Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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FOOT SUPPORT ARTICLE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent
Application No.
13/111,704, filed May 19, 2011, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No.
61/357,075 filed on June 21, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference in
its entirety.
FIELD
[002] The present disclosure relates generally to articles of footwear, and,
more particularly, to
articles of footwear having foot support members.
BACKGROUND
[003] Ankle stability is a key and critical need from athletes and users who
deal with lateral
motion. There exists a need to provide a simple and lightweight cleat or shoe
for athletes in
order to offer better support for the foot and ankle region of a user wearing
the cleat. Athletes
and users take a tremendous amount of time and effort to tape and spat their
feet, as well as add
additional ankle and foot support braces. The ankle support systems add weight
to a footwear
system in which lightness is highly desired.
[004] Injuries to the ankle are estimated to account for 15-20% of all
musculoskeletal injuries,
with approximately 85% being ankle sprains. The most common mechanism of
injury is
excessive Inversion, coupled with Plantar Flexion - approximately 75-80%
involve the lateral
ligament complex, primarily the Anterior Talofibular Ligament.
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10051 Typically, ankle sprains occur in 40-100ms. Compared to average muscle
latencies:
reported latency of 69-85ms, with approximately 90-1 lOms to reach half max
force, and an
average of 250ms to reach peak torque generation, the body is not able to
adequately respond to
an unexpected inversion. In comparison, during running, the stance phase lasts
200-250ms, and
the calf muscles are activated approximately 150ms prior to heel impact,
allowing the ankle
adequate time to stabilize.
10061 Players with a history of ankle sprains are 2-3 times more likely to
have a recurrent injury
than players without history of ankle injuries. Use of bracing or taping, as
well as proprioceptive
training have been shown to reduce the level of recurrence to the levels of
players without
history of injury.
10071 In general, both bracing (lace-up and semi-rigid) and taping have been
shown to reduce
both the frequency and severity of ankle sprains during athletic activities.
Semi-rigid braces tend
to have a more positive effect for individuals with a history of ankle sprains
than for athletes
without history. Such lacing and taping methods currently used are time
consuming and a waste
of resources. Upon the completion of use, the user cuts off and discards the
taping. This process
increases the time and cost of providing support for the foot and ankle during
athletic activities.
Thus, improvements to support members that brace the foot and ankle of a
person wearing the
bracing are beneficial.
SUMMARY
10081 In at least one embodiment, an article of footwear includes a sole, an
upper defining a
foot cavity, and a brace member. The brace member is comprised of a non-
elastic resilient
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material. The brace member is positioned within a pocket in the upper and
extends from a heel
portion to above an ankle portion of the upper.
[009] In at least one embodiment, the brace member includes a top plate member
and a base
plate member with a central shaft extending between the top plate member and
the base plate
member. The central shaft portion may be a C-shaped shaft that extends around
a proximal
portion of an ankle of a wearer. The C-shaped shaft portion includes an
inflection point that is
wider than other portions of the C-shaped shaft.
[010] In at least one embodiment, an article of footwear comprises a sole and
a shoe upper
connected to the sole. The shoe upper and the sole define a foot cavity
configured to receive a
human foot. Laces are positioned on the upper and configured to tighten the
shoe upper on the
human foot. An elastic wrap member is positioned in the foot cavity. The
elastic wrap member
is configured to stretch and when the laces tighten the upper on the human
foot. In at least one
embodiment, the elastic wrap member includes a cradle portion that extends
from a heel portion
to a top portion of the upper within the foot cavity and is configured to only
partially surround
the human foot within the foot cavity.
[011] The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will
become more readily
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following
detailed description and
accompanying drawings. While it would be desirable to provide an apparatus
that provides one
or more of these or other advantageous features as may be apparent to those
reviewing this
disclosure, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodiments which
fall within the
scope of any appended claims, regardless of whether they include or accomplish
one or more of
the advantages or features mentioned herein.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0121 FIG. 1 A is a cutaway medial side view illustrating the placement of
tension members in
an article of footwear.
[0131 FIG. I B is a cutaway lateral side view illustrating the placement of
tension members in
the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 1 A.
[0141 FIG. 2A is a side view illustrating the medial side of the article of
footwear depicted in
FIG. IA.
[0151 FIG. 2B is a side view illustrating the lateral side of the article of
footwear depicted in
FIG. 1 B.
10161 FIG. 3 is a top view of tensioning members positioned above the forefoot
in the article of
footwear depicted in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.
[0171 FIG. 4 is a side view of adjustment members in the article of footwear
depicted in FIG.
2A and FIG. 2B.
10181 FIG. 5 is a view of the tensioning members that are configured to engage
a midfoot
portion of a foot in the article footwear depicted in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.
[0191 FIG. 6 is a view of tensioning members that are configured to engage an
ankle in the
article of footwear depicted in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.
[0201 FIG. 7 is a view of an inner layer surrounding a sole of a foot in the
article of footwear
depicted in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.
[0211 FIG. 8 is a view of a tensioning strap and support members positioned
around an upper
portion of a foot and ankle in the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 2A and
FIG. 2B.
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[0221 FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of footwear that
includes support
members incorporated into the footwear.
10231 FIG. 10 is a cutaway side view illustrating horizontal and vertical
supports on the medial
and lateral sides of the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 9.
[0241 FIG. 11 is a cutaway side view of the medial and lateral sides of an
alternative article of
footwear illustrating channels that enable movement of tensioning members
depicted in FIG. 9.
[0251 FIG. 12A is a posterior view illustrating an inner layer and stabilizing
member for a heel
in an article of footwear.
[026] FIG. 12B is lower posterior perspective view of the inner layer and
stabilizing member
for a heel depicted in FIG. 12A.
[027] FIG. 12C is an anterior view of the inner layer and stabilizing member
for an ankle
depicted in FIG. 12A - FIG. 12B.
10281 FIG. 12D is a medial side view of the article of footwear depicted in
FIG. 12A - FIG.
12C illustrating the position of an ankle stabilizing member.
10291 FIG. 12E is a lateral side view of an inner layer and stabilizing member
for an ankle in
the article of footwear depicted in FIG. 12A - FIG. 12D.
[0301 FIG. 13 is a partial cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of the
article of footwear
of FIG. 1 A illustrating an alternative tensioning strap arrangement.
[031] FIG. 14 is a partial cutaway view illustrating an alternative
arrangement of tensioning
members in an article of footwear.
[032] FIG. 15 is an illustration depicting tensioning members attached to a
strap in an article of
footwear.
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[033] FIG. 16 is an illustration depicting the positions of tensioning straps
and a support
member in another alternative embodiment of an article of footwear.
[034] FIG. 17 is an illustration of a tensioning strap in a medial side and
lateral side of an
alternative embodiment of an article of footwear.
[035] FIG. 18A is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of an article
of footwear
including an elastic wrap member positioned in the foot cavity.
[036] FIG. 18B shows a side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 18A.
[037] FIG. 18C shows a perspective view of the foot cavity of the article of
FIG, 18A with the
elastic wrap member positioned in the foot cavity.
[038] FIG. 19A is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of an article
of footwear
including support braces carried by the shoe upper.
[039] FIG. 19B shows a side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 19A.
[040] FIG. 19C shows a view of a pocket in the shoe upper carrying the support
brace of FIG.
19A.
[041] FIG. 19D shows a view of an outer face of the support brace of FIG. 19A.
[042] FIG. 19E shows a view of an inner face of the support brace of FIG. 19A.
[043] FIG. 19F shows a perspective view of the support brace of FIG. 19A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[044] For a general understanding of the details for the footwear disclosed
herein, the drawings
are referenced throughout this document. In the drawings, like reference
numerals designate like
elements. As used herein the term "foot" may refer to a portion of the human
foot, a full human
foot, and to the ankle. Various portions of the foot include, but are not
limited to, the forefoot,
midfoot, upper foot, heel, and ankle. The terms "medial" and "medial side"
refer to the inner
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side of a foot extending from the large toe to the heel, and the terms
"lateral" and "lateral side"
refer to the outer side of the foot extending from the small toe to the heel.
The term "user" may
refer to a person wearing an article of footwear or another person such as an
athletic trainer. The
user may adjust the article of footwear to apply compression and support to
the foot as described
herein.
[045] Article of Footwear with Tensioning Members
[046] FIGs. 1A - 8 depict an article of footwear, embodied here as a cleat 10,
having an inner
layer 12 positioned inside of an outer shell 13 (illustrated by dotted line 13
in FIG. 1A and FIG.
1 B). FIG. 1 A depicts the medial side of cleat 10, while FIG.1 B depicts the
lateral side of the
cleat 10. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B depict the cleat 10 including features omitted
from FIG. IA and
FIG. 1 B for clarity. Cleat 10 includes an inner layer 12 that conforms to the
foot and ankle
region of a user. The cleat 10 includes tensioning members 16 that may be
adjusted by the user
of the cleat 10 to provide compression to various portions of the foot 14
after the foot 14 is
inserted into the cleat 10. Tensioning members 16 include forefoot tensioning
members 16A -
16B, midfoot tensioning members 20A - 20B, upper foot tensioning members 30A -
30B, and
tensioning straps 52, as explained below. Cleat 10 may be worn on a foot 14
that is inserted
inside of the cleat 10. While the illustrations of FIG. 1 A - FIG 1 B depict
different numbers of
tensioning members than FIG. 2A - FIG. 2B, it will be understood that these
figures depict the
same embodiment of an article of footwear and that the different numbers of
tensioning members
16 seen in FIG. IA - FIG. 1B are simply intended to illustrate that different
numbers and
arrangements of tensioning members 16 are possible within various embodiments
of the article
of footwear. While FIG. I A - FIG. 2B depict a cleat 10, alternative
embodiments may include
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any suitable shoe, footwear, boot, and other articles that may be worn around
the ankle and/or
foot.
[0471 The inner layer 12 may be comprised of any material that provides the
user with comfort
and functionality. Such materials include, but are not limited to, compression
fabrics,
polypropylenes, webbing, neoprene, elastane, synthetics, and the like. The
inner layer 12 may be
formed as a flexible boot or sock that conforms to the foot and ankle. The
inner layer 12
accommodates the foot 14 and is configured to fit snugly about the foot and
ankle 14. As seen in
FIG. 1 A and FIG. 1 B, one or more sleeves 19 may be affixed to the inner
layer 12. The sleeve
19 separates the tensioning members 16 from the outer shell 13 and includes
one or more
channels 27. Channels 27 enclose the tensioning members 16 to enable
tightening and loosening
of the tensioning members 16 and to prevent tangling of the different
tensioning members 16 in
the article of footwear 10. In the embodiment of FIG. IA and FIG. 1B, the
article of footwear 10
provides a channel for each tensioning member in the article of footwear, but
alternative
configurations may include channels 27 for only a limited number of the
tensioning members 16.
[0481 The outer shell 13 may be formed from one or more flexible materials
that enclose some
or all of the inner layer 12. Such materials include, but are not limited to,
natural and synthetic
leather, fabrics including nylon and canvas, rubber, and plastics. The outer
shell 13 includes a
lower portion or sole 15 that is attached to an upper portion 25, referred to
as an "upper" that is
attached to the sole 15. The sole 15 and upper 25 form a volume that is
referred as a "foot
cavity". The foot cavity accommodates the foot of a person wearing the cleat
10. The foot
cavity also holds the inner layer 12 and portions of the tensioning members
16. In various
alternative embodiments described below, different support members and
stabilizing members
are also positioned inside the foot cavity. The inner layer 12 may be
permanently attached to the
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outer shell 13 of the cleat 10, or alternatives the outer shell 13 may be
selectively removable
from the inner layer 12 to aid in fitting the cleat 10 to the foot.
[0491 As shown in FIG. IA - FIG. 8, the plurality of tensioning members 16,
include forefoot
tensioning members 16A and 16B, midfoot tensioning members 20A and 20B, upper
foot
tensioning members 30A and 30B, and tensioning straps 50A and 50B. Each of the
tensioning
members 16 may be adjusted to apply a selected compressive force to a
corresponding region of
the foot 14 inside of the cleat 10. As exemplified by forefoot tensioning
member 16B in FIG.
IA, each of the tensioning members 16 in cleat 10 has a first end 16B1
attached to the inner layer
12 inside of the foot cavity, and a second end 16B2 that extends to a position
outside of the foot
cavity and the outer shell 13, depicted with a dotted line in FIG. 1 A - FIG.
1 B. In the example
embodiment of cleat 10, the end 16B2 that extends outside of the outer shell
13 is attached to a
tab 18B. Tab 18B is one of the tension adjustment members 18 shown with cleat
10. The
tension adjustment members 18 provide a surface that the user may grip to
tighten or loosen the
tensioning members 16 that are attached to the corresponding tab 18. The
tension adjustment
members 18 are also configured to be secured to the outer shell 13 or
otherwise locked in place
in order to enable the tensioning members 16 to continue to apply a
compressive force to the foot
14 after the user adjusts and releases the tensioning members 16. The
tensioning members 16
included in cleat 10 are described in more detail below.
[0501 The exemplary embodiment of cleat 10 includes two sets of crisscrossing
forefoot
tensioning members 16A and 16B. As illustrated in FIGs. 1A - 2B as well as
FIGs. 3, and 4,
forefoot tensioning members 16A-16B are located on a forefoot region of the
cleat 10. FIG. lB
depicts one set of forefoot tensioning members 16A that are attached to the
lateral side of the
inner layer 12 and cross to the medial side of the cleat 10. FIG. IA depicts
another set of the
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forefoot tensioning members 16B that are attached to the medial side of the
inner layer 12 and
cross to the lateral side of the cleat 10. The tensioning members 16A and 16B
are shown as
straps formed from an inelastic fabric material. Alternative tensioning member
configurations
may use one or more members formed from an elastic or inelastic material,
including one or
more elastic bands that are configured to stretch in response to tension. FIG.
2A - FIG. 3 depict
the tensioning members 16A and 16B arranged in a crisscross pattern. The ends
of each set of
tensioning members 16A and 16B positioned outside of the outer shell 13 are
affixed to one of a
pair of forefoot tabs 18A and 18B, respectively. The forefoot tabs 18A and 18B
each engage
with one of corresponding fastening pads 40A and 40B, respectively, positioned
on the outer
shell 13 of the cleat 10.
[051] As best shown in FIGs. IA- 1B, 2A-213, and 4, tabs 18A and 18B include a
hoop or
loop material on an inner side designed to engage an opposing hook and loop
material on the
fastening pads 40A and 40B. The hooks may be either unidirectional or
multidirectional.
Fastening pads 40A and 40B are examples of fastening locations, which are
predetermined
locations positioned on the outer shell 13 that are configured to fasten one
or more tensioning
members in place. In lieu of to the hook and loop material, any fastener that
holds the tabs 18 in
position with respect to the outer shell 13 may be used including, for
example, nanoadhesive
materials, and snap closures. The tensioning members 16 may include ridged
structures that
engage a ratcheting fastening location to enable the tensioning member to lock
in place. A lever
or dial may provide mechanical advantage to enable application of force to
tighten and loosen
tensioning member.
[052] As illustrated in FIG. IA - FIG. 2B, in conjunction with FIG. 5, midfoot
tensioning
members 20A and 20B are located in a midfoot region of the cleat 10. The
midfoot tensioning
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members 20A are attached to the lateral side of the inner layer 12 and extend
to the medial side
of the outer shell 13 terminating in midfoot tab 22A. The midfoot tensioning
members 20B are
attached to the medial side of the inner layer 12 and extend to the lateral
side of the outer shell 13
terminating in midfoot tab 22B. FIG. 5 depicts midfoot tensioning members 20B
stitched to
member 23B that attaches the tensioning members 20B to the inner layer 12. The
midfoot
tensioning members 22A and 22B are arranged in a crisscross pattern across the
midfoot region.
Midfoot tabs 22A - 22B are configured to engage with a corresponding
attachment pad 40A -
40B positioned on the outer shell 13 in a similar manner to the forefoot
tensioning members 16A
- 16B.
[0531 As illustrated in FIG. IA - FIG. 2B in conjunction with FIG. 6 and FIG.
8, upper foot
tensioning members 30A and 30B are located in an ankle and upper foot region
of the cleat 10.
The upper foot tensioning members 30A are attached to the lateral side of the
inner layer 12 and
cross to the medial side, terminating in an upper foot tab 32A. Upper foot
tensioning members
30B are attached to the medial side of the inner layer 12 and extend to the
lateral side,
terminating in a second upper foot tab 32B. The upper foot tensioning members
30A and 30B
are arranged in a crisscross pattern across the upper foot region. Upper foot
tabs 32A and 32B
have a hook and loop material on an inner side and outer side of each tab. The
hook and loop
material on the inner side fastens to a corresponding hook and loop fastener
positioned on the
outer shell 13. The hook and loop material on the outer side of each of the
upper foot tabs 32
provides a fastening location for one of the tensioning straps 50A and 50B. As
explained in
further detail below, a user may adjust the tension of the upper foot
tensioning members 30A and
30B and then secure the tabs 32A and 32B to the outer shell 13 in order to
apply a continuing
compressive force to the foot.
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[0541 With particular reference to FIG. 2A - FIG. 2B in conjunction with FIG.
7 and FIG. 8,
the cleat 10 further includes a pair of tensioning straps 50A and 50B. Each of
the tensioning
straps 50A and 50B has one end attached to the inner layer 12, and a second
end attached to a
pull tab 52. As shown in FIG. 7, tensioning strap 50A has one end 54 attached
to the inner layer
12, and the tensioning strap 50A is routed underneath the foot. A second
tensioning strap 50B
crosses the first tensioning strap 50A, extends longitudinally from the heel
60, and terminates at
a pull tab 52. FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 show cleat 10 with two tensioning
straps 50A and 50B.
An alternative embodiment, however, may only use a single tensioning strap.
The tensioning
straps 50A and 50B crisscross and run substantially longitudinally along the
ankle and lower leg
and terminating with pull tabs 52A and 52B, respectively. Pull tabs 52A and
52B include a hook
and loop fastener material that compliments the material on the outer surface
of the upper foot
tabs 32. While in the present embodiment, tensioning straps 50A and 50B are
shown as attached
in the vicinity of the midfoot and forefoot, an alternate embodiment includes
adjustable
attachment means, such as hook and loop fasteners, rather than permanent
attachment.
10551 In operation, the user first inserts a foot 14 inside the inner layer 12
positioned in the foot
cavity formed inside the sole 15 and upper 25. The foot 14 slides into the
inner layer 12 and
seats the heel of the foot into the heel portion 60. When inserting the foot
14, tabs 18A - 18B,
22A - 22B, 32A - 32B and the pull tabs 52A - 52B are disengaged from
counterpart fastening
locations. The user may then apply a compressive force to the foot 14 using
one or more of the
tensioning members 16 on the cleat 10. In one embodiment, the user pulls
forefoot tabs 18A and
18B away from each other to apply a tensile force that tightens the forefoot
tensioning members
16A and 16B. The user engages the forefoot tab 18A - 18B with the forefoot of
the cleat 10 thus
maintaining and locking in the applied tension on the forefoot tensioning
members 16A - 16B.
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The user pulls midfoot tabs 22A and 22B away from each other to applying a
tensile force that
tightens the midfoot tensioning members 20A and 20B. The user then engages the
midfoot tabs
22A and 22B with the midfoot of the cleat 10 thus maintaining and locking in
the applied tension
on the midfoot tensioning members 20A and 20B. The user pulls upper foot tabs
32A and 32B
away from each other to apply a tensile force that tightens the upper foot
tensioning members
30A and 30B. The user then engages the upper foot tabs 32A and 32B with the
upper foot of the
cleat 10 thus maintaining and locking in the applied tension on the upper foot
tensioning
members 30A and 30B. The forefoot tensioning members 16A - 16B, midfoot
tensioning
members 20A - 20B, and the upper foot tensioning members 30A - 30B may be
tightened in any
order.
[0561 Once tension has been applied to the tensioning members 16A -16B, 20A -
20B, and
30A - 30B, the user uses pull tabs 52 to pull and apply a tensile force to the
tensioning straps 50.
The user pulls the pull tabs 52 to apply a selected tensile force to the
tensioning straps 50A and
50B, and engages pull tabs 52A and 52B with the upper foot tabs 32A and 32B,
respectively, to
secure the tensioning straps 50A and 50B in the selected position. The result
of the
aforementioned tensioning enables the user to fully lock the cleat 10 about
the foot and ankle
region. In an alternative embodiment, the tensioning straps 50A and 50B may
have fastening
material such as hook and loop material positioned on both sides of the
tensioning straps 50A
and 50B. In this embodiment, the user pulls on tensioning straps 50A and 50B
to apply
compression to the foot 14 prior to adjusting the upper foot tabs 32A and 32B.
[0571 When one of the tensioning members 16A - 16B, 20A - 20B, 30A - 30B, and
50A - 50B
inside of the outer shell 13 is tightened, the effective length of the
tightened tensioning member
inside of the outer shell 13 decreases, and the effective length of the
portion of the tensioning
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member that extends through the outer shell 13 increases. The term "effective
length" refers to
the proportion of the length of one or more of the tensioning members 16 that
is either inside of
or outside of the outer shell 13. As the effective length of one of the
tensioning members 16
increases inside the outer shell 13, the corresponding effective length
decreases outside of the
outer shell 13, and vice versa. Each of the tensioning members 16A - 16B, 20A -
20B, 30A -
30B, and 50A - 50B may be loosened as well as tightened. Each tensioning
member may be
loosened when a corresponding tension adjustment member 18 for a tensioning
member 16 is
detached from a corresponding attachment location of the cleat 10. The user
may loosen the
tensioning member and then engage the tab with a corresponding attachment
location to maintain
the applied tension. When one of the tensioning members 16A - 16B, 20A - 20B,
30A - 30B,
and 50A - 50B is loosened, the effective length of the loosened tensioning
member inside of the
outer shell 13 increases, and the effective length of the portion of the
tensioning member that
extends through the outer shell 13 decreases.
[0581 Article of Footwear with Support Members
10591 With reference to FIG. 9 - FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment of an
article of footwear
900 is disclosed that includes support members 100 and 102. The support
members 100 and 102
enable the footwear article 900 to retain a predetermined shape and continue
providing support to
a foot inserted in the footwear article 900 when the various tensioning
members described above
apply compression to the foot 14. The support members 100 and 102 provide a
stiffening force
to the footwear article 900 to prevent the ankle and foot from rolling or
spraining. The support
members 100 and 102 may be incorporated with any of the embodiments of
footwear and
modifications thereof that are described in this application.
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[060] Footwear article 900 includes vertical supports 100 and horizontal
supports 102 shown in
FIG. 9. Vertical supports 100 are oriented in a substantially longitudinal
direction with the ankle
and lower leg of a foot inserted in the footwear article 900. The vertical
supports 100 are
integrated into an inner layer of the footwear article 900 similar to inner
layer 12 seen above.
Vertical supports 100 originate proximate the bottom of the inner layer and
run the length
thereof. The vertical supports 100 may be removable or permanently affixed to
the inner layer.
Additionally, the vertical supports may follow the contours of the foot.
Additionally, the
footwear article 900 may include horizontal supports 102 that are oriented in
a substantially
longitudinal with the foot inserted in the footwear article 900. The
horizontal supports 102 may
be operably connected to the eyelets or lacing system 104 of the footwear
article 900 or to the
tensioning members 16 described above.
[061] As shown in FIG. 10, the vertical supports 100 and horizontal supports
102 may be
formed from one or more members formed from a polymer such as a thermoplastic
polyurethane
(TPU) material. In the embodiment of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the TPU forming the
supports 100
and 102 is approximately 3 mm thick, although different support configurations
may have
different thicknesses. Vertical supports 100 have a lower end 105A near the
sole of the footwear
900 with a wider width that tapers to a narrower width at an upper end 105B
proximate to the top
of the footwear 900. The inner layer 12 may further comprise a top layer 120
formed from a
stretchable fabric material and a bottom layer 128 formed by an elastic
material. The bottom
layer 128 faces the foot, while the top 120 engages the tensioning members 16
and outer shell.
The vertical support members 100 and horizontal support members 102 are
positioned between
the top layer 120 and bottom layer 128.
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10621 Article of Footwear with Tensioning Member Channels Over Support Members
(0631 FIG. 11 depicts another alternative embodiment of an article of
footwear, depicted here
as a partial cutaway view of a cleat 1100 that includes support members
integrated with an inner
layer 1112 and channels such as channel 1140 to guide tensioning members 1130.
Inner layer
1112 is positioned inside of an outer shell 1113. Cleat 1100 includes support
members 1104 that
are similar to the vertical support members 100 seen in FIG. 9 - 10. As shown
in FIG. 11, the
cleat 1100 may include one or more channels 1140 formed in the inner layer
1112 to enable
movement of one or more of the tensioning members 16 described above. The
inner layer 1112
further includes a top layer 1120 and bottom layer 1128. Both the top layer
1120 and bottom
layer 1128 are formed from a stretchable materials such as compression
fabrics, polypropylenes,
webbing, neoprene, elastane, synthetics, and the like. The channel 1140 is
stitched into the top
layer 1120 of the inner layer 1112. The channel 1140 corresponds to the shape
and configuration
of one of the tensioning members in the cleat 1110, exemplified by tensioning
member 1130.
The tensioning member 1130 is arranged over one or more of the support
members, such as
vertical support 1100, and under the channel 1140 in the top layer 1120. In
operation, the
channel 1140 enables the tensioning member 1130 to tighten and loosen without
interference
from the outer shell 1113. Multiple channels such as channel 1140 may also
prevent fouling or
tangling of different tensioning members in operation. While FIG. 11 depicts a
cleat 1100 that
includes vertical support members 1100, a similar embodiment may include
vertical and
horizontal support members as well.
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10641 Article of Footwear with Adjustable Stabilizing Members
[0651 In another alternative footwear embodiment, one or more adjustable
stabilizing members
are positioned within the footwear to provide additional stability to one or
more portions of a
foot that is inserted in the footwear. FIG. 12A - FIG. 12E depict an inner
layer 1212 of footwear
1200 that includes stabilizing members 1202 that provide stability to portions
of the foot. The
stabilizing members 1202 and are held in place using one or more tensioning
members 1215,
embodied here as flexible straps 1208 and 1220A - 1220B. The stabilizing
members 1202 are
repositionable members placed between an inner layer 1212 and outer layer
(omitted for clarity)
inside of the foot cavity of an article of footwear. Each stabilizing member
1202 is configured to
conform to one or more regions of the foot, such as the heel or ankle. One or
more of the
tensioning members 1215 engages each stabilizing member 1202 to enable the
user to adjust the
stabilizing member 1202 with respect to a foot in the footwear. One end of
each tensioning
member 1215 extends outside of the foot cavity and outer shell of the
footwear, and may be
secured in position after tension is applied. Thus, the user may tighten,
loosen, or otherwise
adjust the fit of each stabilizing member 1202 to the foot by tightening and
loosening a tension
member 1215 in a similar manner to the tensioning members 16 described above.
[0661 FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B depict an inner layer 1212, heel stabilizing
member 1204, and
tensioning member 1208, seen here as a tensioning strap. Heel stabilizing
member 1204 has a
shape that conforms to the heel 1260 of a foot placed in the inner layer 1212,
and the stabilizing
member 1204 is positioned behind the heel. The heel stabilizing member 1204
has a U-shaped
configuration with a lower end 1206 positioned at the base of the heel 1260
and two upper ends
1207A and 1207B that extend toward the ankle. Alternative configurations of
the heel
stabilizing member 1204 may include different shapes that provide stability to
the heel 1260.
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The lower end 1260 is affixed to the inner layer 1212. The upper ends 1207A
and 1207B engage
the tensioning member 1208 around the lateral and medial sides of the
posterior of the heel 1260.
The tensioning member 1208 may be fixedly attached to the upper ends 1207A and
1207B of the
stabilizing member 1204, or may thread through openings formed in the upper
ends 1207A and
1207B of the stabilizing member 1204.
[0671 The tensioning member 1208 includes one end 1232 that is attached to the
inner layer
1212 under the sole of the foot. The length of the tensioning member 1208 may
be fixedly
attached or threaded through the ends 1207A and 1207B of the stabilizing
member 1204. A
second end of the tensioning member 1236 may end in a tension adjustment
member, such as a
tab or other attachment device that is configured to engage a fastening pad or
other fastening
mechanism positioned on the outside of the footwear in a similar manner to the
embodiments of
FIG. 1 A - FIG. 8.
[0681 FIG. 12C - FIG. 12E depict two ankle stabilizing members 1216A and 1216B
that
conform to the medial side and lateral side, respectively, of an ankle. Both
of the ankle
stabilizing members 1216A and 1216B are formed with a U-shape. As seen in FIG.
12C and
FIG. 12D, a curved end 1217A of the U-shaped stabilizing member 1216A is
positioned to
engage the posterior side of the medial malleolus 1218A. The curved end 1217A
is affixed to the
inner layer 1212. The open ends 1219A and 1219B of the stabilizing member
1216A extend
above and below the medial malleolus, respectively, toward the anterior of the
foot. The end
1219A of the ankle stabilizing member 1216A engages one end of a tensioning
member 1220A.
The tensioning member 1220A has a length that extends outside of the article
of footwear to a
second end. The user may pull on the second end of the tensioning member 1220A
or on a
tension adjustment member affixed thereto in order to adjust the ankle
stabilizing member
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1216A. The end 1219B of the ankle stabilizing member 1216A engages a strap
1207 that is
affixed to the lateral side of the inner layer 1212.
[069] As seen in FIG. 12C and FIG. 12E, a curved end 1217B of the U-shaped
ankle stabilizing
member 1216B is positioned to engage the posterior side of the lateral
malleolus 1218B. The
curved end 1217B is affixed to the inner layer 1212. The open ends 1221 A and
1221B of the
stabilizing member 1216B extend above and below the lateral malleolus,
respectively, toward the
anterior of the foot. The end 1221A of the ankle stabilizing member 1216A
engages one end of
a tensioning member 1220B. The tensioning member 1220B has a length that
extends outside of
the article of footwear to a second end. The user may pull on the second end
of the tensioning
member 1220B or on a tension adjustment member affixed thereto in order to
adjust the ankle
stabilizing member 1216B. The end 1221B of the ankle stabilizing member 1216B
engages a
strap 1205 that is affixed to the medial side of the inner layer 1212.
[070] In a finished article of footwear, an outer shell, omitted in FIG. 12A -
FIG. 12E for
clarity, encloses the stabilizing members 1204, 1216A and 1216B. The
stabilizing members
1204, 1216A, and 1216B are not directly attached to the outer shell to enable
adjustment of the
semi-rigid members. The stabilizing members 1204, 1216A, and 1216B are each
formed from
one or more semi-rigid materials to enable the stabilizing members to conform
to the foot and
ankle while resisting ankle rolls and other movements that may cause injuries.
As used herein,
the term "semi-rigid" refers to a material that resists deformation under
stress, but deforms in
response to a sufficient force and then returns to an un-deformed state when
the force is
removed. Common examples of semi-rigid materials include polymeric materials
such as
polyimides and thermoplastics. The stabilizing members depicted in FIG. 12A -
12E may be
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incorporated into any of the footwear embodiments and modifications thereof
described in this
application.
10711 In operation, a user inserts the foot inside the inner layer 1212
located in the foot cavity
to enable the heel 1260 to engage the stabilizing member 1204 and the ankle to
engage the
stabilizing members 1216A and 1216B. The user may first apply a selected
tensioning force to
the end of the tensioning member 1208 that extends outside of the footwear to
draw the
stabilizing member 1204 into further engagement with the heel 1260 to provide
support to the
heel 1260 when wearing the footwear. As described above, the tensioning member
1208 may be
tightened or loosened to increase or decrease, respectively, the tightness of
the stabilizing
member 1204 with respect to the foot. The tensioning member 1208 is secured to
an outer shell
of the footwear in a similar manner to the embodiments of FIG. 1- FIG. 8 to
retain the
stabilizing member 1204 in the selected position.
10721 After adjusting the tensioning member 1208 and associated heel
stabilizing member
1204, the user may then adjust the tensioning members 1220A and 1220B that
engage ankle
stabilizing members 1216A and 1216B, respectively. To accomplish this, the
user applies a
selected tensioning force to the ends of tensioning members 1220A and 1220B
that extend
outside of the footwear and secures them to the outer shell to engage the
stabilizing members
1216A and 1216B, respectively, to the ankle. The foregoing description does
not limit the order
of adjusting the tensioning members 1215 and stabilization members 1202. The
user may adjust
the tensioning members 1208, 1220A, and 1220B and corresponding stabilization
members
1204, 1216A and 1216B in any order.
1073] The stabilizing members 1204, 1216A, and 1216B provide additional
support to the heel
and ankle. The tensioning members 1215 enable a user to adjust the stabilizing
members 1202 to
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conform to the foot and ankle while wearing the footwear. While the foregoing
embodiments
depict stabilizing members 1202 engaging the heel and ankle regions of the
foot, alternative
embodiments may have stabilizing members for one of the heel and ankle, and
may include
similar stabilizing members that engage other areas of the foot.
10741 Article of Footwear with a Locking Strap
[0751 FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cleat 90 that
includes a locking strap
96 for securing a tensioning strap 92 in place after a user adjusts the
tensioning strap to apply
compression to a foot inserted into the cleat 90. Cleat 90 includes tensioning
strap 92 positioned
in the foot cavity, shown here in a partial cutaway view, that is attached at
an attachment point
94 in proximity to the forefoot or midfoot region of the cleat 90. Cleat 90
also includes a locking
strap 96 positioned on an outer shell 95 of the cleat 90. The locking strap 96
includes a first end
that is affixed to the outer shell 95. The locking strap 96 wraps around the
ankle region of a foot
inserted into the cleat 90, to surround an end of the tensioning strap 92 or a
tensioning member
affixed to the end of the tensioning strap 92 that extends out of the outer
shell 95. A second end
97 of the locking strap 96 is configured to be releasably secured to another
portion of the locking
strap 96 using a hook and loop material. Alternative embodiments may include
various other
fastening mechanisms that secure the second end 97 of the locking strap 96 in
place.
[0761 The cleat 90 also includes a toe guard 98. Toe guard 98 may comprise a
material with an
increased resistance to compression forces, such as those experiences when a
large load is placed
thereupon. Such materials exhibit a higher modulus of elasticity and include,
but are not limited
to, Kevlar fibers, plastics, and the like.
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[077] In operation, a user first inserts a foot into cleat 90. The user then
pulls on an end of
tensioning strap 92 that extends out of the outer shell 95 to apply a tensile
force to the tensioning
strap 92. Such application urges the heel of a foot inserted into the cleat 90
into the heel region
91 of the cleat 90. The heel region 91 may include an external support member
93 that engages
with the posterior end of the heel. The end of the tensioning strap 92 is
secured to the outer shell
95 of the cleat 90 using a hook and loop type of engagement (although other
known methods
may also be used). The user then wraps locking strap 96 around the ankle
region of the foot and
the end of the tensioning strap 92. After the locking strap 96 is wrapped
around the foot, the user
fastens the second end 97 of the locking strap. The locking strap 96 enables
the tensioning strap
92 to remain in a position with the tensile force applied after the user
tightens the tensioning
strap 92.
[078] Article of Footwear with Serially Arranged Tensioning Members
[079] FIG. 14 depicts four views of another embodiment of an article of
footwear 1410 that
includes tensioning members engaged in series with adjustment tabs. In the
embodiment of FIG.
14, a first set of tensioning members 1420A engage the mid foot region
extending from a
midfoot flap 1426 on the medial side of the footwear 1410 to a tab 1422
positioned on the medial
side of the footwear 1410. A second set of tensioning members 1420B extend
from the tab 1422
underneath the sole 1418 to another tab 1424 that engages a fastening pad
1440A on the lateral
side of the footwear. In a similar arrangement, a first set of tensioning
members 1430A extend
from a flap 1428 on the lateral side of the footwear 1410 and extend to a
first tab 1434 that may
be secured to a fastening pad 1444. A second set of tensioning members 1430B
extend from the
first tab 1434 around the posterior of the ankle to another tab 1436 that is
secured to the fastening
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pad 1444 on the lateral side of the foot. In the embodiment of FIG. 14,
fastening pad 1444 wraps
around the posterior of the footwear 1410 to fasten flaps 1434 and 1436 on
both the lateral and
medial side of the footwear 1410. An alternative embodiment may include
separate fastening
pads on the medial and lateral sides. Flaps 1426 and 1428 may overlap each
other.
[080] In operation, a user inserts a foot into the footwear 1410. The user
tightens tensioning
members 1420A by pulling on the tab 1422, and then secures the tab 1422 to a
medial fastening
pad 1440A. The user then tightens tensioning members 1420B by pulling on the
tab 1424 and
securing the tab 1424 to a lateral fastening pad 1440B. In a similar manner,
the user may adjust
tab 1434 first followed by tab 1436 to adjust the tensioning members 1430A and
1430B,
respectively. The magnitude of compressive force applied to the foot by
tensioning members
1420A and 1430A may be different than the compressive force applied by
tensioning members
1420B and 1430B, respectively. The configuration of footwear 1410 provides
compression to
the medial and lateral sides of a foot without a crisscross arrangement of the
tensioning members
1430A and 1430B.
[081] Article of Footwear with Tensioning Members Affixed to a Strap
[082] FIG. 15 depicts a medial and lateral view of another embodiment of an
article of footwear
1510 that includes tensioning members that are attached to a strap. Footwear
1510 includes
tensioning members 1520 that are attached to an inner layer 1512 near the heel
of the foot. The
tensioning members 1520 are attached to one end of a strap 1530 that wraps
around the ankle
and is configured to be fastened to the footwear 1510 at a location above the
ankle. The strap
1530 is attached the tensioning members 1520 at a location between the inner
layer 1512 and an
outer shell 1513, with the other end of the strap 1530 extending to the
outside of the outer shell
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1513. The strap 1530 has a width that enables each of the tensioning members
1520 to be
attached to one end of the strap 1530. The strap 1530 is positioned within a
sleeve 1516 formed
outside of the inner layer 1512. The sleeve 1516 enables the strap 1530 to be
tightened and
loosened in operation. The strap 1530 may be attached to tensioning members on
either the
medial or lateral side of the foot, and may wrap around the foot and ankle one
or more times.
[0831 In operation, a user inserts a foot into the footwear 1510. The user
pulls on the end of the
strap 1530 that extends outside of the outer shell 1513. The tensioning
members 1520 apply a
compressive force to the heel, and the strap 1520 applies a compressive force
to the ankle. The
tensioning members 1520 are shown as engaging the heel, but may engage the
forefoot and
midfoot regions as well.
[0841 Article of Footwear with Tensioning Strap and Support Members
[0851 FIG. 16 depicts another alternative embodiment of an article of footwear
1610 including
tensioning straps and a support member. Article of footwear 1610 has an inner
layer 1612, with
a strap 1616 that attached to the lateral side of the inner layer 1612. The
strap 1616 extends over
the fore foot region through a D-ring 1618 on the medial side of the footwear
1610. The strap
1616 extends back to the lateral side of the footwear 1610, where an end of
the strap 1616 may
be fastened to the exterior of the footwear 1610. A second strap 1622 includes
one end attached
to the upper edge of the sole 1620 around the forefoot, midfoot, and heel
portions of the sole
1622. Strap 1622 extends around the upper foot and wraps around the ankle in
the footwear
1610. The strap 1622 includes one end 1624 that extends outside of an outer
shell of the
footwear 1610 to enable tightening and loosening of the strap 1620.
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[086] Footwear 1610 includes one or more pockets 1628 formed in the inner
layer 1612. A
support member, embodied herein as a nylon support member 1632 is positioned
within the
pocket 1628. The pocket 1628 is configured to enable the support member 1632
to move within
the pocket 1628. In the example of FIG. 16, the pocket 1628 is configured with
a length and a
width that are 6 mm larger than the corresponding length and width of the
support member 1632.
Strap 1622 wraps around the pocket 1628 and support member 1632.
[087] In operation, a user inserts a foot into the footwear 1610. The user may
pull on straps
1616 and 1622 to apply compression to the forefoot, midfoot, heel, and ankle
regions of the foot.
Tension may be applied to the straps 1616 and 1622 in any order. The support
member 1632
may move within the pocket 1628 to provide support to the foot in different
orientations when
wearing the footwear 1610.
[088] Article of Footwear with Tensioning Strap Wrapped Around Foot
[089] FIG. 17 depicts another alternative embodiment of an article of footwear
1710 including
a tensioning strap 1720 that is configured to pass under the foot and around
the ankle.
Tensioning strap 1720 is attached to an inner layer 1712 of the footwear at a
midfoot location
1724 on the lateral side of the footwear 1710. The tensioning strap 1720
extends horizontally
along the lateral side of the footwear 1710, wraps around the medial side of
the footwear 1710,
and returns to the midfoot region on the lateral side of the footwear 1710.
The tensioning strap
1720 further extends down the lateral side of the footwear 1710, under the
foot, and extends up
the medial side of the footwear 1710 where an end 1730 is positioned outside
of an outer shell of
the footwear 1710. The end 1730 may be fastened to the outer shell of the
footwear 1710.
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[0901 In operation, a user inserts a foot into the footwear 1710. The user may
pull on the strap
1720 to apply compression to the midfoot and ankle regions of the foot. In the
embodiment of
FIG. 17, a single strap 1720 applies compression to both the medial and
lateral sides of the foot.
While the strap 1720 is depicted as being attached to the lateral side of the
footwear 1710 and
extending through the medial side of the footwear 1710, and alternative
configuration may
arrange a tensioning strap to extend from the medial side to the lateral side.
[0911 Article of Footwear with Internal Compression Wrap
[092] FIGs. 18A-18C depict another alternative embodiment of an article of
footwear 1810
including a sole 1815 connected to a shoe upper 1825 (not shown in FIG. 18A,
see FIGs. 18B
and 18C), and an elastic wrap member 1830 positioned within the foot cavity.
In this
embodiment, the sole 1815 is provided as a cleat, and the shoe upper 1825 is
provided in the
form of an athletic boot. The elastic wrap member 1830 is provided as a sheet
of stretchable
material within the foot cavity which acts as a cradle member to partially
surround the foot 1899
of the wearer and provide compression to the foot 1899 of the wearer.
[0931 The elastic wrap member 1830 is comprised of an elastic fabric material
similar to that
commonly found in traditional ankle warps. The material used to form the
elastic wrap member
1830 includes a resilient stretchable component that allows the elastic wrap
member 1830 to be
stretched around a wearer's foot when tightened within the foot cavity, and
then spring back to
its original shape when loosened within the foot cavity. Accordingly, the
elastic material may be
provided as a woven fabric material that includes elastane or other elastic
fibers. The elastic
material may also include non-elastic fibers or less elastic fibers such as
polyester, nylon or
cotton fibers.
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[0941 In the embodiment of FIGs. 18A-18C the elastic wrap member 1830 is
located in an
ankle region 1850 of the article of footwear 1810. In particular, the elastic
wrap member 1830 is
positioned within the foot cavity such that a lower edge 1832 of the elastic
wrap member 1830 is
located in a heel region 1852 of the article of footwear 1810. The elastic
wrap member 1830
extends up from the heel region 1852, over the ankle region 1850, and to a top
edge 1854 of the
article of footwear 1810. Accordingly, the elastic wrap member 1830 at least
partially or
completely covers the ankle of the wearer when the wearer's foot 1899 is
positioned within the
article of footwear.
10951 In the embodiment of FIGs. 18A-18C, the elastic wrap member 1830
includes a generally
cradle portion 1840 and adjustable edges 1848. The cradle portion 1840 forms a
C-shaped
cylindrical member that extends along the interior of the shoe upper 1825. The
cradle portion
1840 includes a main body 1842 that is generally free-floating within the foot
cavity and separate
from the shoe upper 1825. However, the cradle portion 1840 may be fastened to
the shoe upper
1825 at various locations, including along a forward seam 1844 that runs along
the tongue slot
on the shoe upper 1825. In other embodiments, additional portions of the main
body 1842 of the
cradle portion 1840 may also be fastened to the shoe upper 1825 in addition to
the forward seam
1844. For example, as best shown in FIG. 18C, the main body 1842 of the cradle
portion 1840
may be connected to the shoe upper 1825 along a vertical seam 1846 in the rear
of the shoe
upper 1825. These seams 1842, 1844 that fastens the cradle portion 1840 to the
shoe upper 1825
may be provided using any of various means, such as stitching, adhesives, or
other fastening
means. However, even with the seams 1842, 1844, most of the main body 1842 of
the cradle
portion 1840 remains generally free-floating and moveable relative to the shoe
upper 1825. This
includes the portions between the vertical seam 1846 and the forward seam 1844
of the cradle
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portion 1840. Because substantial portions of the main body 1842 are free-
floating relative to
the shoe upper 1825, the cradle portion 1840 may be tightly wrapped around the
foot 1899 of the
wearer even if the shoe upper is not as tightly wrapped around the foot 1899.
10961 The adjustable edges 1848 of the elastic wrap member 1830 are generally
connected to
the portion of the shoe upper 1825 that includes the shoelace eyelets 1828 for
the article of
footwear 1810. Accordingly, the adjustable edges 1848 of the elastic wrap
member 1830 may be
connected to the shoe upper 1825 along the above-mentioned forward seams 1842.
However, in
other embodiments, the adjustable edges 1848 may be coupled to other portions
of the shoe
upper, such as only the shoelace eyelets 1828. As shown in FIG. 18A, the
adjustable edges 1848
may include tab members 1849 that extend the elastic wrap member 1830 to the
shoelace eyelets
1828 on the shoe upper 1825. In some embodiments, the forward seam 1844 of the
cradle
portion 1840 does not extend to the shoelace eyelets 1828 on the shoe upper
1825, but may be
fastened to other areas on the shoe upper 1825. For example, the forward seam
1844 of the
cradle portion 1840 may extend along the tongue slot 1829 or other line that
follows the eyelets
1828 on the shoe upper 1825.
[0971 As described above, in the embodiment of FIGs. 18A-18C, the elastic wrap
member 1830
only partially surrounds the ankle of a wearer from the rear of the ankle
(i.e., the Achilles tendon
area) to a position forward of the ankle. For added support on the anterior
portion of the ankle,
the tongue 1890 may be provided as a thick padded member. For example, the
tongue 1890 may
be a custom molded open cell foam product that is flexible and provides
cushioned support on
the anterior portion of the foot, as shown in FIG. 8A. In some embodiments,
the tongue 1890
may include various surface patterns or other features.
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[0981 In operation, a wearer inserts his or her foot 1899 into the foot cavity
of the article of
footwear 1810 and pulls the ends of the shoe laces 1826. This action draws the
shoelace eyelets
1828 and related upper perimeter portions of the shoe upper 1825 together in a
traditional
fashion. Because the elastic wrap member 1830 is coupled to the shoe upper
along the eyelets or
other upper perimeter portions, pulling the shoe laces 1826 also pulls the
elastic wrap member
1830 around the foot 1899 of the wearer, as illustrated by arrows 1833 in FIG.
18A. This results
in the elastic wrap member 1830 being drawn to a stretched position as
indicated by dotted lines
1831 in FIG. 18A. Accordingly, the elastic wrap member 1830 provides a
convenient ankle
wrap or other foot wrap that is integrated into the article of footwear 1810
without the need for a
separate wrap member.
[0991 With particular reference now to FIG. 18B, in at least one embodiment,
the outer shell of
the shoe upper 1825 includes a non-elastic portion 1870 and an elastic portion
1880. A seam
1875 may be formed on the article of footwear 1810 where the elastic portion
1880 meets the
non-elastic portion 1870 of the shoe upper. The non-elastic portion 1870 is
formed from more
traditional materials for a shoe upper, such as leather, synthetic leather, or
a soft plastic material.
The elastic portion 1880 of the shoe upper 1825 comprises an elastic material
with resilient
qualities, similar to the elastic wrap member 1830. In at least one
embodiment, the elastic
portion 1880 is comprised of a foam material adhered to one or more layers of
elastic fabric. For
example, the elastic portion 1880 may include an open cell foam that is
sandwiched between two
layers of stretch fabric comprised of elastane or other stretch material.
[01001 The non-elastic portion 1870 of the article of footwear is positioned
in a midfoot region
and a forefoot region of the shoe upper 1825. The elastic portion 1880 is
generally provided on
the same portion of the article of footwear 1810 where the elastic wrap member
1830 is located
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(e.g., the ankle portion 1850). Because the elastic portion 1880 of the shoe
upper 1825 is both
flexible and elastic, the elastic portion 1880 is allowed to more closely
adhere to the foot 1899 of
the wearer when the shoelaces 1826 are tightened on the article of footwear
1810. Moreover, the
combination of the stretched elastic wrap member 1830 and the tightened
elastic portion 1880 of
the shoe upper 1825 provides the wearer with a tight compression fit. In
addition, because the
relatively thick elastic portion 1880 of the shoe upper closely adheres to the
foot of the wearer,
the wearer is also provided with a feeling of additional support and soft
flexible bulk than would
be felt if only the elastic wrap member 1830 were closely adhered to the foot
of the wearer.
[0101] Article of Footwear with Flexible Braces in Upper
[0102] FIGs. 19A-19F depict another alternative embodiment of an article of
footwear 1910
including a sole 1915 connected to a shoe upper 1925 and two brace members
1930. In this
embodiment, the sole 1915 is provided as a cleat, and the shoe upper 1925 is
provided in the
form of an athletic boot. The two brace members 1930 include a lateral brace
member 1932 and
a medial brace member 1934.
[0103] As best shown in FIGs. 19A and 19D-19F, each brace member 1930 includes
a base
portion 1940, a central shaft portion 1950 (which may also be referred to
herein as a stem 1950),
and a top plate 1960, which together form a single integral component (i.e., a
unitary component
with inseparable sections that are integrally formed). The brace members 1930
may be formed
using any of various conventional manufacturing methods, such as injection
molding. Each
brace member 1930 is comprised of a relatively hard and non-elastic, yet
resilient material, such
as nylon, or other polymer material. As explained in further detail below,
this material allows
each brace member 1930 to provide support to the foot 1999 of the wearer,
deform when a
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substantial force is applied to the brace member, and then resiliently return
to the original shape
when the force is removed.
[0104] The base portion 1940 of the brace member 1930 is a plate-like
structure with a triangular
shape. A flange 1942 is provided near the bottom of the base portion 1940. The
flange 1942 is
configured to fit under the insole of the article of footwear 1910 to provide
a foundation for the
brace member 1930. The base portion 1940 extends upward from the flange 1942
to an apex
1944. As best shown in FIG. 19A, the apex 1944 is located at a position above
the heel and
below the ankle on the foot 1999 of the wearer. An inner face 1946 and an
opposing outer face
1948 are defined between the flange 1942 and the apex 1944. The apex 1944 of
the base portion
1940 feeds into and merges with the stem 1950.
[0105] The stem 1950 of the brace member 1930 is a curved rod-like structure
that begins at
the apex 1944 of the base portion 1940 and extends rearward and upward toward
a proximal
inflection point 1952 located to the rear of the ankle of the wearer. From
this inflection point
1952, the stem 1950 extends forward and upward until it feeds into the top
plate 1960.
Accordingly, the stem 1940 provides a C-shaped rod that curves around the rear
of the ankle of
the wearer. The stem 1950 is wider at the inflection point 1952 than at other
locations on the
brace. Thus, as measured in the lateral direction of the foot 1999, the brace
member 1930 is
widest at the inflection point 1952 of the stem 1950, and gradually tapers
upward and downward
from the inflection point 1952 to the thinnest areas that merge with the base
1940 and the top
plate 1960. While the brace member 1930 is widest in the lateral direction at
this inflection point
1952, it will be recognized that the brace member 1930 is deeper at the base
1940 and the top
plate 1960 than at the stem 1950 (i.e., the brace 1930 has a greater length in
the direction from
toe to heel of the foot 1999 at the base 1940 and top plate 1960 than at the
stem 1950). As
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explained in further detail below, this configuration allows the brace member
1930 to bend/pivot
in a forward direction (as indicated by arrow 1933 of FIGs. 19A and 19D) about
the inflection
point 1952.
101061 The top plate 1960 of the brace member 1930 is triangular in shape and
includes a curved
upper edge 1962, an inner face 1966, and an opposite outer face 1968. The
inner face 1966
provides a generally flat support surface that faces the lower leg/foot of the
wearer and provides
support to the lower leg/foot of the wearer when lateral forces act against
the top plate 1960.
101071 With reference now to FIGs. 19B and 19C, the brace members 1930 are
configured to fit
within closed pockets 1927 in the shoe upper 1925 (see FIGs. 19B and 19C). The
pockets 1927
are not open to the foot cavity or the exterior of the article of footwear
1910. Accordingly, the
brace members 1930 are embedded between an interior and exterior layers of the
shoe upper
1925 where the pockets 1927 are formed. FIG. 19B shows the shoe upper 1925
with the exterior
layer 1929 that forms the outside of one of the pockets 1927. FIG. 19C shows
the exterior layer
1929 as transparent such that the pocket 1927 is exposed with the brace member
1930 in the
pocket. Because the brace members 1930 are completely enclosed within the
pockets 1927, the
foot 1999 of the wearer is not in direct contact with the brace members 1930.
Additionally, the
inner walls of the foot cavity may include padding along the pockets 1927 to
cushion the foot of
the wearer from the relatively hard brace members 1930.
[01081 With reference again to FIG. 19A, in an alternative embodiment, the
article of footwear
1910 may include support belts 1970. The support belts 1970 are positioned
within the support
cavity and are comprised of a generally inelastic woven material, such as a
woven polyester or
nylon material. One end 1972 of each support belt 1970 is fastened to the top
plate 1960 and an
opposite end 1974 of the support belt 1970 is coupled to some portion of the
upper 1925, such as
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the eyelets 1928 of the article of footwear 1910. A slot (not shown) may be
formed on the inner
layer of the shoe upper 1925 that allows the support belt 1970 to extend
through the inner layer
of the shoe upper and be fastened to the top plate 1960 of the brace member
1930. The support
belt 1970 may be fastened to the top plate 1960 using any of various means
fastening means,
such as adhesives, welding or mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets, screws,
etc.). As shown in FIG.
19A, the support belts 1970 generally extend downward from the top plate 1960
as a narrow strip
of material, under the insole (and thus under the foot 1999), and back to a
perimeter of the
tongue slot 1929 (e.g., to the eyelets 1928). Thus, one end of each support
belt 1970 is
positioned on the lateral side of the article of footwear 1910, and the
opposite side of the support
belt is positioned on the medial side of the article of footwear 1910.
[0109] In operation, the brace members 1930 prevent unnatural lateral twisting
of the ankle, but
allow for natural forward pivoting of the ankle (such as that experienced
during walking or
running). In particular, the C-shaped structure of the stem 1950 allows the
brace member 1930
to easily bend forward in the direction of arrow 1933 (see FIGs. 19A and 19D),
when the wearer
walks or runs. This forward bending action is primarily experienced at the
inflection point 1952,
which is the point at which the brace member 1930 is designed to bend. After
bending forward,
the resilient nature of the brace member 1930 allows the stem 1950 to return
to its equilibrium
position, as shown in FIG, 19A. Thus, the brace member 1930 has very little
impact on the foot
1999 of the wearer during natural running or walking motions.
[0110] On the other hand, when the wearer experiences an unnatural twisting of
the ankle
(causing the brace member 1930 to experiences forces in the direction of arrow
1935 of FIG.
19A), the brace member 1930 provides support to the foot of the wearer and
helps prevent
extreme twisting of the ankle. In particular, when the ankle begins to twist
in a lateral or medial
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direction, the leg of the wearer presses against the top plate 1960. However,
the brace member
1930 is not designed to easily bend in the lateral or medial direction.
Instead, the brace member
1930 is only designed to easily bend in a forward direction 1933 at the
inflection point 1952.
The width and shape of the brace member 1930 at the inflection point 1952
means that the brace
member 1930 significantly resists lateral bending (in the direction of arrow
1935). This results
in an opposing force against the leg of the wearer when the ankle begins to
twist. If this
opposing force is strong enough, the wearer may avoid or reduce the severity
of an ankle sprain
from lateral or medial twisting of the ankle.
[01111 Although the present invention has been described with respect to
certain preferred
embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that other
implementations and
adaptations are possible. Moreover, there are advantages to individual
advancements described
herein that may be obtained without incorporating other aspects described
above. Therefore, the
spirit and scope of any appended claims should not be limited to the
description of the preferred
embodiments contained herein.
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