Modular shoe

• US 7,730,637 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Original Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Scholz, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US12/164,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20080263904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 36/67.D, 361/34, 361/29, 36/67.R
• US Class Current: 36/67.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/24 Collapsible or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/246 characterised by the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole

Abstract

A modular shoe includes an upper with an upper side and a lower side, a chassis releasably arranged in an interior of the upper, and a plurality of studs. Each stud is releasably attached to the chassis through the lower side of the upper. The lower side of the upper is clamped between the chassis and at least one of the attached studs. The invention also relates to the various components used in a modular shoe in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A modular article of footwear, comprising:

an upper comprising an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a cavity for receiving a foot, and a lower side defining at least one aperture;

a chassis releasably disposed within the cavity on the lower side of the upper and configured to extend over substantially the entire lower side of the upper, the chassis comprising at least one projection extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof; and

at least one stud, wherein the at least one stud is releasably attached to the chassis through the at least one aperture in the lower side of the upper, wherein that at least one projection is configured to at least partially extend into the at least one aperture.

2. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection extends through the at least one aperture and beyond a bottom surface of the upper.

3. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of projections, a plurality of studs, and a plurality of apertures.

4. The modular article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the plurality of projections have differing orientations with respect to the lower surface of the chassis.

5. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising at least one seal disposed on a bottom surface of the lower side of the upper.

6. The modular article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the at least one seal is arranged discretely around each of the at least one aperture.

7. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one stud comprises a seal disposed along an upper rim thereof.

8. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one stud comprises a first mounting means configured to mate with a second mounting means of the at least one projection.

9. The modular article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the second mounting means comprises a recessed portion.

10. The modular article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the recessed portion of the second mounting means comprises threads configured to engage a screw of the first mounting means.

11. The modular article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the screw extends beyond an exterior portion of the at least one stud.

12. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection has a generally oblong shape.

13. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper comprises a reinforcement element disposed on at least one of a heel part and a toe part.

14. The modular article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper comprises a coating for resisting adhesion of dirt.

15. A modular article of footwear, comprising:

an upper comprising an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a cavity for receiving a foot, and a lower side defining a plurality of apertures;

a chassis releasably disposed within the cavity on the lower side of the upper, the chassis comprising a plurality of projections extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof; and

a plurality of studs, wherein the plurality of studs are releasably attached to the chassis through the plurality of apertures in the lower side of the upper, wherein at least one stud comprises a first mounting means and at least one of the plurality of projections comprises a second mounting means, the second mounting means comprising a recessed portion configured to receive the first mounting means.

16. The modular article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the recessed portion of the second mounting means comprises threads adapted to engage a threaded portion of a first mounting means.