Back to results
US 2015/0143722 A1Published application
Flexible footwear
AssigneeCrocs, Inc.
InventorsLuca Faggin, Stefano Ferniani, Dale R. Bathum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A footwear product includes a sole assembly and an upper and has an at least partially flexible construction. The sole assembly includes a number of sole sections with one or more connecting members disposed between adjacent sole sections.
Claims23
An outsole comprising:
- a plurality of independent segments each formed of an injection moldable material, wherein each of the plurality of independent segments includes a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein each of the plurality of independent segments includes at least one hole formed entirely through the segment and positioned between the top and bottom surfaces;
- and
- at least one band extending through the at least one hole of each of the plurality of independent segments, wherein the at least one band is elastic and permits stretching apart of each of the plurality of independent segments with respect to each other, and wherein the at least one band applies a compression force to the plurality of independent segments causing the plurality of independent segments to align in an overall shape of a foot absent external forces, and wherein nothing spans adjacent segments of the plurality of independent segments except for the at least one band.
A sole assembly for a footwear product, the sole assembly comprising:
- a first outsole section including a first surface and a second surface;
- a second outsole section adjacent to the first outsole section, the second outsole section having a first surface and a second surface;
- a connection member having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a first portion of the bottom surface of the connection member is disposed on at least a first portion of the first surface of the first outsole section, a second portion of the bottom surface of the connection member is disposed on at least a first portion of the first surface of the second outsole section, and a third portion of the connection member extends between the first and second outsole sections;
- and
- at least one footbed section disposed on at least a portion of the top surface of the connection member.
2 more elements
A method of constructing a sole assembly for a footwear product, the method comprising:
- injection molding a plurality of independent outsole sections;
- injection molding a connecting member;
- arranging at least a first and second of the plurality of independent outsole sections such that the first outsole section is adjacent to the second outsole section;
- adhering a first portion of a bottom surface of the connecting member to at least a portion of a first surface of the first outsole section;
- and
- adhering a second portion of the bottom surface of the connecting member to at least a portion of a first surface of the second outsole section, such that a third portion of the connecting member extends between the first and second outsole sections;
- wherein the connecting member holds together the first and second outsole sections while permitting the first and second outsole sections to flex about the connecting member and to flex with respect to each other.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.