Footwear structure and method of forming the same
First Claim
1. A footwear structure comprising:
- an outsole comprising at least one stretch zone and at least first and second zones, said stretch zone being disposed between said first and second anchor zones for allowing widthwise expansion and contraction of said outsole corresponding to expansion and contraction of a user'"'"'s foot during wear;
an upper secured to a top surface of said outsole and at least partially defining a cavity, said upper comprising at least one upper stretch zone and at least first and second upper anchor zones, said upper stretch zone being disposed between said first and second upper anchor zones for allowing expansion of said upper during wear by a user; and
a midsole at least partially disposed within said cavity, said midsole comprising a first region extending across the entire width of said midsole and having first level of rigidity and a second region extending across the entire width of said midsole and having a second level of rigidity, said first level of rigidity being different from said second level of rigidity.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A footwear structure including an upper and a separate midsole having interlocking shank portions. The upper has an upward extending arc in the shank area which defines a shank interlock portion therein. The midsole has a corresponding arc which defines a shank interlock portion on a bottom surface thereof which mates with the arc in the upper for resisting motion of the midsole relative to the outsole in the case where the midsole is unsecured within the structure to allow for removal of the midsole. The structure may include an outsole having a shank interlock area that mates with the shank interlock of the midsole, with or without an upper disposed between the midsole and the outsole. The shank interlock areas may include a continuous arc or an abruptly changing arc, and the midsole may be removable or non-removable from the structure. A rigid shank insert may be provided between the midsole and outsole, and the midsole may include a variety of layers. The upper may include stretch zones and non-stretch zones to allow a single upper to be used with differently sized midsoles.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A footwear structure comprising:
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an outsole comprising at least one stretch zone and at least first and second zones, said stretch zone being disposed between said first and second anchor zones for allowing widthwise expansion and contraction of said outsole corresponding to expansion and contraction of a user'"'"'s foot during wear;
an upper secured to a top surface of said outsole and at least partially defining a cavity, said upper comprising at least one upper stretch zone and at least first and second upper anchor zones, said upper stretch zone being disposed between said first and second upper anchor zones for allowing expansion of said upper during wear by a user; and
a midsole at least partially disposed within said cavity, said midsole comprising a first region extending across the entire width of said midsole and having first level of rigidity and a second region extending across the entire width of said midsole and having a second level of rigidity, said first level of rigidity being different from said second level of rigidity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A footwear structure comprising:
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an outsole comprising at least one stretch zone and at least first and second anchor zones, said stretch zone being disposed between said first and second anchor zones for allowing widthwise expansion and contraction of said outsole corresponding to expansion and contraction of a user'"'"'s foot during wear;
an upper secured to a top surface of said outsole and at least partially defining a cavity; and
a midsole at least partially disposed within said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification