# US 2006/0130365 A1 · Impact-attenuating elements and customizable products containing such elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0130365 A1 - Document ID: US20060130365A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/287,474 - Filed: 2005-11-28 - Published: 2006-06-22 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-29 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Susan Sokolowski; Martin Lotti; Jane Savage; Linda Allen; Maria Kozo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060130365A1 ## CPC - A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)} - A43B 3/0042: {with circular or circle shaped parts} - A43B 7/1464: with adjustable pads to allow custom fit - A43B 13/188: {Differential cushioning regions} - A43B 21/433: rotatably mounted - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract Impact-attenuating elements for footwear or the like may include (a) a first impact-attenuating material (e.g., foam) in a first region; and (b) a second impact-attenuating material in a second region (e.g., foam of a higher density). At least one characteristic of the impact-attenuating characteristics (e.g., support) provided by the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in the footwear. For example, the “firmness” of the support provided by the impact-attenuating element may be changed by rotating or flipping the impact-attenuating element so that foam of a different density is provided at different areas of the foot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foot-receiving device, comprising: a foot-covering member; a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes a foot-contacting surface; and an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface, and wherein the impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A foot-receiving device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member includes a retaining element that engages an outer surface of the impact-attenuating element to hold at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A foot-receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a first impact-attenuating material and a second region including a second impact-attenuating material that differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material. ### Claim at position 5 5-6. (canceled) ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A foot-receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A foot-receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the second impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the second impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface, and wherein the second impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A foot-receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear. ### Claim 11 A foot-receiving device, comprising: a foot-covering member; a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member; and an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a foam material having a first density and a second region including a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density, and wherein the impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A foot-receiving device according to claim 11, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a cylindrically shaped member formed, at least in part, from the foam material having the first density and the foam material having the second density. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A foot-receiving device according to claim 12, wherein the foam material having the first density faces the foam material having the second density along an interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A foot-receiving device according to claim 13, wherein the interface extends along a diagonal of the cylindrically shaped member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A foot-receiving device according to claim 11, wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A foot-receiving device according to claim 11, further comprising: a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the second impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A foot-receiving device according to claim 11, wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear. ### Claim 19 A foot-receiving device, comprising: a foot-covering member; a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes a foot-contacting surface; an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface; and means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A foot-receiving device according to claim 19, wherein the means for varying enables changes in a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim at position 20 21-22. (canceled) ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) A foot-receiving device according to claim 19, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a first impact-attenuating material and a second region including a second impact-attenuating material that differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) A foot-receiving device according to claim 19, wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) A foot-receiving device according to claim 19, further comprising: a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the second impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the second impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface; and means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the second impact-attenuating element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) A foot-receiving device according to claim 19, wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear. ### Claim 27 A foot-receiving device, comprising: a foot-covering member; a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member; an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a foam material having a first density and a second region including a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density; and means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A foot-receiving device according to claim 27, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a cylindrically shaped member formed, at least in part, from the foam material having the first density and the foam material having the second density. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A foot-receiving device according to claim 28, wherein the foam material having the first density faces the foam material having the second density along an interface. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A foot-receiving device according to claim 29, wherein the means for varying enables changes in a position or orientation of at least a portion of the interface with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change the at least one impact-attenuating characteristic. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) A foot-receiving device according to claim 27, wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) A foot-receiving device according to claim 27, further comprising: a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member; and means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the second impact-attenuating element. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) A foot-receiving device according to claim 27, wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear. ### Claim 34 An impact-attenuating element for a foot-receiving device, comprising: a first impact-attenuating material included in a first region; and a second impact-attenuating material included in a second region, wherein the second impact-attenuating material differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material, wherein the first region and the second region combine to form at least a portion of a composite member and are oriented with respect to one another such that at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in a foot-receiving device, and wherein the first impact-attenuating material faces the second impact-attenuating material along an interface that extends along a diagonal of the composite member. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) An impact-attenuating element according to claim 34, wherein the first impact-attenuating material contacts the second impact-attenuating material along an impact-attenuating material interface. ### Claim 36 An impact-attenuating element for a foot-receiving device, comprising: a first impact-attenuating material included in a first region, wherein the first impact-attenuating material includes a foam material having a first density; and a second impact-attenuating material included in a second region, wherein the second impact-attenuating material includes a foam material having a second density greater than the first density, and wherein the first region and the second region combine to form at least a portion of an integral structure and are oriented with respect to one another such that at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in a foot-receiving device. ### Claim 37 (canceled) ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) An impact-attenuating element according to claim 36, wherein the first impact-attenuating material contacts the second impact-attenuating material along an interface. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) An impact-attenuating element according to claim 36, wherein the first impact-attenuating material faces the second impact-attenuating material along an interface that extends along a diagonal of the integral structure. ### Claim 40 A method, comprising: providing a foot-receiving device including: a foot-covering member, and a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, the foot-supporting member including a foot-contacting surface; and engaging an impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member such that an axial direction of the impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface of the foot-supporting member, and wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, further comprising: changing the position or orientation of at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) A method according to claim 41, wherein the changing includes rotating at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) A method according to claim 41, wherein the changing includes inverting at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 44 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, further comprising: after the engaging, maintaining at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member and the foot-supporting member, wherein the maintaining includes engaging a retaining element provided with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member with an outer surface of the impact-attenuating element to hold at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 45 (canceled) ### Claim 46 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a first impact-attenuating material and a second region including a second impact-attenuating material that differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) A method according to claim 46, wherein the first impact-attenuating material is a foam material having a first density and the second impact-attenuating material is a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density. ### Claim 48 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, wherein the impact-attenuating element is engaged in a heel area of the foot-receiving device. ### Claim 49 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear. ### Claim 50 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, further comprising: engaging a second impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member such that an axial direction of the second impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface of the foot-supporting member, and wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element. ### Claim 51 A method, comprising: providing a foot-receiving device including: a foot-covering member, and a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member; and engaging an impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element, and wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a foam material having a first density and a second region including a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) A method according to claim 51, further comprising: changing the position or orientation of at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) A method according to claim 52, wherein the changing includes rotating at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 54 (depends on 52) A method according to claim 52, wherein the changing includes inverting at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 55 (depends on 51) A method according to claim 51, further comprising: after the engaging, maintaining at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member and the foot-supporting member, wherein the maintaining includes engaging a retaining element provided with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member with an outer surface of the impact-attenuating element to hold at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member. ### Claim 56 (canceled) ### Claim 57 (depends on 51) A method according to claim 51, wherein the impact-attenuating element is engaged in a heel area of the foot-receiving device. ### Claim 58 (depends on 51) A method according to claim 51, wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear. ### Claim 59 (depends on 51) A method according to claim 51, further comprising: engaging a second impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the second impact-attenuating element.