Footwear with removable lasting board and cleats

• US 7,752,775 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Lyden
• Inventors: Lyden, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US11/519,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 36/67.D, 361/34, 361/00, 361/01, 36/15, 361/29, 36/67.R, 36/25.R, 36/27, 361/35, 36/76, 36/77
• US Class Current: 36/67.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/183 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/28 characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/36 Easily-exchangeable soles protecting-soles A43C13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/26 Resilient heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/10 Low shoes , e.g. comprising only a front strap; Slippers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/128 characterised by the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1464 with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/22 with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/02 attached to the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/02 Foot-measuring devices measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 11/006 Devices for temporarily fixing or aligning insoles on lasts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

The present invention teaches a method of making a custom article of footwear. Further, the article of footwear can include a spring element that can provide improved cushioning, stability, and running economy. In addition, the components of the article of footwear can be selected from a wide range of options, and can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper comprising a superior side, an inferior side, an anterior side, a posterior side, a medial side, a lateral side, an exterior, and an interior, said upper comprising a plurality of openings in said inferior side;

a lasting board releasably disposed in the interior of said upper said lasting board comprising a plurality of projections configured to at least partially extend into the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper; and

a plurality of detachable cleats releasably attached to the lasting board through the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said lasting board comprises a superior spring element.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein said superior spring element comprises a composite material.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said lasting board is configured to extend over substantially the entire inferior side of said upper.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the lasting board comprises a first means for fastening to the plurality of detachable cleats, and said plurality of detachable cleats each comprise a second means for fastening to said lasting board.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the first means for fastening and the second means for fastening are hermaphroditic.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the first means for fastening comprises an opening including threads configured to mechanically engage the second means for fastening comprising a mating threaded bolt on each of said plurality of detachable cleats.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the lasting board comprises at least one projection including the first means for fastening.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the at least one projection has a non-annular shape.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the at least one projection including the first means for fastening is configured to at least partially extend into at least one of the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the at least one projection including the first means for fastening extends through the at least one opening and beyond the inferior side of said upper.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of projections have differing orientations with respect to the lower surface of said lasting board.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising at least one gasket for sealing at least one opening on the inferior side of said upper.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of openings has a non-annular shape.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the inferior side of said upper comprises a plastic material.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the superior side, medial side, and lateral side of said upper comprises a plastic material.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said lasting board comprises a plastic material.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an insole above said lasting board.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of detachable cleats comprises a base portion for engaging a ground support surface and a tip portion comprising male means for fastening for releasably securing the at least one of said plurality of detachable cleats to complementary female means for fastening on said lasting board.

20. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper comprising a superior side, an inferior side, an anterior side, a posterior side, a medial side, a lateral side, an exterior, and an interior, said upper comprising a plurality of openings in said inferior side;

a lasting board releasably disposed in the interior of the upper and configured to extend over substantially the entire inferior side of said upper, said lasting board comprising a plurality of projections configured to at least partially extend into the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper; and

a plurality of detachable cleats, said plurality of projections each comprising a first means for fastening to said plurality of detachable cleats, and said plurality of detachable cleats each comprising a second means for fastening to said lasting board, and each of said plurality of detachable cleats is releasably attached to said lasting board through the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper.

21. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper comprising a superior side, an inferior side, an anterior side, a posterior side, a medial side, a lateral side, an exterior, and an interior, said upper comprising a plastic material on the exterior of at least a portion of said superior side, said inferior side, said medial side and said lateral side and comprising a plurality of openings in said inferior side;

a lasting board releasably disposed in the interior of the upper and configured to extend over substantially the entire inferior side of said upper, said lasting board comprising a plurality of projections configured to at least partially extend into at the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper, an insole releasably disposed in the interior of the upper above said lasting board; and

a plurality of detachable cleats, said plurality of projections each comprising female means for fastening to said plurality of detachable cleats, said detachable cleats each comprising male means for fastening to said female means for fastening to said lasting board, and each of said plurality of detachable cleats is releasably attached to said lasting board through the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper.

22. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper comprising a superior side, an inferior side, an anterior side, a posterior side, a medial side, a lateral side, an exterior, and an interior, said upper comprising a plastic material on the exterior of at least a portion of said superior side, said inferior side, said medial side and said lateral side and a plurality of non-annular openings in said inferior side;

a lasting board comprising a plastic material releasably disposed in the interior of the upper and configured to extend over substantially the entire inferior side of said upper, said lasting board comprising a plurality of non-annular projections configured to at least partially extend into the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper, an insole releasably disposed in the interior of the upper above said lasting board; and

a plurality of detachable cleats, said plurality of non-annular projections each comprising a female threaded receptacle for fastening to said plurality of detachable cleats, said plurality of detachable cleats each comprising a male threaded bolt portion for fastening to said female receptacles on said lasting board, and each of said plurality of detachable cleats is releasably attached to said lasting board through the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper.

23. A method of making an article of footwear, comprising:

selecting a first footwear component comprising an upper from a plurality of alternate uppers, each of said alternate uppers comprising a superior side, an inferior side, an anterior side, a posterior side, a medial side, a lateral side, an exterior, and an interior, said inferior side of each of said alternate uppers comprising a plastic material and a plurality of non-annular openings;

selecting a second footwear component comprising a lasting board from a plurality of alternate lasting boards which are capable of being releasably secured within the interior of said upper and which are configured to extend substantially between the anterior side and the posterior side of said upper said lasting board comprising a plurality of projections configured to at least partially extend into the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper, providing a first means for fastening to a plurality of detachable cleats on said lasting board, and positioning said lasting board in the interior of said upper;

selecting a third footwear component comprising a plurality of detachable cleats for use from a plurality of alternate detachable cleats each including a second means for fastening to said lasting board; and

releasably securing at least the first, the second, and the third footwear components to each other with the use of the first means for fastening of said lasting board and the second means for fastening of said detachable cleats, releasably securing said detachable cleats to said lasting board through the plurality of openings in the inferior side of said upper, releasably securing a portion of said inferior side of said upper between said lasting board and said plurality of secured detachable cleats; and

, selecting a fourth footwear component comprising an insole from a plurality of alternative insoles and positioning the selected insole in the interior of said upper.