Tuning elements for footwear
AssigneeVans, Inc.
InventorsEdwin S. Darden, Tristan Modena
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more tuning elements may be associated with a receiver, such as a pocket or other channel, disposed on an item of footwear, such as a snowboarding boot. The receiver adjustably receives the tuning element. The adjustable arrangement of the tuning element and receiver allows the intended user of the item of footwear to tune the item for performance, comfort, cosmetic, or other characteristics. In certain embodiments, the tuning elements are removably associated with a boot to allow for flex control.
Claims21
A flex control system, comprising:
- a first tuning element for a boot comprising a semi-flexible element having a three-dimensional configuration that generally conforms to a lateral or medial side of an ankle joint region of an intended user's lower leg and foot and that extends across the front of the ankle and sufficiently above and below the ankle joint area and over at least a portion of the user's instep so as to be capable of increasing a boot's resistance to flex in the ankle joint region.
A boot with a tongue or tongue region having a first receiver disposed on a lateral or medial side of the tongue or tongue region, and the first receiver being configured to removably receive a tuning element generally over the lateral or medial side of the ankle joint region and to sufficiently secure the tuning element in place so that the tuning element is disposed from an upper portion of the boot corresponding to a lower leg region, across the front of the ankle, and over at least a portion of the instep of the user's foot, the tuning element thereby increases the boot's resistance to flex in the ankle joint region.
A kit of tuning elements comprising at least two tuning elements, each tuning element comprising a semi-flexible element having a three-dimensional configuration that generally conforms to a lateral or medial side of an ankle joint region of an intended user's lower leg and foot and that extends across the front of the ankle and sufficiently above and below the ankle joint area and over at least a portion of the user's instep so as to be capable of increasing a boot's resistance to flex in the ankle joint region, each tuning element having different flex characteristics.
A tuning element for removable use in a receiver disposed on a boot, the tuning element comprising a flexible element that is extendable over a flex zone of a boot and imparting desired flex characteristics to the boot, the tuning element having one or more of an electronic sensor comprising a GPS sensor, accelerometer, electronic compass device, piezoelectric device, RFID device, microprocessor, or memory device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.