Custom article of footwear and method of making the same

• US 8,209,883 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Robert Michael Lyden
• Inventors: Lyden, Robert Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US12/803,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20110061265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 36/9.R, 36/45, 36/51, 36/97, 36/501, 361/09, 223/9, 66185-188
• US Class Current: 36/9.R
• 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 knit textile material element, said upper comprising an anterior side, a posterior side, a superior side, an inferior side, a medial side, and a lateral side, an exterior side, and an interior side, said upper comprising a collar section which extends substantially about an opening defined by said upper for receiving a wearer'"'"'s foot, a dorsal section comprising a dorsal pad extending on said superior side of said upper above the position of the instep of said wearer'"'"'s foot, a vamp section extending substantially on said superior side of said upper over the position of a plurality of the phalanges of said wearer'"'"'s foot, a quarter section further comprising a medial quarter and a lateral quarter, said medial quarter extending on said medial side of said upper along a junction between said upper with said sole to said collar section and said dorsal section, and said lateral quarter extending on said lateral side of said upper along a junction between said upper with said sole to said collar section and said dorsal section, a tip section extending on said anterior side of said upper proximate to the position of the distal end of a plurality of the toes of said wearer'"'"'s foot and also about a portion of said medial side and said lateral side of said upper along a junction between said upper and said sole, and a posterior section on said posterior side of said upper and extending about a portion of said medial side and said lateral side substantially about the position of the heel of said wearer'"'"'s foot, said posterior section extending upwards on said posterior side to said collar section, wherein each of the dorsal, collar, vamp, quarter, and tip sections of said upper comprises a different knit textile material structure having different elongation characteristics.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each of said upper sections comprise different mechanical properties.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each of said upper sections comprise different physical properties.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein said different physical properties comprise the relative stretchability of said upper sections.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each of said upper sections comprise different knit textile materials.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material element forms substantially all of the exterior side of said upper.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material element forms a majority of the exterior side of said upper.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said collar section comprises a knit textile material having resilient elastic properties, said dorsal section comprises a knit textile material comprising a dorsal pad, said vamp section comprises a 4-way stretchable knit textile material, said quarter section comprises at least a 2-way stretchable knit textile material, said tip section comprises a knit textile material having greater resistance to elongation relative to said vamp section, and said posterior section also comprises a knit textile material having greater resistance to elongation relative to said vamp section.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a tongue.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said upper is tongueless.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a shoe lace functionally coupled to said upper.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a strap functionally coupled to said upper.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1, said strap comprising a closed loop on said posterior side.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an insole.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a sole coupled with said upper.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said sole is removably coupled with said upper.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a plastic material coupled to said knit textile material of said upper.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a backtab on said posterior side.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 1, said upper further comprising edges, said edges being joined to comprise a seam extending longitudinally on said inferior side of said upper.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 1, said upper further comprising edges, said edges being joined to comprise a seam extending vertically on said posterior side of said upper.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 1, said knit textile element comprising a circular knitted textile material.

22. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said upper comprises a sock-like structure.

23. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said upper comprises a biodegradable knit textile material.

24. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional element is secured to and forms a portion of said exterior side of said upper.

25. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said collar section comprises a resilient elastic textile material and said vamp section comprises at least one 4-way stretchable knit textile material.

26. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said quarter section comprises at least one 2-way stretchable knit textile material.

27. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material element forms at least a portion of said superior side, said lateral side, said medial side, said anterior side, and said posterior side of said upper.

28. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the different sections of said knit textile material element incorporate different textile materials.

29. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material element incorporates a single type of textile material having a plurality of knit constructions.

30. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the knit textile material incorporated in said tip section of said upper on said anterior side and also extending to at least a portion of said medial side and said lateral side along a junction between said upper and said sole comprises greater resistance to elongation relative to the knit textile material incorporated in said collar section.

31. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the knit textile material incorporated in said anterior section of said upper on said anterior side and also extending to at least a portion of said medial side and said lateral side along a junction between said upper and said sole has greater resistance to elongation relative to the knit textile material incorporated in said vamp section.

32. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material incorporated in the posterior section of said upper on said posterior side and also extending to at least a portion of said medial side and said lateral side along a junction between said upper and said sole has greater resistance to elongation relative to the knit textile material incorporated in said collar section.

33. The article of footwear according to claim 1, said upper comprising at least a 2 way stretchable knit textile material on at least a portion of said inferior side extending between said medial side and said lateral side, wherein the length of said upper can be elongated by at least one half size.

34. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal opening on said superior side of said upper in said dorsal section for accommodating the entry of a wearer'"'"'s foot, a tongue, and a plurality of small annular shaped openings on each of said medial side and said lateral side of said upper for receiving a lace, and the knit textile material included in the area proximate to said longitudinal opening including said plurality of small annular openings for receiving a lace comprises greater resistance to elongation relative to the knit textile material included in said vamp section.

35. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a dorsal pad comprising a tongue.

36. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said upper comprises a sock-like structure.

37. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material element comprises a three dimensional knit textile material.

38. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material element further comprises a woven textile material.

39. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said knit textile material element extends on at least said anterior side, said medial side, said lateral side, and said superior side.

40. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the different sections of said knit textile element are coupled with one another.

41. An article of footwear comprising an upper, said upper comprising an anterior side, a posterior side, a superior side, an inferior side, a medial side, and a lateral side, an exterior side, and an interior side, said upper comprising a collar section, a dorsal section, a vamp section, a quarter section, a tip section, and a posterior section, said upper comprising a circular knitted textile material element having a plurality of knitted constructions, at least the collar, dorsal, vamp, quarter, and tip sections of said upper comprising different knitted constructions and being coupled with one another, and the different knitted constructions of said sections of said upper comprise different structures having different mechanical properties.

42. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole for providing a ground-contacting surface, and

an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer, said upper being coupled with said sole and having a plurality of different sections, each of said different sections comprising a knitted textile material comprising different structure, said plurality of different sections comprising a tip section, a vamp section, a dorsal section, a collar section, at least one quarter section, and a posterior section, at least the tip, vamp, dorsal, collar, and quarter sections of said upper comprising knitted textile materials having different mechanical properties.