Article of footwear for fencing

• US 7,543,397 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Kilgore, Bruce J., Fusco, Ciro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Jila M
• Application Number:
  US11/536,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20080078102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 36/51, 36/501, 36/45, 36/55, 36/88, D29/69, D29/23
• US Class Current: 36/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/08 with air-holes, with or without closures
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/02 for fencing , e.g. means for indicating hits

Abstract

An article of footwear is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a multi-layered upper. A bootie configured to fit snugly about the foot of the wearer forms the interior of the upper. An outer covering substantially encases the bootie and is attached to the bootie only along a lateral side of the upper. The outer covering includes a split forming an opening on the lateral side of the upper, with the split in the outer covering extending into the small toe region of the upper. The opening is adjustable to tighten the shoe around the foot of the wearer, so a lacing system is provided coincident with the opening. A flap is positioned between the outer covering and the bootie underneath the opening. The flap is secured to the outer covering and the bootie on a lateral side of the opening.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper attached to a sole;

a bootie forming an interior of the upper;

an outer layer covering a substantial portion of the bootie;

the outer layer including an opening on a lateral side of the article of footwear;

the bootie attached to the outer layer only on a lateral side of the opening so that the bootie is otherwise unconstrained with respect to the outer layer and so that the bootie is displaceable with respect to the outer layer and the sole;

the opening formed through the outer layer to divide the outer layer into a medial portion having a medial edge and a lateral portion having a lateral edge, wherein the medial edge and the lateral edge bound the opening; and

the opening having an adjustable portion and a fixed portion, wherein the medial edge and the lateral edge are affixed to at least one additional layer of the upper in the fixed portion.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, the sole including a rim that extends over a portion of the upper;

a notch formed in the sole, wherein the notch aligns with the opening;

the notch extending to a point proximate a bottom surface of the sole; and

the opening extending to a sole-upper interface so that the notch accommodates a portion of the opening.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1 further comprising a lacing system disposed proximate the opening.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, the asymmetric opening extending to the sole of the article of footwear in a toe region.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the bootie is detached from the outer layer at a sole-upper interface.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a flap positioned between the outer layer and the bootie;

the flap attached to the bootie and the outer layer on only the lateral side of the opening.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the flap is attached to only the bootie on a medial side of the opening.

8. A fencing shoe comprising:

an upper including an outer covering having a split extending from a throat opening to a sole-upper interface in a toe region on a lateral side of the fencing shoe, wherein the split defines an opening having a width;

a cup outsole attached to the upper;

the cup outsole having a rim that extends over a portion of the upper around a perimeter of the upper;

a sliding surface formed by a portion of the cup outsole extending beyond the rim and partially over a toe region on a medial side of the fencing shoe, wherein the sliding surface is smoothly continuous with the rest of the cup outsole; and

a notch formed in the rim of the cup outsole to expose the opening, wherein the notch extends from the upper surface of the rim to proximate a ground-engaging surface of the sole.

9. The fencing shoe according to claim 8, the outsole being rounded and thickened in a heel region of the fencing shoe.

10. The fencing shoe according to claim 8, wherein the portion of the outsole extending over the toe region is rounded.

11. The fencing shoe according to claim 8, wherein the outsole is made of a smooth, resilient material.

12. The fencing shoe according to claim 11, wherein the outsole is made of TPU.

13. The fencing shoe according to claim 8, further comprising an adjustment system disposed proximate the split for adjusting an opening of the split.

14. The fencing shoe according to claim 13, the adjustment system comprising a lacing system, a hook-and-eye closure system, or a slide fastener.

15. The fencing shoe according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the opening of the split is fixed so that the width of the opening is maintained.

16. The fencing shoe according to claim 8, wherein the split extends to a small toe region of the upper.

17. A multi-layered upper for an article of footwear comprising:

an inner layer configured to substantially encase a foot;

an outer layer covering at least a portion of the inner layer;

the outer layer having an opening disposed on a lateral side of the upper, wherein the opening extends from a foot insertion opening to a toe region on a lateral side of the upper, and wherein the inner layer is attached to the outer layer only on a lateral side of the opening;

the opening dividing the outer layer into a medial portion with a medial portion edge and a lateral portion with a lateral portion edge;

wherein the medial portion edge and the lateral portion edge define the opening,

wherein a first portion of the opening has a first width and a second portion of the opening has a second width;

wherein the first width is adjustable and the second width is fixed;

a middle layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer;

the middle layer positioned underneath the opening;

wherein the middle layer is affixed to both the medial portion edge and the lateral portion edge in the second portion of the opening;

wherein the upper is configured to be attached to a sole having a rim, wherein a portion of the rim extends over a portion of the upper; and

a gap formed in the rim, wherein the gap aligns with the opening.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the opening extends to a small toe region of the upper.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the opening extends to an upper-sole interface, and wherein the gap extends to proximate a ground-engaging surface of the sole.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the inner layer is displaceable relative to the outer layer.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the inner layer is detached from the outer layer on the medial side of the opening and at a sole-upper interface.

22. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the inner layer is attached to the middle layer on a medial side and a lateral side of the opening.