Article of Footwear for Use with a Left Foot and a Right Foot

• US 20080216353A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Langvin, Elizabeth, Aveni, Michael A., Gerber, Marni L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/93
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water

Abstract

An article of footwear intended for use with a left foot and a right foot is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an interior space configured to fit a left for and a right foot. Additionally, the article of footwear may be associated with an insert that deforms during use.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper including an interior region that is configured to fit a left foot and a right foot;

an insert that is configured to fit a left foot and a right foot; and

wherein the insert is made of a deformable material that provides lateral and medial support to the foot during use.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper is symmetric along a longitudinal axis.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper is associated with an outer member.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the outer member includes an outsole.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the outer member includes a midsole.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the insert is made of foam.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

an insert including a first layer and a second layer;

the insert having a geometry that is symmetric about a longitudinal axis; and

wherein the first layer is made of a deformable material that provides lateral and medial support to the foot during use.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the first layer is made of foam.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first layer is made of a slow recovery foam.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first layer is made of a heat reactive foam.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first layer is made from rubber.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first layer comprises a gel material.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the second layer is made of foam.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the second layer is made of ethyl-vinyl-acetate.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the insert is associated with an outer member.

16. A left article of footwear and a right article of footwear, wherein:

the left article of footwear is configured to be worn on a left foot;

the right article of footwear is configured to be worn on a right foot;

wherein the left article of footwear has a first geometry;

wherein the right article of footwear has a second geometry; and

wherein the first geometry is substantially similar to the second geometry.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the left article of footwear includes a left insert.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the left insert is made of a deformable material that provides lateral support to the foot during use.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the right article of footwear includes a right insert.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the right insert is made of a deformable material that provides lateral support to the foot during use.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the left insert is made of foam.

22. The article of footwear according to claim 20, wherein the right insert is made of foam.

23. A method of making an article of footwear for either a left foot or a right foot comprising the steps of:

(i) providing an upper sized and dimensioned to fit either a left foot or a right foot;

(ii) securing an outer member to the upper, the outer member sized and dimensioned to accommodate an upper for either a left foot or a right foot; and

(iii) providing an insert positioned adjacent to the outer member, the insert being made from a deformable material that provides lateral support to, and reduces in shoe movement of, the foot during use.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of (iv) securing the insert to the outer member.

25. The method of claim 23, the insert sized and dimensioned to fit either a left foot or a right foot.

26. The method of claim 25, the insert comprising at least two layers.

27. A method of wearing an article of footwear having an upper, a deformable insert, and an outer member comprising the steps of:

(i) inserting a foot into the upper;

(ii) pressing the foot into the insert so that the insert deforms from an initial configuration to conform to the shape of the foot;

(iii) removing the foot from the upper to allow the insert to be restored to the initial configuration;

(iv) inserting an opposite foot into the upper; and

(v) pressing the opposite foot into the insert so that the insert deforms from the initial configuration to conform to the shape of the opposite foot.