Footwear structure and method of forming the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A footwear structure comprising:
- an outsole having a top surface;
an upper, said upper being separate from said outsole and being secured to said outsole to at least partially define a cavity for receiving a foot; and
a midsole disposed within said cavity and readily removable from said cavity, said midsole having a bottom surface disposed above said top surface of said outsole;
said top surface of said outsole having an arched shank interlock portion which mates with a corresponding arched shank interlock portion in said bottom surface of said midsole, whereby interlocking of said shank interlock portions of said outsole and said midsole resists motion of said midsole relative to said outsole wherein said upper has a bottom surface with an arched portion which mates with said arched shank interlock portion of said top surface of said outsole.
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Abstract
A footwear structure including an outsole, an upper and a midsole. The outsole may include at least one stretch zone for allowing expansion and contraction of the outsole, e.g. corresponding to expansion and contraction of a user'"'"'s foot during wear. The upper may include stretch zones for allowing expansion of the upper, and the midsole may include varying regions of rigidity.
130 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A footwear structure comprising:
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an outsole having a top surface; an upper, said upper being separate from said outsole and being secured to said outsole to at least partially define a cavity for receiving a foot; and a midsole disposed within said cavity and readily removable from said cavity, said midsole having a bottom surface disposed above said top surface of said outsole; said top surface of said outsole having an arched shank interlock portion which mates with a corresponding arched shank interlock portion in said bottom surface of said midsole, whereby interlocking of said shank interlock portions of said outsole and said midsole resists motion of said midsole relative to said outsole wherein said upper has a bottom surface with an arched portion which mates with said arched shank interlock portion of said top surface of said outsole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of forming a footwear structure comprising:
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providing an outsole having a top surface with an arched shank interlock portion formed therein; providing an upper having an upper arched shank interlock portion, said upper being separate from said outsole; securing said upper arched shank interlock portion to said arched shank interlock portion of said top surface of said outsole, said upper at least partially defining a cavity for receiving a foot; providing a midsole having a bottom surface with an arched shank interlock portion formed therein which mates with said arched shank interlock portion formed in said top surface of said outsole; and positioning said midsole in said cavity to be readily removable from said cavity with said midsole bottom surface above said outsole top surface for interlocking said shank interlock portions of said outsole and said midsole to resist motion of said midsole relative to said outsole. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification