Removable outsole elements for articles of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsPamela S. Greene, James E. Goddard, Christopher C. Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An outsole element for an article of footwear having a base and a lug that extends from the base. The outsole element includes a body and a cavity defined in the body. The cavity receives the lug to removably couple the body to the lug. Also, the cavity includes an internal undercut.
Claims24
An outsole element for an article of footwear having a base and a lug that extends from the base, the outsole element comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a cavity defined in the body, the cavity receiving the lug to removably couple the body to the lug, the cavity including an internal undercut.
An article of footwear having a midsole with a base, the article of footwear comprising:
- a lug that extends from the base;
- and
- an outsole element having a body and a cavity defined in the body, the cavity receiving the lug to removably couple the body to the lug, the cavity including an internal undercut.
A system for modifying an article of footwear having a midsole with a base and a lug that extends from the base, the system comprising:
- a plurality of outsole elements, each having a body and a cavity defined in the body, the cavity receiving the lug to removably couple the body to the lug, the cavity including an internal undercut, at least one of the plurality of outsole elements being resiliently flexible;
- and
- a tool for selectively resiliently flexing the at least the plurality of outsole elements to removably couple the at least one of the plurality of outsole elements to the lug.
An article of footwear comprising:
- a midsole that includes a base and a plurality of lugs disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other and extending from the base, the plurality of lugs each including a terminal end with a flange and an undercut defined between the flange and the base;
- and
- a plurality of separate continuous, ring-shaped outsole elements each defining an axis, each of the outsole elements having a body and a cavity defined in the body, the cavity including a continuous, ring-shaped internal undercut, each of the outsole elements also including a plurality of side walls, a rim that extends from the side walls toward the respective axis, a second end, and a first aperture defined in the respective rim, the first aperture receiving a corresponding one of the lugs to removably couple the respective outsole element to the respective lug such that the rim is disposed in the undercut of the lug between the respective flange and the base, such that the flange is received in the internal undercut, and such that the second end at least partially covers the terminal end of the lug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.