FOOTWEAR WITH ADJUSTABLE SIZE

• US 20090183392A1
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Shane, S. Kohatsu
• Application Number:
  US12/355,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/97
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0027 made at least partially from a material having special colours
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/009 made at least partially of washable material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/36 Easily-exchangeable soles protecting-soles A43C13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/24 Collapsible or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/244 characterised by the attachment between upper and sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/045 Shopping nets

Abstract

An article of manufacture may be adjustable and may include a cage having a plurality of apertures and an insert having a frame with a plurality of projections that extend from the frame. The insert may be inserted into the cage and may cause the cage to expand to the shape of the insert. The projections on the frame may extend through the apertures of the cage when the insert is inserted into the cage. The cage may be capable of expanding to a plurality of sizes and shapes of various inserts. The article of manufacture may be an article of footwear, a container, an article of apparel, a textile, and any other object of manufacture.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a cage including at least one stretchable portion, wherein the stretchable portion defines a plurality of apertures that allow the stretchable portion to expand in at least one direction; and

an insert having a frame and a plurality of projections extending therefrom such that when the insert is placed into the cage, the projections extend through the apertures to cause the stretchable portion to expand to dimensions defined by the frame.

2. The article of manufacture recited in claim 1, wherein the stretchable portion is configured to be expanded without deviating from a general shape of the stretchable portion prior to being expanded.

3. The article of manufacture recited in claim 1, wherein the insert is a first insert having a first frame defining a first dimension, and wherein the article of manufacture further comprises a second insert having a second frame defining a second dimension different from the first dimension such that when the second insert is placed into the cage, projections included with the second frame extend through the apertures to cause the stretchable portion to expand to the second dimension.

4. The article of manufacture recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the apertures are in the shape of a regular polygon.

5. The article of manufacture recited in claim 4, wherein the regular polygon is four-sided.

6. The article of manufacture recited in claim 1, wherein the cage further includes a textile portion that contains one or more slits that are configured to expand when an object is placed within the insert.

7. The article of manufacture recited in claim 1, wherein the insert is shaped to configure the cage to be a container.

8. The article of manufacture recited in claim 7, wherein the container is at least one of a handbag, a backpack, a wallet, and a case for electronics.

9. An article of footwear, comprising:

a cage including at least one stretchable portion, wherein the stretchable portion defines a plurality of apertures that allow the stretchable portion to expand in at least one direction without deviating from a general shape of the stretchable portion; and

an insert shaped to configure the cage to be an article of footwear, wherein the insert includes a frame and a plurality of projections extending therefrom, the insert causing the stretchable portion to expand to dimensions defined by the frame.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 9, wherein the insert is a first insert having a first frame defining a first dimension, wherein the article of footwear further comprises a second insert having a second frame defining a second dimension that is different from the first dimension such that when the second insert is placed into the cage, projections included with the second extend through the apertures to cause the stretchable portion to expand to the second dimension.

11. The article of footwear recited in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the apertures are in the shape of a regular polygon.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the regular polygon is four-sided.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 9, wherein the cage further includes a textile portion that contains one or more slits that are configured to expand when an object is placed into the article of footwear.

14. The article of footwear recited in claim 9, wherein the cage forms at least a portion of an upper of the article of footwear and at least some of the projections of the insert form at least a portion of a sole structure of the article of footwear.

15. A method of modular construction, comprising:

placing an insert into a cage,

the insert having a frame and a plurality of projections; and

the cage including at least one stretchable portion that defines a plurality of apertures that allow the stretchable portion to expand to the shape of the frame; and

coordinating the plurality of projections to extend through the plurality of apertures when the cage is expanded to the dimensions of the frame.

16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the stretchable portion is expanded without deviating from a general shape of the stretchable portion.

17. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the insert is a first insert having a first frame defining a first dimension and a first plurality of projections, the method further comprising:

removing the first insert; and

placing a second insert into the cage,

the second insert having a second frame defining a second dimension different from the first dimension and a second plurality of projections; and

coordinating the second plurality of projections to extend through the plurality of apertures when the cage is expanded to the dimensions of the second frame.

18. The method recited in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the apertures are in the shape of a regular polygon.

19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the regular polygon is four-sided.

20. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the cage includes a plurality of slits that are capable of expanding when an object is placed within the article of footwear.

21. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the insert is shaped to configure the cage to be an article of footwear.

22. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the insert is shaped to configure the cage to be a container for defining a space for receiving an object.

23. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the container is at least one of a handbag, a backpack, a wallet, and a case for electronics.

24. A method for customizing a an article of manufacture, comprising:

placing a first insert into a cage,

the first insert having a first frame and defining a first plurality of projections extending from the first frame,

the cage including at least one stretchable portion that defines a plurality of apertures, wherein the first plurality of projections extend through the plurality of apertures when the cage expands to the shape of the first frame;

removing the first insert from the cage; and

placing a second insert into the cage, the second insert having a second frame different from the first frame and defining a second plurality of projections extending from the second frame, wherein the second plurality of projections extend through the plurality of apertures when the cage expands to the shape of the second frame.

25. The method recited in claim 24, wherein the first frame has at least one of a different size, a different shape, or a different color from the second frame.