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Article of footwear for use with a left foot and a right foot

  • US 7,845,095 B2
  • Filed: 03/06/2007
  • Issued: 12/07/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:

  • an upper including an interior region that is configured to fit a left foot and a right foot,wherein the article of footwear extends from a heel end to a toe end along a longitudinal axis,wherein the longitudinal axis separates a first half of the upper from a second half of the upper, andwherein the first half of the upper is a mirror image of the second half of the upper;

    an insert that is configured to fit a left foot and a right foot,wherein the longitudinal axis separates a first half of the insert from a second half of the insert, andwherein the first half of the insert is a mirror image of the second half of the insert;

    an outer member attached to the upper and configured to fit a left foot and a right foot,wherein the longitudinal axis separates a first half of the outer member from a second half of the outer member, andwherein the first half of the outer member is a mirror image of the second half of the outer member;

    wherein the longitudinal axis separates a first half of the article of footwear from a second half of the article of footwear;

    wherein there is no discernible distinction between the first half of the article of footwear and the second half of the article of footwear;

    wherein the insert is made of a deformable material that temporarily deforms from an initial non-deformed state to provide lateral and medial support to one of the left foot and the right foot during use, returns to the initial non-deformed state after the use, and temporarily deforms again from the initial non-deformed state to provide lateral and medial support to the other of the left foot and the right foot during a subsequent use;

    wherein, during use, the insert is configured to deform sufficiently enough such that a user'"'"'s foot sinks into the insert to such an extent that a deformed portion of the insert at least partially covers a side surface of the foot and a non-deformed upper surface of the insert is above an upper surface of the user'"'"'s foot; and

    wherein the insert is configured to deform sufficiently enough to at least partially cover an upper surface of the user'"'"'s foot such that the insert embraces the user'"'"'s foot to reduce movement of the user'"'"'s foot within the article of footwear.

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