Training System For An Article Of Footwear With A Ball Control Portion

• US 20100331122A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Morag, Erez
• Granted Patent: US 8,573,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/422
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A training system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The training system includes a method of training an athlete to use an article of footwear with a ball control portion to help enhance accuracy when kicking a ball. The method can be implemented on a computer, mobile device or as an instruction booklet. The training system provides a total training solution for an athlete that is designed to enhance specific athletic skills.

Claims

1. A method of training a user wearing an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

providing training instructions to the user;

instructing the user to move along a predetermined path;

instructing the user to kick a ball by contacting the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis; and

wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an arc-like configuration.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in a written format.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in a video format.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in an audible format.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in a training kit, the training kit including the article of footwear.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions provide instructions for training multiple athletes simultaneously.

7. A method of training a user wearing an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

providing training instructions to the user;

instructing the user to dribble a ball around at least one marker;

instructing the user to kick the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis; and

wherein the plurality of protrusions are configured to bend in a manner so that the gripping portions confront a surface of the ball during the kick.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the set of instructions are provided on removable media.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are provided in an instruction booklet.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are provided on a website.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are provided in a software application.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a computer.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a mobile device.

14. A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

receiving training instructions;

moving along a predetermined path, the predetermined path being determined from the training instructions;

kicking a ball by contacting the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis; and

wherein the major axes of some protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are aligned with a curve on a surface of a ball when the ball control portion contacts the ball during a kick.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the training instructions and the article of footwear are received in a training kit.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of using a computing device to read digital information related to the training instructions.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of receiving the training instructions from a website.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of reading an instruction booklet that includes the training instructions.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of downloading a training application onto a mobile device, the training application including information about the training instructions.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of watching a training video, the training video including information about the training instructions.