Training system for an article of footwear

• US 8,632,342 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Morag, Erez
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US12/636,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 434/247, 434/251, 473/422, 473/426, 473/452, 361/33
• 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: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/18 Joint supports, e.g. instep supports

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 shape correcting member to perform various types of skills including passing a ball. 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 to train a wearer of the article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

providing information for a user to remotely access one or more sets of training instructions on a website and providing the one or more sets of training instructions to the user via the website;

wherein the one or more sets of training instructions include instructions for the wearer to move along a predetermined path;

wherein the one or more sets of training instructions include instructions for the wearer to pass a ball by contacting the ball with a portion of an upper of the article of footwear including a shape correcting member, the shape correcting member being disposed in an inner portion of the upper and the shape correcting member including a central hole configured to receive a bony protrusion of a foot;

wherein the shape correcting member is disposed on a top portion of the article of footwear and an inner surface of the shape correcting member corresponds with a top portion of a foot;

the article of footwear having a medial side and a lateral side, wherein a lateral direction extends between the medial side and the lateral side; and

the inner surface including a plurality of laterally spaced, pre-formed cavities, configured to fit to the contours of the top portion of the foot; and

wherein the shape correcting member further includes an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the outer surface being a substantially non-protruding surface having an approximately constant curvature.

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 information for the user to remotely access the training instructions is 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 a training kit including the article of footwear and information regarding a set of training instructions, wherein the set of training instructions include instructions for developing kicking accuracy;

in accordance with the training instructions, maintaining a ball within a control zone, the control zone having predetermined boundaries, and passing the ball outside of the control zone by contacting the ball with a portion of an upper of the article of footwear including a shape correcting member, the shape correcting member including an inner surface associated with a portion of a foot and an outer surface disposed opposite of the inner surface, the inner surface being pre-shaped to fit to an irregular geometry of the portion of the foot;

wherein the shape correcting member is disposed on a top portion of the article of footwear and the inner surface corresponds with a top portion of a foot;

the article of footwear having a medial side and a lateral side, wherein a lateral direction extends between the medial side and the lateral side; and

the inner surface including a plurality of laterally spaced, pre-formed cavities, configured to fit to the contours of the top portion of the foot; and

wherein the outer surface is a substantially non-protruding surface having an approximately constant curvature.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training kit includes the set of instructions provided on removable media.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training kit includes the set of training instructions provided in an instruction booklet.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the information provided in the training kit regarding the set of training instructions includes information for a user to remotely access the set of training instructions 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.

21. The method according to claim 7, wherein the outer surface of the shape correcting member is a substantially smooth surface.

23. The method according to claim 7, wherein the upper of the article of footwear includes a tongue, and the shape correcting member is configured as a raised portion of the tongue.

25. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of laterally spaced, pre-formed cavities are each configured to receive a bony protrusion of the top portion of the foot.

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

receiving training instructions;

moving along a predetermined path, the predetermined path being determined from the training instructions;

passing a ball by contacting the ball with a portion of an upper of the article of footwear including a shape correcting member, the shape correcting member including an inner surface associated with a portion of a foot and an outer surface disposed opposite of the inner surface, the inner surface being pre-shaped to fit to an irregular geometry of the portion of the foot;

wherein the shape correcting member is disposed on a top portion of the article of footwear and the inner surface corresponds with a top portion of a foot;

the article of footwear having a medial side and a lateral side, wherein a lateral direction extends between the medial side and the lateral side; and

the inner surface including a plurality of laterally spaced, pre-formed cavities, configured to fit to the contours of the to portion of the foot; and

wherein the outer surface is a substantially non-protruding surface having an approximately constant curvature.

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.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the outer surface of the shape correcting member is a substantially smooth surface.

24. The method according to claim 14, wherein the upper of the article of footwear includes a tongue, and the shape correcting member is configured as a raised portion of the tongue.

26. The method according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of laterally spaced, pre-formed cavities are each configured to receive a bony protrusion of the top portion of the foot.

27. A training kit, comprising:

a container configured to store at least one article of footwear;

an article of footwear stored within the container;

the article of footwear including a shape correcting member;

the shape correcting member including an inner surface associated with a portion of a foot and an outer surface disposed opposite of the inner surface, the inner surface being pre-shaped to fit to an irregular geometry of the portion of the foot; and

information, stored in the container, regarding a set of training instructions;

the set of training instructions including instructions for developing kicking accuracy by instructing a wearer of the article of footwear to kick a ball by contacting the ball with a portion of an upper of the article of footwear including the shape correcting member;

wherein the shape correcting member is disposed on a top portion of the article of footwear and the inner surface corresponds with a top portion of a foot;

the article of footwear having a medial side and a lateral side, wherein a lateral direction extends between the medial side and the lateral side; and

the inner surface including a plurality of laterally spaced, pre-formed cavities, configured to fit to the contours of the top portion of the foot; and

wherein the outer surface is a substantially non-protruding surface having an approximately constant curvature.

28. The training kit according to claim 27, wherein the training kit includes the set of instructions provided on removable media.

29. The training kit according to claim 27, wherein the training kit includes the set of training instructions provided in an instruction booklet.

30. The training kit according to claim 27, wherein the information provided in the training kit regarding the set of training instructions includes information for a user to remotely access the set of training instructions on a website.

31. The training kit according to claim 27, wherein the training instructions are provided in a software application.

32. The training kit according to claim 27, wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a computer.

33. The training kit according to claim 27, wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a mobile device.