Decoupled foot stabilizer system

• US 9,609,908 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Thomas G., Farris, Bryan N., Henrichot, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYS, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US14/931,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20160051008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 36 88- 93, 36 10, 36 55, 36 51, 36102
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/02 Uppers; Boot legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/047 the gusset being elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1495 with arch-supports of the bracelet type
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/02 Footwear stitched or nailed through
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extends underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members is configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer'"'"'s foot.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper having a plurality of cut-outs defining articulated regions;

a sole structure;

a base portion attached to the sole structure;

a foot stabilizer system including a plurality of strap members, the foot stabilizer system being disposed in an interior of the upper and being attached to the base portion at an attachment area that extends longitudinally along the base portion;

a plurality of support members disposed under the foot stabilizer system and extending out from the interior of the upper;

wherein one or more of the plurality of support members are attached to one or more of the plurality of strap members and a portion of the upper; and

wherein the foot stabilizer system is decoupled from the base portion at a midfoot region.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of support members are attached to a portion of the upper excluding the articulated regions.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the articulated regions further comprise an elastic material disposed within the plurality of cut-outs.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of support members are attached to one or more of the plurality of strap members and the portion of the upper to form loops for receiving a lace.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the foot stabilizer system is configured to be tightened around a foot of a wearer when the lace disposed through one or more loops formed by the plurality of support members is pulled.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cut-outs is triangular.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the attachment area includes at least one of a central attachment portion, a horseshoe attachment portion, and an hourglass attachment portion.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the base portion includes a first base portion comprising a first material and a second base portion comprising a second material, the second material different than the first material.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first base portion is disposed in one of a forefoot region and a heel region;

and

wherein the second base portion is disposed in the midfoot region.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the foot stabilizer system is attached to the first base portion at the forefoot region and the heel region;

and

wherein the foot stabilizer system is attached to the second base portion at the midfoot region along a central attachment portion.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first base portion further comprises a strobel;

and

wherein the second base portion further comprises a portion of the upper.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each articulated region comprises a material that is substantially inflexible in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear and is configured to stretch in a direction along at least one of a lateral axis and a vertical axis of the article of footwear.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cut-outs is a triangular slit in the upper;

wherein the triangular slit extends toward the sole structure from an upper open side at an upper portion of the upper toward an opposite lower side at which a first sloped side of the triangular slit and a second sloped side of the triangular slit converge; and

wherein the lower side of the triangular slit is disposed at an interior portion of the upper.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein each strap member has a triangular shape having a third sloped side and a fourth sloped side that converge at a top portion of the strap member;

and

wherein the each strap member is positioned between adjacent cut-outs of the upper.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the adjacent cut-outs comprise a first cut-out and a second cut-out;

wherein the third sloped side of the strap member is substantially aligned with the first sloped side of the first cut-out; and

wherein the fourth sloped side of the strap member is substantially aligned with the second sloped side of the second cut-out.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein an upper edge of the upper defines a tongue opening of the article of footwear;

wherein the plurality of cut-outs is disposed along the upper edge of the upper; and

wherein the top portion of the strap member extends above the upper edge of the upper.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein a first portion of a support member of the plurality of support members is attached to the top portion of the strap member and a second portion of the support member is attached to the upper between the first cut-out and the second cut-out.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the foot stabilizer system is further attached to the base portion at a heel region and a forefoot region;

and

wherein the foot stabilizer system is decoupled from an outer perimeter of the base portion along the midfoot region.

19. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper having a plurality of cut-outs defining articulated regions and attachment regions between the articulated regions;

a sole structure;

a base portion attached to the sole structure;

a foot stabilizer system including a plurality of strap members, the foot stabilizer system being disposed in an interior of the upper and being attached to the base portion at an attachment area that extends longitudinally along the base portion;

a plurality of support members extending between the foot stabilizer system and the base portion and between the foot stabilizer system and the upper;

wherein a support member is attached to a strap member and to an attachment region of the upper in between adjacent articulated regions; and

wherein the foot stabilizer system is decoupled from an outer perimeter of the base portion along a midfoot region.

20. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper defining a tongue opening;

wherein the upper defines a first cut-out and a second cut-out along an upper edge of the tongue opening, and an attachment region between the first cut-out and the second cut-out;

a sole structure attached to the upper;

a foot stabilizer system including a strap member, the foot stabilizer system being disposed in an interior of the upper and being attached to the sole structure at an attachment area that extends longitudinally along the sole structure;

wherein the strap member is aligned with the attachment region of the upper;

a support member extending between the foot stabilizer system and the sole structure and between the foot stabilizer system and the upper;

wherein the support member is aligned with the attachment region of the upper;

wherein the support member is attached to the strap member and to the attachment region of the upper; and

wherein the foot stabilizer system is decoupled from an outer perimeter of the sole structure along a midfoot region.