Article of Footwear with Interchangeable Bootie

• US 20090100713A1
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Adami, Giovanni, Droege, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/100
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0047 parts having a male and corresponding female profile to fit together, e.g. form-fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/24 Collapsible or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/00 Non-skid devices or attachments apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like A63B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 999/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

An article of footwear can receive a bootie. The article can include an upper to receive the bootie. Ball control elements may be provided on the bootie and the ball control elements can extend through the upper. The ball control elements can be configured to aid kicking or to interact with various surfaces. The upper can receive different booties having different ball control elements.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a bootie;

a shell configured to receive the bootie;

a ball control element provided on the bootie; and

a ball control passage defined in the shell,

wherein the ball control element is aligned with the ball control passage and wherein the ball control element extends outward from the ball control element passage when the bootie is received in the shell.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bootie comprises a sole and a foot cover, wherein the foot cover is attached to the sole and configured to receive a foot.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the sole includes at least one tread element provided on a bottom surface of the sole.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein the tread element is configured to be associated with an inner surface of the shell.

5. The article of claim 2, wherein the sole includes a reinforcement member configured to strengthen the sole.

6. The article of claim 2, wherein the sole includes a cushioning member.

7. The article of claim 2, wherein the foot cover is configured to at least partially cover the foot.

8. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the bootie is configured to be worn separately from the shell.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein the shell includes a shell upper and a shell sole, and wherein the ball control passage is defined in the shell upper.

10. The article of claim 1, further comprising an additional ball control element provided on an outer surface of the shell.

11. A method for assembling an article of footwear having a ball control passage defined in an upper of the article, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a bootie from a group of candidate booties, each bootie in the group of candidate booties having a ball control element provided on an outer surface of the bootie; and

associating the selected bootie with an interior of the upper so that the ball control element extends through the ball control passage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ball control element of at least one bootie in the group of candidate booties includes is configured with characteristics selected from the group consisting of enhanced performance in wet conditions, increased power in kicking, and increased accuracy in kicking.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

selecting a shell from a group of candidate shells, wherein the shell forms the upper of the article of footwear.

14. An article of footwear comprising:

a shell having a sole and an upper attached to the sole;

a group of booties;

a ball control element provided on the booties;

a ball control passage provided in the upper to receive the ball control element;

wherein each of the booties is configured to be received in the upper; and

wherein each bootie of the group of booties is manufactured to have a different style of ball control element so that the booties may be interchanged with each other to accommodate different playing conditions.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the sole includes a cleat.

16. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the group of booties includes a bootie having ball control elements configured with characteristics selected from the group consisting of accommodating wet conditions, increasing the power of kicking, increasing the accuracy of kicking, facilitating rock climbing, contacting a football, and contacting a soccer ball.

17. The article of footwear of claim 14 further comprising an additional ball control element provided on the bootie and an additional ball control passage provided in the upper, wherein each ball control element is configured to be associated with a corresponding ball control passage when the bootie is received by shell.

18. The article of footwear of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of lacing elements disposed on the shell, wherein the lacing elements are configured to receive a shoelace for adjusting the fit of the shell.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the shoelace is threaded through the lacing elements to avoid the ball control element.

20. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein the shoelace extends between the ball control element and an adjacent ball control element.