Decoupled foot stabilizer system

• US 10,362,832 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Thomas G., Farris, Bryan N., Henrichot, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Bays, Marie D
• Application Number:
  US15/703,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20180000193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 36 88, 36 89, 36 90, 36 91, 36 92, 36 93, 36 10, 36 55, 36 501
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/02 Uppers; Boot legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/047 the gusset being elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1495 with arch-supports of the bracelet type
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/02 Footwear stitched or nailed through
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer'"'"'s foot.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper defining an interior and including a lower periphery;

a base portion including an outer periphery, wherein the lower periphery of upper is attached to the outer periphery of the base portion;

a sole structure engaged with the base portion;

a bootie disposed within the interior of the upper;

a plurality of strap members extending between the upper and the bootie and extending from the base portion toward a top of the upper; and

an attachment structure engaging the bootie and the plurality of strap members with the base portion, wherein the attachment structure includes an attachment area located inside the outer periphery of the base portion, and wherein the bootie and the plurality of strap members are decoupled from the outer periphery of the base portion at least along a lateral side and a medial side of a midfoot region of the article of footwear.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the attachment area includes an attachment portion that extends continuously around the base portion at locations spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is a strobel, and wherein the lower periphery of the upper is attached to the outer periphery of the base portion by stitching.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of strap members includes (a) a first lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging a lace and (b) a first medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of strap members includes (a) a first lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging a lace, (b) a second lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, (c) a first medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, and (d) a second medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole structure includes a midsole.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the attachment structure is stitching.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion a first distance on the lateral side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a second distance on the medial side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a third distance at a forefoot region of the article of footwear, and wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a fourth distance at a heel region of the article of footwear.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein each of the third distance and the fourth distance is smaller than each of the first distance and the second distance.

10. An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lace engaged with the plurality of strap members.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the attachment area includes an attachment portion that extends continuously around the base portion at locations spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion,

wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion a first distance on the lateral side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a second distance on the medial side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a third distance at a forefoot region of the article of footwear, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a fourth distance at a heel region of the article of footwear, and wherein each of the third distance and the fourth distance is smaller than each of the first distance and the second distance, and

wherein the plurality of strap members includes (a) a first lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging a lace, (b) a second lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, (c) a first medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, and (d) a second medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, further comprising:

a lace engaged with the plurality of strap members.

13. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper having a plurality of slits and a lower periphery, wherein the upper defines an interior;

a base portion including an outer periphery, wherein the lower periphery of upper is attached to the outer periphery of the base portion;

a sole structure engaged with the base portion;

a bootie disposed within the interior of the upper;

a plurality of strap members extending between the upper and the bootie, wherein the plurality of strap members extend out from the interior of the upper through the plurality of slits; and

an attachment structure engaging the bootie and the plurality of strap members with the base portion, wherein the attachment structure includes an attachment area located inside the outer periphery of the base portion, and wherein the bootie and the plurality of strap members are decoupled from the outer periphery of the base portion at least along a lateral side and a medial side of a midfoot region of the article of footwear.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the attachment area includes an attachment portion that extends continuously around the base portion at locations spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the base portion is a strobel, and wherein the lower periphery of the upper is attached to the outer periphery of the base portion by stitching.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of strap members includes (a) a first lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging a lace and (b) a first medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of strap members includes (a) a first lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging a lace, (b) a second lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, (c) a first medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, and (d) a second medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion a first distance on the lateral side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a second distance on the medial side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a third distance at a forefoot region of the article of footwear, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a fourth distance at a heel region of the article of footwear, and

wherein each of the third distance and the fourth distance is smaller than each of the first distance and the second distance.

19. An article of footwear according to claim 13, further comprising:

a lace engaged with the plurality of strap members at portions of the plurality of strap members that extend through the plurality of slits of the upper.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the attachment area includes an attachment portion that extends continuously around the base portion at locations spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion,

wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion a first distance on the lateral side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a second distance on the medial side of the midfoot region, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a third distance at a forefoot region of the article of footwear, wherein the attachment area is spaced inward from the outer periphery of the base portion by a fourth distance at a heel region of the article of footwear, and wherein each of the third distance and the fourth distance is smaller than each of the first distance and the second distance,

wherein the plurality of strap members includes (a) a first lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging a lace, (b) a second lateral side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, (c) a first medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace, and (d) a second medial side strap member that includes an exposed portion for engaging the lace.