Article of footwear with interchangeable bootie

• US 8,196,320 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Adami, Giovanni, Droege, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prange, Sharon M
• Application Number:
  US11/876,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 36/99, 361/00, 361/01, 361/33
• US Class Current: 36/100
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0047 parts having a male and corresponding female profile to fit together, e.g. form-fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/24 Collapsible or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/00 Non-skid devices or attachments apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like A63B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 999/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

An article of footwear can receive a bootie. The article can include an upper to receive the bootie. Ball control elements may be provided on the bootie and the ball control elements can extend through the upper. The ball control elements can be configured to aid kicking or to interact with various surfaces. The upper can receive different booties having different ball control elements.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a bootie;

a shell configured to receive the bootie, wherein the shell includes a shell sole and a shell upper;

a shoelace received by the shell upper;

a ball control element provided on a tongue of the bootie, so that the ball control element is positioned proximate the shoelace when the bootie is received in the shell, wherein the ball control element includes a ball control surface which is configured to interact with a surface in a predetermined manner; and

a lace area opening defined in the shell upper,

wherein, when the bootie is received in the shell, the shoelace extends along a perimeter of the ball control element in order to avoid the ball control element, and the ball control element is aligned with and protrudes through the lace area opening and the shoelace so that the ball control element extends outward from the lace area opening and the shoelace when the bootie is received in the shell.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bootie comprises a bootie sole and a foot cover, wherein the foot cover is attached to the bootie sole and configured to receive a foot.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the bootie sole includes at least one tread element provided on a bottom surface of the bootie sole.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein the tread element is configured to be associated with an inner surface of the shell.

5. The article of claim 2, wherein the bootie sole includes a reinforcement member configured to strengthen the bootie sole.

6. The article of claim 2, wherein the bootie sole includes a cushioning member.

7. The article of claim 2, wherein the foot cover is configured to at least partially cover the foot.

8. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the bootie is configured to be worn separately from the shell.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a plurality of lacing elements that each receive the shoelace.

10. The article of claim 1, further comprising an additional ball control element provided on an outer surface of the shell.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of forefoot ball control elements associated with the bootie in a forefoot region of the bootie, wherein the shell upper includes a plurality of forefoot ball control passages, wherein each of the plurality of forefoot ball control passages is configured to receive one of the plurality of forefoot ball control elements.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bootie comprises a lacing element that receives the shoelace.

13. An article of footwear comprising:

a shell having a sole and an upper attached to the sole;

a shoelace received by the upper;

a group of booties;

wherein each of the booties has a ball control element on a tongue of the bootie so that the ball control element is positioned proximate the shoelace when the bootie is received in the shell,

wherein each ball control element includes a ball control surface which is configured to interact with an external surface in a predetermined manner;

wherein each of the booties is configured to be received in the upper;

wherein, when a bootie selected from the group of booties is received in the shell, the shoelace extends along a perimeter of the ball control element in order to avoid the ball control element;

a lace area opening provided in the upper to receive the ball control element so that the ball control element protrudes through the upper and the shoelace when a bootie selected from the group of booties is received in the shell; and

wherein each bootie of the group of booties is manufactured to have a different style of ball control element so that the booties may be interchanged with each other to accommodate different playing conditions.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the sole includes a cleat.

15. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the group of booties includes a bootie having the ball control element configured with characteristics selected from the group consisting of accommodating wet conditions, increasing the power of kicking, increasing the accuracy of kicking, facilitating rock climbing, contacting a football, and contacting a soccer ball.

16. The article of footwear of claim 13, further comprising an additional ball control element provided on each of the booties and a ball control passage provided in the upper for receiving the additional ball control element when the bootie is received by shell.

17. The article of footwear of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of lacing elements disposed on the shell, wherein the shoelace is threaded through the lacing elements to avoid the ball control element.

18. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein each of the booties has an adjacent ball control element positioned proximate the ball control element.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein, for each of the booties, the shoelace extends between the ball control element and the adjacent ball control element when the each bootie is received in the shell.

20. An article of footwear comprising:

a bootie;

a shell configured to receive the bootie;

a plurality of lacing elements disposed on the shell;

a shoelace for adjusting the fit of the shell, wherein the lacing elements receive the shoelace;

a ball control element provided on a tongue of the bootie, so that the ball control element is positioned proximate the plurality of lacing elements when the bootie is received in the shell;

wherein the shoelace extends along a perimeter of the ball control element in order to avoid the ball control element;

wherein the ball control element protrudes through the shell and the shoelace when the bootie is received in the shell.

21. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein the bootie includes a foot pad and a foot cover, wherein the foot cover is configured to receive a top portion of a foot and the foot pad is configured to support a bottom portion of the foot, and wherein a foot cover thickness is configured to adjust the fit of the shell.

22. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein the bootie includes a foot pad and a foot cover, wherein the foot cover is configured to receive a top portion of a foot and the foot pad is configured to support a bottom portion of the foot, and wherein the bootie includes a tread element disposed on the foot pad, wherein the tread element is configured to engage with the ground when the bootie is worn separately from the shell, and wherein the tread element is configured to engage with the shell when the bootie is worn with the shell.

23. The article of footwear of claim 20, further comprising an adjacent ball control element positioned proximate the ball control element, wherein the shoelace extends between the ball control element and the adjacent ball control element.

24. The article of footwear of claim 20, further comprising a second ball control element associated with the bootie in a forefoot region of the bootie, wherein the shell includes a ball control passage configured to receive the second ball control element when the shell receives the bootie.

25. The article of footwear of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of forefoot ball control elements associated with the bootie in a forefoot region of the bootie, wherein the shell includes a plurality of forefoot ball control passages, wherein each of the plurality of forefoot ball control passages is configured to receive one of the plurality of forefoot ball control elements.