Footwear with plurality of interlocking midsole and outsole elements
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
- providing an outsole and a midsole, the outsole including an outsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the outsole to separate the outsole into first and second outsole elements, the first and second outsole elements each including a respective upper surface, the midsole including a midsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the midsole to separate the midsole into first and second midsole elements, the first and second midsole elements each including a respective bottom surface, the outsole and the midsole secured together such that the bottom surface of the first midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the first outsole element to define a first element assembly, such that the bottom surface of the second midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the second outsole element to define a second element assembly, and such that the outsole groove and the midsole groove are substantially aligned and in communication with each other in the thickness direction of the outsole and the thickness direction of the midsole; and
interlocking the first and second element assemblies with each other.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing an outsole and a midsole. The outsole and the midsole are secured together such that a bottom surface of a first midsole element overlaps and directly secures to an upper surface of a first outsole element to define a first element assembly, such that a bottom surface of a second midsole element overlaps and directly secures to an upper surface of a second outsole element to define a second element assembly, and such that an outsole groove and a midsole groove are substantially aligned and in communication with each other in the thickness direction of the outsole and the thickness direction of the midsole. Moreover, the method includes interlocking the first and second element assemblies with each other.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
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providing an outsole and a midsole, the outsole including an outsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the outsole to separate the outsole into first and second outsole elements, the first and second outsole elements each including a respective upper surface, the midsole including a midsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the midsole to separate the midsole into first and second midsole elements, the first and second midsole elements each including a respective bottom surface, the outsole and the midsole secured together such that the bottom surface of the first midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the first outsole element to define a first element assembly, such that the bottom surface of the second midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the second outsole element to define a second element assembly, and such that the outsole groove and the midsole groove are substantially aligned and in communication with each other in the thickness direction of the outsole and the thickness direction of the midsole; and interlocking the first and second element assemblies with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of customizing an article of footwear comprising:
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selecting an outsole including an outsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the outsole to separate the outsole into first and second outsole elements, the first and second outsole elements each including a respective upper surface; and selecting a midsole including a midsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the midsole to separate the midsole into first and second midsole elements, the first and second midsole elements each including a respective bottom surface, the midsole and the outsole secured together such that the bottom surface of the first midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the first outsole element to define a first element assembly, such that the bottom surface of the second midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the second outsole element to define a second element assembly, such that the outsole groove and the midsole groove are substantially aligned and in communication with each other in the thickness direction of the outsole and the thickness direction of the midsole, and such that the first and second element assemblies interlock with each other, the first midsole element differing from the second midsole element by at least one of a different material, a different color, a different durometer, and a different resistance to resilient deformation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of customizing an article of footwear comprising:
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selecting an outsole including an outsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the outsole to separate the outsole into first and second outsole elements, the first and second outsole elements each including a respective upper surface; and selecting a midsole including a midsole groove that extends generally in a thickness direction through the midsole to separate the midsole into first and second midsole elements, the first and second midsole elements each including a respective bottom surface, the midsole and the outsole secured together such that the bottom surface of the first midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the first outsole element to define a first element assembly, such that the bottom surface of the second midsole element overlaps and directly secures to the upper surface of the second outsole element to define a second element assembly, such that the outsole groove and the midsole groove are substantially aligned and in communication with each other in the thickness direction of the outsole and the thickness direction of the midsole, and such that the first and second element assemblies interlock with each other, the first outsole element differing from the second outsole element by at least one of a different coefficient of friction, a different material, a different thickness, and a different color. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification