Article of Footwear for Water Sports

• US 20090083998A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Luedecke, Tom, Roether, Julia, McDowell, Sean M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,230,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/89
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/08 Bathing shoes ; Aquatic sports shoes

Abstract

An article of footwear for water sports disclosed. The article includes straps that fasten an upper into place. The straps are configured to maintain a fastened position when water is splashed from below the article. The article further includes padded members to protect the instep and the front ankle of the foot.

Claims

1. An article of footwear configured to provide traction on a wet surface, comprising:

a water durable upper and a slip-resistant sole;

a fastening region disposed adjacent to a periphery of the sole;

a first fastening strap including a first free portion configured to fasten to the fastening region, the first fastening strap configured to extend from a lateral side to a medial side of the footwear;

a second fastening strap including a second fixed portion disposed below the first fastening region and a second free portion configured to fasten to the first portion of the first fastening strap; and

wherein the second free portion of the second fastening strap covers a substantial majority of the first free portion of the first fastening strap.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper includes a plurality of padded members associated with an instep portion and a front ankle portion.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of padded members are spaced apart from one another.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the padded members are attached to an inner surface of the upper.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the padded members are attached to an outer surface of the upper.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of padded members includes six padded members.

7. An article of footwear configured to provide traction on a wet surface, comprising:

a water durable upper and a slip-resistant sole;

the upper including an inner surface and an outer surface;

a plurality of padding members associated with an instep portion and a front ankle portion of the footwear;

the plurality of padding members being spaced from one another; and

wherein the plurality of padding members are attached to the inner surface of the upper.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the upper includes a strap system comprising a first fastening strap and a second fastening strap.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first fastening strap includes a first free portion that is configured to connect to a fastening region associated with the upper.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the second fastening strap includes a first fixed portion that is attached to the upper just below the fastening region.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the second fastening strap includes a first free portion that is configured to cover the first free portion.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of padded members comprises six padded members.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the upper is configured to bend at the instep portion and the front ankle portion.

14. An article of footwear configured to provide traction on a wet surface, comprising:

a water durable upper and a slip-resistant sole;

a padded member disposed on an instep region of the upper, the padded member being configured to protect an instep portion of a foot;

the padded member including a first portion and a second portion; and

wherein a first slot and a second slot are disposed between the first portion and the second portion.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the padded member comprises multiple portions.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the multiple portions are separated by multiple slots.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the first slot and the second slot are v-shaped.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the padded member comprises three portions.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the padded member includes four slots.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the padded member includes an outer layer and a padding layer.