Training system for an article of footwear with a traction system

• US 8,616,892 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Morag, Erez, Auger, Perry W., Cavaliere, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, DOLORES R
• Application Number:
  US12/824,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 434/251
• US Class Current: 434/251
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A training system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The training system includes a method of training an athlete to use an article of footwear with a traction system to help enhance speed and agility. The method can be implemented on a computer, mobile device or as an instruction booklet. The training system provides a total training solution for an athlete that is designed to enhance specific athletic skills.

Claims

1. A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

receiving training instructions;

in accordance with the training instructions, dribbling a ball around a plurality of markers and enhancing traction with a surface using a traction system;

the traction system including an elastic member having a first end fixed relative to an outsole base of the article of footwear and a second end projecting away from the outsole base, the elastic member forming a portion of a traction element configured for ground penetration when the article is used by a wearer of the article; and

wherein the traction system includes an actuating member located within the elastic member and positioned to transfer force from a foot of the wearer to the second end of the elastic member;

the article of footwear further including an interior region within an upper of the article of footwear and above the outsole base;

wherein the traction system includes a button positioned on the actuating member between the actuating member and the interior region, wherein the button is constrained from translational movement relative to the actuating member but can rotate relative to the actuating member.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in a written format.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in a video format.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in an audible format.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions are provided in a training kit, the training kit including the article of footwear.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the training instructions provide instructions for training multiple athletes simultaneously.

7. A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

receiving training instructions;

in accordance with the training instructions, dribbling a ball around a plurality of markers and enhancing traction with a surface using a traction system;

the traction system comprising a first traction element having a first portion positioned for ground contact on an exposed underside of a sole structure of the article of footwear; and

the traction system further comprising a stabilizer having a base end connected to the first traction element, a center portion extending away from the first traction element across the outsole and having a remote end displaced from the base end, the remote end having a second portion configured for ground contact, and wherein the stabilizer is configured to deflect, in response to forces applied by the user, so as to place the first portion of the first traction element and the second portion of the stabilizer into ground contact;

wherein the center portion has an exposed surface generally parallel to the second portion of the remote end of the stabilizer; and

wherein a distance between the exposed surface of the center portion and the exposed underside of the sole structure is less than a distance between the second portion of the remote end of the stabilizer and the exposed underside of the sole structure.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are provided on removable media.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are provided in an instruction booklet.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are provided on a website.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are provided in a software application.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a computer.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a mobile device.

14. A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

receiving training instructions;

in accordance with the training instructions, dribbling a ball around a plurality of markers, the location of the plurality of markers being determined from the training instructions, and using a traction system of the article of footwear to provide traction with a surface, the traction system including an elastic member having a first end fixed relative to an outsole base of the article of footwear and a second end projecting away from the outsole base, the elastic member forming a portion of a traction element configured for ground penetration when the article is used by a wearer of the article;

the traction system including an actuating member located within the elastic member, the actuating member being positioned to transfer a force from the foot of the wearer to the second end of the elastic member; and

actuating the traction system by applying a force to the actuating member;

the article of footwear further including an interior region within an upper of the article of footwear and above the outsole base;

wherein the traction system includes a button positioned on the actuating member between the actuating member and the interior region, wherein the button is constrained from translational movement relative to the actuating member but can rotate relative to the actuating member.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the training instructions and the article of footwear are received in a training kit.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of using a computing device to read digital information related to the training instructions.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of receiving the training instructions from a website.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of reading an instruction booklet that includes the training instructions.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of downloading a training application onto a mobile device, the training application including information about the training instructions.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes a step of watching a training video, the training video including information about the training instructions.