Shoe having features for increased flexibility
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shoe comprising:
- a sole comprising a sole bottom surface, a sole lateral side surface, a sole medial side surface, a sole heel end surface, and a sole toe end surface, the sole bottom surface extending transversely from the sole lateral side surface to the sole medial side surface, the sole lateral side surface and the sole medial side surface extending upwardly from the sole bottom surface, the sole extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole toe end surface, the sole including a sole heel region, a sole midfoot region, a sole metatarsal region, a sole ball region, and a sole toe region, the sole heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole midfoot region, the sole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the sole heel region to the sole metatarsal region, the sole metatarsal region extending from the sole midfoot region to the sole ball region, the sole ball region extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region to the sole toe region, and the sole toe region extending longitudinally from the sole ball region to the sole toe end surface, the sole ball region including a sole medial ball region and a sole lateral ball region;
an upper operatively secured to the sole, the upper comprising an upper heel region, an upper lateral midfoot region, an upper medial midfoot region, an upper metatarsal region, an upper lateral ball region, an upper medial ball region, and an upper toe region, the upper metatarsal region including an upper lateral metatarsal region and an upper medial metatarsal region, the upper having an upper lateral side region and an upper medial side region, the upper lateral side region including the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region, the upper medial side region including the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region; and
a welt;
the sole and the upper collectively defining a seam, the seam having a seam heel region, a seam lateral midfoot region, a seam lateral metatarsal region, a seam lateral ball region, a seam toe region, a seam medial ball region, a seam medial metatarsal region, and a seam medial midfoot region, the seam heel region extending from the seam medial midfoot region to the seam lateral midfoot region, the seam lateral midfoot region extending from the seam heel region to the seam lateral metatarsal region, the seam lateral metatarsal region extending from the seam midfoot region to the seam lateral ball region, the seam lateral ball region extending from the seam lateral metatarsal region to the a seam toe region, the seam toe region extending from the seam lateral ball region to the seam medial ball region, the seam medial ball region extending from the seam toe region to the seam medial metatarsal region, the seam medial metatarsal region extending from the seam medial ball region to the seam medial midfoot region, and the seam medial midfoot region extending from the seam medial metatarsal region to the seam heel region;
the welt comprising at least one piece separate from the sole and separate from the upper, the welt being secured to at least one of the sole and the upper, the welt covering at least part of the seam lateral side region and at least part of the seam medial side region;
the sole including a first plurality of flex grooves in the sole bottom surface, the first plurality of flex grooves extending transversely from the sole medial side surface toward the sole lateral side surface;
the welt including a first plurality of welt slits, at least some of the welt slits of the first plurality of welt slits being adjacent at least some of the flex grooves of the first plurality of flex grooves.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shoe includes a sole, an upper, and a welt. The sole and upper define a seam. The welt overlies the seam. The sole includes flex grooves. The upper includes perforations. The welt includes flex slits.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A shoe comprising:
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a sole comprising a sole bottom surface, a sole lateral side surface, a sole medial side surface, a sole heel end surface, and a sole toe end surface, the sole bottom surface extending transversely from the sole lateral side surface to the sole medial side surface, the sole lateral side surface and the sole medial side surface extending upwardly from the sole bottom surface, the sole extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole toe end surface, the sole including a sole heel region, a sole midfoot region, a sole metatarsal region, a sole ball region, and a sole toe region, the sole heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole midfoot region, the sole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the sole heel region to the sole metatarsal region, the sole metatarsal region extending from the sole midfoot region to the sole ball region, the sole ball region extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region to the sole toe region, and the sole toe region extending longitudinally from the sole ball region to the sole toe end surface, the sole ball region including a sole medial ball region and a sole lateral ball region; an upper operatively secured to the sole, the upper comprising an upper heel region, an upper lateral midfoot region, an upper medial midfoot region, an upper metatarsal region, an upper lateral ball region, an upper medial ball region, and an upper toe region, the upper metatarsal region including an upper lateral metatarsal region and an upper medial metatarsal region, the upper having an upper lateral side region and an upper medial side region, the upper lateral side region including the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region, the upper medial side region including the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region; and a welt; the sole and the upper collectively defining a seam, the seam having a seam heel region, a seam lateral midfoot region, a seam lateral metatarsal region, a seam lateral ball region, a seam toe region, a seam medial ball region, a seam medial metatarsal region, and a seam medial midfoot region, the seam heel region extending from the seam medial midfoot region to the seam lateral midfoot region, the seam lateral midfoot region extending from the seam heel region to the seam lateral metatarsal region, the seam lateral metatarsal region extending from the seam midfoot region to the seam lateral ball region, the seam lateral ball region extending from the seam lateral metatarsal region to the a seam toe region, the seam toe region extending from the seam lateral ball region to the seam medial ball region, the seam medial ball region extending from the seam toe region to the seam medial metatarsal region, the seam medial metatarsal region extending from the seam medial ball region to the seam medial midfoot region, and the seam medial midfoot region extending from the seam medial metatarsal region to the seam heel region; the welt comprising at least one piece separate from the sole and separate from the upper, the welt being secured to at least one of the sole and the upper, the welt covering at least part of the seam lateral side region and at least part of the seam medial side region; the sole including a first plurality of flex grooves in the sole bottom surface, the first plurality of flex grooves extending transversely from the sole medial side surface toward the sole lateral side surface; the welt including a first plurality of welt slits, at least some of the welt slits of the first plurality of welt slits being adjacent at least some of the flex grooves of the first plurality of flex grooves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A shoe comprising:
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a sole comprising a sole bottom surface, a sole lateral side surface, a sole medial side surface, a sole heel end surface, and a sole toe end surface, the sole bottom surface extending transversely from the sole lateral side surface to the sole medial side surface, the sole lateral side surface and the sole medial side surface extending upwardly from the sole bottom surface, the sole extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole toe end surface, the sole including a sole heel region, a sole midfoot region, a sole metatarsal region, a sole ball region, and a sole toe region, the sole heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole midfoot region, the sole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the sole heel region to the sole metatarsal region, the sole metatarsal region extending from the sole midfoot region to the sole ball region, the sole ball region extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region to the sole toe region, and the sole toe region extending longitudinally from the sole ball region to the sole toe end surface, the sole ball region including a sole medial ball region and a sole lateral ball region; an upper operatively secured to the sole, the upper comprising an upper heel region, an upper lateral midfoot region, an upper medial midfoot region, an upper metatarsal region, an upper lateral ball region, an upper medial ball region, and an upper toe region, the upper metatarsal region including an upper lateral metatarsal region and an upper medial metatarsal region, the upper having an upper lateral side region and an upper medial side region, the upper lateral side region including the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region, the upper medial side region including the upper medial midfoot region the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region; and a welt; the sole and the upper collectively defining a seam, the seam having a seam heel region, a seam lateral midfoot region, a seam lateral metatarsal region, a seam lateral ball region, a seam toe region, a seam medial ball region, a seam medial metatarsal region, and a seam medial midfoot region, the seam heel region extending from the seam medial midfoot region to the seam lateral midfoot region, the seam lateral midfoot region extending from the seam heel region to the seam lateral metatarsal region, the seam lateral metatarsal region extending from the seam midfoot region to the seam lateral ball region, the seam lateral ball region extending from the seam lateral metatarsal region to the a seam toe region, the seam toe region extending from the seam lateral ball region to the seam medial ball region, the seam medial ball region extending from the seam toe region to the seam medial metatarsal region, the seam medial metatarsal region extending from the seam medial ball region to the seam medial midfoot region, and the seam medial midfoot region extending from the seam medial metatarsal region to the seam heel region; the welt having a welt heel region, a welt lateral midfoot region, a welt lateral metatarsal region, a welt lateral ball region, a welt toe region, a welt medial ball region, a welt medial metatarsal region, and a welt medial midfoot region, the welt heel region extending from the welt medial midfoot region to the welt lateral midfoot region and covering the seam heel region, the welt lateral midfoot region extending from the welt heel region to the welt lateral metatarsal region and covering the seam lateral midfoot region, the welt lateral metatarsal region extending from the welt lateral midfoot region to the welt lateral ball region and covering the seam lateral metatarsal region, the welt lateral ball region extending from the welt lateral metatarsal region to the welt toe region and covering the seam lateral ball region, the welt toe region extending from the welt lateral ball region to the welt medial ball region and covering the seam toe region, the welt medial ball region extending from the welt toe region to the welt medial metatarsal region and covering the seam medial ball region, the welt medial metatarsal region extending from the welt medial ball region to the welt medial midfoot region and covering the seam medial metatarsal region, and the welt medial midfoot region extending from the welt medial metatarsal region to the welt heel region and covering the seam medial midfoot region, the welt including a welt top surface, a welt bottom surface, a first plurality of welt slits extending from the welt top surface toward the welt bottom surface, and a second plurality of welt slits extending from the welt top surface toward the welt bottom surface, at least some of the welt slits of the first plurality of welt slits being in the welt medial ball region, at least some of the welt slits of the second plurality of welt slits being in the welt lateral ball region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A shoe comprising:
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a sole comprising a sole bottom surface, a sole lateral side surface, a sole medial side surface, a sole heel end surface, and a sole toe end surface, the sole bottom surface extending transversely from the sole lateral side surface to the sole medial side surface, the sole lateral side surface and the sole medial side surface extending upwardly from the sole bottom surface, the sole extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole toe end surface, the sole including a sole heel region, a sole midfoot region, a sole metatarsal region, a sole ball region, and a sole toe region, the sole heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole midfoot region, the sole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the sole heel region to the sole metatarsal region, the sole metatarsal region extending from the sole midfoot region to the sole ball region, the sole ball region extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region to the sole toe region, and the sole toe region extending longitudinally from the sole ball region to the sole toe end surface, the sole ball region including a sole medial ball region and a sole lateral ball region; and an upper operatively secured to the sole, the upper comprising an upper outer layer, the upper outer layer comprising an outer layer heel region, an outer layer lateral midfoot region, an outer layer medial midfoot region, an outer layer metatarsal region, an outer layer lateral ball region, an outer layer medial ball region, and an outer layer toe region, the outer layer metatarsal region including an outer layer lateral metatarsal region and an outer layer medial metatarsal region, the outer layer having an outer layer lateral side region and an outer layer medial side region, the outer layer lateral side region including the outer layer lateral midfoot region, the outer layer lateral metatarsal region, and the outer layer lateral ball region, the outer layer medial side region including the outer layer medial midfoot region, the outer layer medial metatarsal region, and the outer layer medial ball region, the outer layer being of leather, the outer layer including a plurality of through-perforations, each of the perforations of the plurality of perforations having a perforation length and a perforation width, the perforation width extending in a longitudinal direction of the shoe, the longitudinal direction of the shoe being a direction extending generally toward the sole heel end surface and away from the sole toe end surface, the perforation length extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shoe, the perforation length being greater than the perforation width, wherein the plurality of perforations are in the outer layer metatarsal region. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A shoe comprising:
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a sole comprising a sole bottom surface, a sole lateral side surface, a sole medial side surface, a sole heel end surface, and a sole toe end surface, the sole bottom surface extending transversely from the sole lateral side surface to the sole medial side surface, the sole lateral side surface and the sole medial side surface extending upwardly from the sole bottom surface, the sole extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole toe end surface, the sole including a sole heel region, a sole midfoot region, a sole metatarsal region, a sole ball region, and a sole toe region, the sole heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end surface to the sole midfoot region, the sole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the sole heel region to the sole metatarsal region, the sole metatarsal region extending from the sole midfoot region to the sole ball region, the sole ball region extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region to the sole toe region, and the sole toe region extending longitudinally from the sole ball region to the sole toe end surface, the sole ball region including a sole medial ball region and a sole lateral ball region, the sole including a first plurality of flex grooves in the sole bottom surface, the first plurality of flex grooves extending transversely from the sole medial side surface toward the sole lateral side surface; and an upper operatively secured to the sole, the upper comprising an upper outer layer, the upper outer layer comprising an outer layer heel region, an outer layer lateral midfoot region, an outer layer medial midfoot region, an outer layer metatarsal region, an outer layer lateral ball region, an outer layer medial ball region, and an outer layer toe region, the outer layer metatarsal region including an outer layer lateral metatarsal region and an outer layer medial metatarsal region, the outer layer having an outer layer lateral side region and an outer layer medial side region, the outer layer lateral side region including the outer layer lateral midfoot region, the outer layer lateral metatarsal region, and the outer layer lateral ball region, the outer layer medial side region including the outer layer medial midfoot region, the outer layer medial metatarsal region, and the outer layer medial ball region, the outer layer being of leather, the outer layer including a plurality of through-perforations, each of the perforations of the plurality of perforations having a perforation length and a perforation width, the perforation width extending in a longitudinal direction of the shoe, the longitudinal direction of the shoe being a direction extending generally toward the sole heel end surface and away from the sole toe end surface, the perforation length extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shoe, the perforation length being greater than the perforation width, wherein the plurality of perforations are in the outer layer metatarsal region. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification