Article of footwear with perforated covering and removable components

• US 7,140,129 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Register, Nicholas, Newson, Marc A., Mellor, Stephen, Clarke, Richard D., Clegg, Damon, Lotti, Martin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson, Marie
• Application Number:
  US10/787,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 36/3.R, 36/3.A, 36/15, 361/00, 36/31, 361/01, 36/44, 36/10, 36/55
• US Class Current: 36/100
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/40 with cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/41 combined with heel stiffener, toe stiffener, or shank stiffener
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0042 with circular or circle shaped parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/244 characterised by the attachment between upper and sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/18 Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a flexible cover shaped to envelope at least a portion of a wearer'"'"'s foot. The cover has a sole region with inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface positioned to face the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot and the outer surface positioned to face in an opposite direction. The cover also has a plurality of apertures formed in the sole region. The article further includes a removable outsole nested within the cover. The outsole has an upper surface positioned to face the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot, a lower surface facing the inner surface of the cover sole region, and a plurality of lugs on the lower surface which protrude into the plurality of apertures.

Claims

1. An article configured for placement on a foot of a human wearer, comprising:

a one-piece flexible outer cover formed of an elastomeric material that retains the cover on the foot, the cover including;

a sole region having opposing inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface positioned to face the sole of the foot,

an upper region, and

a plurality of apertures formed throughout the entire sole and upper region, wherein each of the plurality of apertures form a generally open area sized from 5.0 mm to 15.0 mm wide; and

a removable outsole nested within the cover and including;

opposing upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface facing the inner sole region surface, and

a plurality of lugs on the lower surface protruding into the plurality of apertures formed throughout the sole region.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lugs and the plurality of apertures are relatively sized and shaped so that edges of said apertures conform to and frictionally retain said lugs.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of lugs protrude through at least a portion of the plurality of apertures, said portion of the plurality of lugs extending beyond the outer sole region surface.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the cover is shaped to envelope substantially all of the foot below the ankle of the wearer.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the outer cover is thermoplastic polyurethane.

6. The article of claim 1, further comprising a removable slipper nested within the cover and having a sole and an upper, the slipper sole facing the outsole upper surface.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein the slipper is formed from a textile material.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein the slipper sole comprises a traction surface.

9. The article of claim 6, further comprising a removable insole having opposing upper and lower surfaces, the lower insole surface facing the upper outsole surface.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein:

the lower insole surface includes a plurality of protrusions, and

the upper outsole surface has depressions formed therein, the depressions positioned to correspond with and receive the protrusions.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the insole is sized for alternate placement within the slipper or between the slipper and the outsole.

12. The article of claim 1, further comprising a removable insole having upper and lower surfaces, the lower insole surface facing the upper outsole surface.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein:

the lower insole surface includes a plurality of protrusions, and

the upper outsole surface has depressions formed therein, the depressions positioned to correspond with and receive the protrusions.

14. An article configured to be placed on the foot of a human wearer, comprising:

a one-piece flexible outer cover shaped to envelope substantially all of the foot below the ankle of the wearer, the cover being formed of an elastomeric material and including;

a sole region having opposing inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface positioned to face the sole of the foot,

an upper region attached to the sole region and positioned to cover at least a portion of the top and sides of the foot, and

a plurality of apertures formed in the sole region and upper region, wherein each of the plurality of apertures form a generally open area sized between 5.0 mm and 15.0 mm wide;

a removable outsole nested within the cover and including;

opposing upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface facing the inner sole region surface, and

a plurality of lugs on the lower surface protruding into a portion of the plurality of apertures formed throughout the sole region; and

a removable slipper nested within the cover and having a sole and an upper, the slipper sole facing the upper outsole surface.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the slipper is formed from a textile material.

16. The article of claim 14, further comprising a removable insole having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface facing the upper outsole surface.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the insole is sized to alternately nest within the slipper or between the slipper and the outsole.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein:

the lower insole surface includes a plurality of protrusions, and

the upper outsole surface has depressions formed therein, the depressions positioned to correspond with and receive the protrusions.