially inserted into the outsole
- FIG. 19 is a close-up rear perspective view of the heel strap in an attached position, with the heel strap shown in an unattached position in phantom lines;
- FIG. 20 is a top close-up view of the forefoot strap
- FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a second embodiment
- FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a third embodiment.
- FIG. 1 One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and is generally designated 10 .
- the invention generally includes an outsole 12 , an upper 14 , a midsole 16 and a plate 18 .
- the components are capable of fitting together in a glueless arrangement, with the upper 14 being removable from the outsole 12 .
- the outsole 12 may be manufactured from a wide variety of conventional sole materials, such as natural and synthetic rubbers, leather, PVC, EVA and polyurethane. In one embodiment, the outsole 12 is formed by injection molding, but it may be formed by a variety of methods. As shown in FIGS. 10-12 , the outsole 12 includes a bottom 20 having an upper surface 22 and a lower, ground engaging surface 24 . The ground engaging surface may include one of a wide variety of tread patterns, including grooves 26 and raised protrusions 28 . A sidewall 30 extends upwardly from the upper surface 22 of the bottom 20 . The sidewall 30 may include a forefoot portion 32 , an arch portion 34 , a heel portion 36 , an inner surface 37 and an outer surface 39 .
- the sidewall extends around the entire outsole 12 .
- the sidewall 30 may extend upwardly from only selected portions of the bottom 20 .
- the sidewall 30 includes an upper edge 40 , and the sidewall gradually curves inwardly as it approaches the edge 40 .
- the sidewall may include a toe portion 38 having an upwardly extending part 42 , and an inwardly extending part 44 that wraps the sidewall 30 over a portion of the upper (as described below) and the users' toes.
- the outsole 12 includes a strap 46 that extends from the upper edge 40 of the sidewall 30 over the top of the user's foot in the forefoot portion 32 of the outsole 12 .
- the strap 46 is comprised of a pair of extensions 48 , 50 that extend from opposite sides of the upper edge 40 .
- the extensions 48 , 50 may be formed integrally with the outsole 12 , for instance, by molding them integrally with the outsole 12 .
- the extensions 48 , 50 each include an end 52 , 54 , and the ends 52 , 54 are joined by an elastic connector 56 .
- the elastic connector 56 includes a pair of protrusions 60 a - b that extend through holes in the ends 52 , 54 of the extensions 48 , 50 to attach the connector 56 to the extensions 48 , 50 .
- the connector 56 may be attached to the extensions by another method, such as stitching.
- the connector 56 may otherwise be eliminated, such that the extensions 48 , 50 are a single piece that extends over the forefoot.
- the outsole 12 may also include connector for connecting the outsole 12 to the upper (described in more detail below).
- the connector is a heel strap 64 may be a narrow strip of flexible material that extends from the heel portion 36 of the outsole 12 .
- the heel strap 64 is comprised of fabric, which may be the same fabric as the upper 14 to give the appearance that the strap 64 extends from the upper 14 .
- the heel strap 64 includes a first end 66 (shown in FIG. 11 ) that is stitched to the inner surface 37 of the sidewall 30 .
- the sidewall 30 includes a hole 68 in the heel portion 36
- the heel strap includes a second end 70 that extends though the hole 68 .
- the second end 70 is capable of attaching to another portion of the shoe 10 , such as the upper 14 , by a conventional method.
- the second end 70 includes a plastic insert 72 connected to the fabric, the insert includes a hole 74 and a slit 76 for receiving a protrusion 96 on the component that the strap 64 will attach to.
- the heel strap 64 is movable between an attached position (shown in solid lines) wherein the protrusion 96 is received in the hole 74 to secure the upper 14 to the outsole 12 , and an unattached position (shown in phantom lines) wherein the strap 64 is removed from the protrusion 96 to allow the upper to be removed from the outsole 12 .
- the strap 64 may include a snap fastener, Velcro®, or another attachment mechanism.
- the upper 14 includes a bottom 80 , vamp 82 , quarters 84 , 86 , and a heel panel 88 .
- the upper 14 may be comprised of a wide variety of materials, such as fabric, leather, vinyl, and other known materials, and is generally sized to fit snugly within the sidewall 30 of the outsole 12 .
- the bottom 80 of the upper 14 includes an upper surface 90 (shown in FIG. 7 ) and a lower surface 92 (shown in FIG. 9 ).
- the lower surface 92 may be designed to be a ground engaging surface, for instance, by including a grip material 94 attached to the lower surface 92 in a desired pattern. In one embodiment, shown in detail in FIG.
- the heel panel 88 includes an outwardly extending protrusion 96 .
- the protrusion 96 includes a shaft 98 with a knob 100 at the end, such that the protrusion 96 can be inserted through the hole 74 in the heel strap 64 on the outsole 12 .
- the heel panel 88 may include another mechanical fastening mechanism for attaching to the outsole 12 .
- the midsole 16 and the plate 18 fit inside the upper 14 to form a cushioned, stabilizing footbed.
- the midsole 16 is formed from EVA or another cushioning material, and includes a peripheral edge 102 having the general shape of the bottom 80 of the upper 14 .
- the midsole 16 further includes an upper surface 104 , a lower surface 106 , a heel portion 108 , an arch portion 110 and a forefoot portion 112 .
- a sock liner (not shown) is attached to the upper surface 104 .
- the sock liner may be comprised of fabric, and may be attached to the upper surface 104 by one of a variety of conventional methods, such as an adhesive, or by direct attach molding the midsole 16 to the sock liner 114 .
- the lower surface 106 of the midsole 16 includes a plurality of protrusions 116 for forming a mechanical interlock with the plate 18 .
- the midsole 16 includes two protrusions 116 a - b in the heel portion 108 , three protrusions 116 c - e in the arch portion 110 , and six protrusions 116 f - k in the forefoot portion.
- the midsole 16 may include more or less protrusions 116 and the protrusions 116 may be placed in different locations, for instance, the protrusions 116 c - e in the arch portion 110 may be eliminated.
- each said protrusion 116 is shaped to interlock with portions of the plate 18 .
- each protrusion 116 is undercut with angled edges 121 , such that its cross-section increases as it approaches an outer edge 118 .
- the protrusions may have a different cross-sectional shape.
- the plate 18 fits within the upper 14 between the midsole 16 and the bottom 80 if the upper 14 .
- the plate 18 is comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material to add a degree of stiffness to the upper 14 and midsole 16 .
- the plate 18 may be injection molded from TPU, TPR or PVC.
- the plate 18 may alternatively be manufactured from other materials, such as nylon, rubber, synthetic rubber or silicone, but it is likely that the insert 16 would not be manufactured by injection molding if any of these alternative materials was used.
- the plate 18 includes an upper surface 117 , a lower surface 119 , a forefoot portion 120 , an arch portion 122 and a heel portion 124 , and is generally shaped to correspond to the shape of the midsole 16 .
- the plate 18 could be smaller than the midsole, for instance, by not extending into the forefoot portion 120 .
- the plate 18 is designed to mechanically interlock with the midsole 16 . This allows the midsole 16 and plate 18 to be connected, if desired, without the use of adhesives.
- the plate 18 includes a plurality of holes 123 that align with the protrusions 116 on the midsole 16 , such that each hole 123 can receive a protrusion 116 to interlock the midsole 16 and the plate 18 .
- each hole 123 may be cut to have a cross-sectional shape that increases the interlock with the midsole 16 . In the illustrated embodiment, shown in FIG.
- each hole 123 is cut from the plate 18 with an angular cut so that the cross-section of the hole 123 narrows from the lower surface 119 to the upper surface 117 , creating an interference fit between each undercut protrusion 116 and each hole 123 .
- the cross-sectional shape of the holes 123 may be varied to correspond to different cross-sections of the protrusions 116 .
- Manufacture of the shoe construction 10 includes forming each of the outsole 12 , upper 14 , midsole 16 and plate 18 separately, and then assembling the components together.
- the components may be assembled into the shoe construction 10 without the use of glue.
- the midsole 16 and plate 18 are mechanically interlocked, for instance, by fitting the protrusions 116 on the midsole 16 into corresponding holes 123 on the plate 18 (shown in FIG. 15 ).
- the interlocked midsole 16 and plate 18 are then inserted into the upper 14 (see FIG. 17 ), so that the bottom surface 119 of the plate 18 engages the upper surface 90 of the bottom 80 of the upper 14 .
- the upper 14 is then inserted into the outsole 12 (see FIG.
- the vamp 82 extends under the strap 46 of the outsole and the lower surface 92 of the bottom 80 of the upper 14 engages the upper surface 22 of the outsole 12 .
- the rigidity of the plate 18 helps to wedge the upper 14 against the sidewall 30 of the outsole to hold the upper 12 in the outsole 12 .
- the heel strap 64 is then moved to the attached position by fastening it to the protrusion 96 to secure the outsole 12 to the upper 14 . In use, a user can remove the outsole 12 without taking off the shoe 10 by unfastening the heel strap 64 and pulling the outsole 12 from the upper 14 .
- FIGS. 21 and 22 show two alternative embodiments of the upper 14 ′ and 14 ′′, wherein the vamp, quarters, and heel portion are varied.
- FIG. 22 shows a lace-up style upper
- FIG. 21 shows a boot style upper.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
A modular footwear construction includes an upper with a removable outsole. The upper and the outsole both include bottoms having tread surfaces. A removable footbed fits inside the upper, and includes both a cushioning midsole and a structural plate. The outsole is removably secured to the upper without adhesives. In one embodiment, the midsole and the plate each have structure that enables a mechanical interlock therebetween. In another embodiment, a heel strap extends from the outsole and fits over a protrusion on the upper to removably secure the outsole to the upper.
Description
- The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to an environmentally friendly modular footwear construction.
- It is well known that issues arise with footwear when it gets dirty, especially when a wearer travels indoors after participating in outdoor activities such as hiking and trail running. These activities typically result in dirt or mud collecting on the outsole of the footwear, and often force the wearer to remove the footwear before stepping indoors. This removal of footwear can be undesirable for the wearer, as they will either have to come prepared with a second set of footwear or proceed without any footwear at all.
- In addition to the above-noted issues, in recent years, there has been an increased focus on developing environmentally friendly footwear constructions. For instance, the leather used in constructing footwear uppers is now often selected based on the environmental footprint of its tanning process. And some outsoles are now produced from recycled rubber materials, such as re-ground waste rubber that was cut away during a molding process (flashing) or recycled crumb rubber from industrial sources, like old tires.
- Other environmental aspects of footwear have not yet been addressed in great detail, including the processes for attaching the upper, outsole and midsole. Footwear including a midsole typically is constructed with a process in which the midsole is “direct attached” to the upper in a mold. To complete the footwear construction, an outsole is glued to the midsole, opposite the upper. Other attachment methods include various combinations of stitching and adhesive between one or more of the upper, outsole and midsole. Many of these methods are longstanding, but some concerns have been raised with regard to their environmental impact, particularly with regard to the nature of the adhesives that are commonly used.
- The present invention provides a modular footwear construction including an upper and a removable outsole that can be secured together without adhesives.
- In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a footwear construction including an upper, a removable outsole and a removable footbed. The upper includes a bottom having a tread surface. The outsole includes a bottom that extends underneath the bottom of the upper and also includes tread surface. The footbed fits inside the upper and includes both a cushioning midsole and a structural plate. The midsole and the plate each have structure that enables a mechanical interlock therebetween.
- In another embodiment, the footwear construction includes an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the outsole to the upper. The attachment mechanism includes a first position in which the outsole is secured to the upper and a second position in which the outsole can be manually removed from the upper by the wearer. The attachment mechanism may be a heel strap that extends between the outsole and the upper and interfits with a protrusion on the upper. In another embodiment, the attachment mechanism includes a toe cap on the outsole that extends over a toe portion of the upper, and a forefoot strap on the outsole that extends over a forefoot portion of the upper.
- The removable outsole allows the wearer to convert back-and-forth between a rugged, outdoor shoe with the outsole attached, and a slipper-like, indoor shoe with the outsole removed. The tread surface on the bottom of the upper provides an attractive, functional and clean, article of footwear for the wearer to wear while indoors. In addition, the mechanical interlock between the midsole and the structural plate, and the attachment mechanism between the upper and the outsole provide a glueless, and therefore environmentally friendly, footwear construction.
- These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the current embodiment and the drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof; -
FIG. 3 is a side view of the one embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a top view of the one embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the one embodiment; -
FIG. 6 is a side view of the upper according to one embodiment; -
FIG. 7 is top view thereof; -
FIG. 8 is a rear view thereof; -
FIG. 9 is a bottom view thereof; -
FIG. 10 is a side view of the outsole according to one embodiment; -
FIG. 11 is a top view thereof; -
FIG. 12 is rear view thereof; -
FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the midsole according to one embodiment; -
FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the plate according to one embodiment; -
FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the interlocked midsole and plate; -
FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the interlocked midsole and plate taken along line 16-16 inFIG. 15 ; -
FIG. 17 is a side view of the footbed partially inserted into the upper; -
FIG. 18 is a side view of the upper partially inserted into the outsole; -
FIG. 19 is a close-up rear perspective view of the heel strap in an attached position, with the heel strap shown in an unattached position in phantom lines; -
FIG. 20 is a top close-up view of the forefoot strap; -
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a second embodiment; -
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a third embodiment. - One embodiment of the present invention is shown in
FIG. 1 and is generally designated 10. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention generally includes anoutsole 12, an upper 14, amidsole 16 and aplate 18. The components are capable of fitting together in a glueless arrangement, with the upper 14 being removable from theoutsole 12. - The
outsole 12 may be manufactured from a wide variety of conventional sole materials, such as natural and synthetic rubbers, leather, PVC, EVA and polyurethane. In one embodiment, theoutsole 12 is formed by injection molding, but it may be formed by a variety of methods. As shown inFIGS. 10-12 , theoutsole 12 includes abottom 20 having anupper surface 22 and a lower, groundengaging surface 24. The ground engaging surface may include one of a wide variety of tread patterns, includinggrooves 26 and raisedprotrusions 28. Asidewall 30 extends upwardly from theupper surface 22 of thebottom 20. Thesidewall 30 may include aforefoot portion 32, anarch portion 34, aheel portion 36, aninner surface 37 and anouter surface 39. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewall extends around theentire outsole 12. In alternative embodiments, thesidewall 30 may extend upwardly from only selected portions of thebottom 20. As illustrated, thesidewall 30 includes anupper edge 40, and the sidewall gradually curves inwardly as it approaches theedge 40. In addition, the sidewall may include atoe portion 38 having an upwardly extendingpart 42, and an inwardly extendingpart 44 that wraps thesidewall 30 over a portion of the upper (as described below) and the users' toes. - In one embodiment, the
outsole 12 includes astrap 46 that extends from theupper edge 40 of thesidewall 30 over the top of the user's foot in theforefoot portion 32 of theoutsole 12. As illustrated inFIG. 20 , thestrap 46 is comprised of a pair ofextensions upper edge 40. Theextensions outsole 12, for instance, by molding them integrally with theoutsole 12. In the illustrated embodiment, theextensions end ends elastic connector 56. As illustrated, theelastic connector 56 includes a pair of protrusions 60 a-b that extend through holes in theends extensions connector 56 to theextensions connector 56 may be attached to the extensions by another method, such as stitching. Theconnector 56 may otherwise be eliminated, such that theextensions - The
outsole 12 may also include connector for connecting theoutsole 12 to the upper (described in more detail below). As shown inFIG. 19 , in one embodiment, the connector is aheel strap 64 may be a narrow strip of flexible material that extends from theheel portion 36 of theoutsole 12. In one embodiment, theheel strap 64 is comprised of fabric, which may be the same fabric as the upper 14 to give the appearance that thestrap 64 extends from the upper 14. As illustrated, theheel strap 64 includes a first end 66 (shown inFIG. 11 ) that is stitched to theinner surface 37 of thesidewall 30. In this embodiment, thesidewall 30 includes ahole 68 in theheel portion 36, and the heel strap includes asecond end 70 that extends though thehole 68. Thesecond end 70 is capable of attaching to another portion of theshoe 10, such as the upper 14, by a conventional method. In the illustrated embodiment, thesecond end 70 includes aplastic insert 72 connected to the fabric, the insert includes a hole 74 and aslit 76 for receiving aprotrusion 96 on the component that thestrap 64 will attach to. As shown inFIG. 19 , theheel strap 64 is movable between an attached position (shown in solid lines) wherein theprotrusion 96 is received in the hole 74 to secure the upper 14 to theoutsole 12, and an unattached position (shown in phantom lines) wherein thestrap 64 is removed from theprotrusion 96 to allow the upper to be removed from theoutsole 12. Alternatively, thestrap 64 may include a snap fastener, Velcro®, or another attachment mechanism. - In one embodiment, the upper 14 includes a bottom 80,
vamp 82,quarters heel panel 88. The upper 14 may be comprised of a wide variety of materials, such as fabric, leather, vinyl, and other known materials, and is generally sized to fit snugly within thesidewall 30 of theoutsole 12. The bottom 80 of the upper 14 includes an upper surface 90 (shown inFIG. 7 ) and a lower surface 92 (shown inFIG. 9 ). Thelower surface 92 may be designed to be a ground engaging surface, for instance, by including agrip material 94 attached to thelower surface 92 in a desired pattern. In one embodiment, shown in detail inFIG. 19 , theheel panel 88 includes an outwardly extendingprotrusion 96. Theprotrusion 96 includes ashaft 98 with aknob 100 at the end, such that theprotrusion 96 can be inserted through the hole 74 in theheel strap 64 on theoutsole 12. Alternatively, theheel panel 88 may include another mechanical fastening mechanism for attaching to theoutsole 12. - The
midsole 16 and theplate 18 fit inside the upper 14 to form a cushioned, stabilizing footbed. In one embodiment, themidsole 16 is formed from EVA or another cushioning material, and includes aperipheral edge 102 having the general shape of the bottom 80 of the upper 14. Themidsole 16 further includes anupper surface 104, alower surface 106, aheel portion 108, anarch portion 110 and aforefoot portion 112. In one embodiment, a sock liner (not shown) is attached to theupper surface 104. The sock liner may be comprised of fabric, and may be attached to theupper surface 104 by one of a variety of conventional methods, such as an adhesive, or by direct attach molding themidsole 16 to the sock liner 114. As shown inFIG. 13 , thelower surface 106 of themidsole 16 includes a plurality of protrusions 116 for forming a mechanical interlock with theplate 18. In the illustrated embodiment, themidsole 16 includes two protrusions 116 a-b in theheel portion 108, three protrusions 116 c-e in thearch portion 110, and six protrusions 116 f-k in the forefoot portion. In an alternative, embodiment, themidsole 16 may include more or less protrusions 116 and the protrusions 116 may be placed in different locations, for instance, the protrusions 116 c-e in thearch portion 110 may be eliminated. Referring toFIG. 16 , in one embodiment, each said protrusion 116 is shaped to interlock with portions of theplate 18. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, each protrusion 116 is undercut withangled edges 121, such that its cross-section increases as it approaches anouter edge 118. Alternatively, the protrusions may have a different cross-sectional shape. - The
plate 18 fits within the upper 14 between themidsole 16 and the bottom 80 if the upper 14. In one embodiment, theplate 18 is comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material to add a degree of stiffness to the upper 14 andmidsole 16. For example, theplate 18 may be injection molded from TPU, TPR or PVC. Theplate 18 may alternatively be manufactured from other materials, such as nylon, rubber, synthetic rubber or silicone, but it is likely that theinsert 16 would not be manufactured by injection molding if any of these alternative materials was used. In one embodiment, theplate 18 includes anupper surface 117, alower surface 119, aforefoot portion 120, anarch portion 122 and aheel portion 124, and is generally shaped to correspond to the shape of themidsole 16. Alternatively, theplate 18 could be smaller than the midsole, for instance, by not extending into theforefoot portion 120. - In one embodiment, the
plate 18 is designed to mechanically interlock with themidsole 16. This allows themidsole 16 andplate 18 to be connected, if desired, without the use of adhesives. As illustrated, theplate 18 includes a plurality ofholes 123 that align with the protrusions 116 on themidsole 16, such that eachhole 123 can receive a protrusion 116 to interlock themidsole 16 and theplate 18. As shown inFIG. 16 , eachhole 123 may be cut to have a cross-sectional shape that increases the interlock with themidsole 16. In the illustrated embodiment, shown inFIG. 25 , eachhole 123 is cut from theplate 18 with an angular cut so that the cross-section of thehole 123 narrows from thelower surface 119 to theupper surface 117, creating an interference fit between each undercut protrusion 116 and eachhole 123. In another embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of theholes 123 may be varied to correspond to different cross-sections of the protrusions 116. - Manufacture of the
shoe construction 10 includes forming each of theoutsole 12, upper 14,midsole 16 andplate 18 separately, and then assembling the components together. In one embodiment, the components may be assembled into theshoe construction 10 without the use of glue. In this embodiment, themidsole 16 andplate 18 are mechanically interlocked, for instance, by fitting the protrusions 116 on themidsole 16 into correspondingholes 123 on the plate 18 (shown inFIG. 15 ). The interlockedmidsole 16 andplate 18 are then inserted into the upper 14 (seeFIG. 17 ), so that thebottom surface 119 of theplate 18 engages theupper surface 90 of the bottom 80 of the upper 14. The upper 14 is then inserted into the outsole 12 (seeFIG. 18 ), such that thevamp 82 extends under thestrap 46 of the outsole and thelower surface 92 of the bottom 80 of the upper 14 engages theupper surface 22 of theoutsole 12. The rigidity of theplate 18 helps to wedge the upper 14 against thesidewall 30 of the outsole to hold the upper 12 in theoutsole 12. Theheel strap 64 is then moved to the attached position by fastening it to theprotrusion 96 to secure theoutsole 12 to the upper 14. In use, a user can remove theoutsole 12 without taking off theshoe 10 by unfastening theheel strap 64 and pulling theoutsole 12 from the upper 14. -
FIGS. 21 and 22 show two alternative embodiments of the upper 14′ and 14″, wherein the vamp, quarters, and heel portion are varied. For instance,FIG. 22 shows a lace-up style upper, andFIG. 21 shows a boot style upper. - The above description is that of the current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
Claims (20)
1. A modular footwear construction comprising:
an upper having a bottom, said bottom having a tread surface;
a removable outsole having a bottom, said bottom of said outsole extending underneath said bottom of said upper, said bottom of said outsole including a tread surface; and
a removable footbed inside said upper, said removable footbed including a midsole and a plate, said midsole and said plate each including structure to form a mechanical interlock between said midsole and said plate.
2. The modular footwear construction of claim 1 wherein one of said midsole and said plate includes a protrusion and the other one of said midsole and said plate includes a cutout sized to receive said protrusion, said protrusion inserted in said cutout to mechanically interlock said midsole and said plate.
3. The modular footwear construction of claim 2 wherein each said protrusion is undercut, and wherein each cutout is defined by an angular cut wall that interfits with said undercut of said protrusion.
4. The modular footwear construction of claim 3 wherein said one of said midsole and said plate includes a heel portion and a forefoot portion, and wherein said one of said midsole and said plate includes a plurality of said protrusions, at least one of said protrusions located in said heel portion and at least one of said protrusions located in said forefoot portion.
5. The modular footwear construction of claim 4 wherein said midsole is formed from a cushioning material and wherein said plate is formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material.
6. The modular footwear construction of claim 5 wherein said midsole is formed from EVA and wherein said plate is formed from one of TPU, TPR and PVC.
7. The modular footwear construction of claim 6 including a heel strap for removably connecting said outsole and said upper, said heel strap having an attached position in which a portion of said heel strap interfits with a portion of said upper and an unattached position in which said outsole can be separated from said upper.
8. A modular footwear construction comprising:
an upper having a bottom, said bottom including a tread surface;
an outsole covering at least a portion of said upper, said outsole including a tread surface;
attachment means for removably attaching said upper to said outsole, said attachment means having an attached position wherein said upper is secured to said outsole and an unattached position wherein said upper is unattached from said outsole, such that said outsole can be manually removed from said upper to expose said bottom of said upper; and
a footbed positioned inside said upper.
9. The modular footwear construction of claim 8 wherein said attachment means includes a heel strap extending from one of said outsole and said upper and a connector extending from the other of said outsole and said upper, said heel strap fastened to said connector when said attachment means is in said attachment position, said heel strap not fastened to said connector when said attachment means is in said unattached position.
10. The modular footwear construction of claim 9 wherein said heel strap includes a first end connected to said outsole and a second end defining a hole, said connector comprising a protrusion extending from said upper, said protrusion extending through said hole when said attachment means is in said attached position.
11. The modular footwear construction of claim 10 wherein said upper and said outsole each include a heel portion, said first end of said heel strap connected to said heel portion of said outsole, said protrusion extending from said heel portion of said upper.
12. The modular footwear construction of claim 11 wherein said upper includes a forefoot portion and a toe portion, and said outsole includes a forefoot strap extending over said forefoot portion and a toe cap extending over said toe portion.
13. The modular footwear construction of claim 12 wherein said removable footbed includes a cushioned midsole and a structural plate, one of said midsole and said plate including a plurality of protrusions and the other of said midsole and said plate including a plurality of holes aligned with said protrusion, said protrusions extending into said holes to mechanically interlock said midsole and said plate.
14. A modular footwear construction comprising:
an upper having sides and a bottom;
an outsole including a bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom, said bottom and said sidewall of said outsole cooperating to enclose at least a portion of said upper;
an attachment mechanism removably attaching said outsole and said upper, said attachment mechanism having a first connector attached to said outsole and a second connector attached to said upper, said first and second connectors interfitting with each other to secure said outsole to said upper, said first and second connectors capable of being manually separated to allow said outsole to be removed from said upper to expose said bottom of said upper; and
a removable footbed within said upper, said footbed including a cushioned midsole and a structural plate, said midsole and said plate including structure to mechanically interlock said midsole and said plate.
15. The modular footwear construction of claim 14 wherein said bottom of said upper includes a first tread surface and wherein said bottom of said outsole includes a second tread surface.
16. The modular footwear construction of claim 14 wherein said footwear construction includes a heel region, and wherein said first connector is a heel strap extending from said outsole in said heel region, wherein said second connector is a protrusion extending from said upper in said heel region.
17. The modular footwear construction of claim 16 wherein said outsole is formed from a first material, and wherein said upper and said heel strap are formed from a second material different from said first material.
18. The modular footwear construction of claim 14 wherein one of said midsole and said plate includes a plurality of protrusions and the other of said midsole and said plate includes a plurality of holes aligned with said protrusions, said protrusions extending into said holes to interlock said midsole and said plate.
19. The modular footwear construction of claim 14 wherein said upper includes a forefoot portion, said attachment mechanism including a forefoot strap attached to said outsole and extending over said forefoot portion of said upper.
20. The modular footwear construction of claim 19 wherein said upper includes a toe portion, said outsole including a toe cap extending over said toe portion of said upper.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/013,695 US20080168681A1 (en) | 2007-01-14 | 2008-01-14 | Modular shoe construction |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US88488707P | 2007-01-14 | 2007-01-14 | |
US12/013,695 US20080168681A1 (en) | 2007-01-14 | 2008-01-14 | Modular shoe construction |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080168681A1 true US20080168681A1 (en) | 2008-07-17 |
Family
ID=39322827
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/013,695 Abandoned US20080168681A1 (en) | 2007-01-14 | 2008-01-14 | Modular shoe construction |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080168681A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1943913A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2008178687A (en) |
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US20090082180A1 (en) * | 2007-09-24 | 2009-03-26 | Bradley Castellano | Leg lift device and associated method |
US20090293309A1 (en) * | 2008-05-29 | 2009-12-03 | K-Swiss Inc. | Interchangeable midsole system |
US20100107448A1 (en) * | 2008-10-08 | 2010-05-06 | Nike, Inc. | Article of Footwear for Dancing |
US20100126514A1 (en) * | 2007-09-24 | 2010-05-27 | Bradley Castellano | Leg lift device and associated method |
US20100236100A1 (en) * | 2009-03-20 | 2010-09-23 | Shu Tzu Ho | Composite shoe |
US20100293815A1 (en) * | 2008-10-08 | 2010-11-25 | Nike, Inc. | Midfoot insert construction |
US20120186107A1 (en) * | 2011-01-26 | 2012-07-26 | Nathan Crary | Injection molded shoe frame and method |
US20130047463A1 (en) * | 2011-08-30 | 2013-02-28 | Wilian Baduay Menezes | Shoe with elastic upper |
US20130145651A1 (en) * | 2011-06-13 | 2013-06-13 | Crocs, Inc. | Systems and methods for side snap footbeds |
US8565636B2 (en) | 2010-04-27 | 2013-10-22 | Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. | Member moving mechanism and image forming apparatus |
WO2014083886A1 (en) * | 2012-11-29 | 2014-06-05 | Ishikawa Atsuhiro | Athletic footwear |
US20140223770A1 (en) * | 2013-02-12 | 2014-08-14 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear Assembly With Inner And Outer Articles |
US20170202301A1 (en) * | 2016-01-15 | 2017-07-20 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear with Internal Chassis and/or Indexed Sock Liner |
US20170303627A1 (en) * | 2015-01-15 | 2017-10-26 | Adidas Ag | Modular shoe |
DE202024101844U1 (en) | 2023-04-18 | 2024-05-29 | Intercomm S.R.L. | Removable inner shoe sole for one shoe and shoe with removable inner shoe sole |
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DE202024101844U1 (en) | 2023-04-18 | 2024-05-29 | Intercomm S.R.L. | Removable inner shoe sole for one shoe and shoe with removable inner shoe sole |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JP2008178687A (en) | 2008-08-07 |
EP1943913A1 (en) | 2008-07-16 |
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