Footwear
AssigneeRCCI Group, Inc.
InventorNishit Rathod
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-segment sole structure for use in footwear may be constructed of rigid segments positioned to correspond to one or more weight-bearing areas of the foot and flexible segments positioned to correspond to one or more less weight bearing or flexible areas of a foot. The flexibility may be provided by elastomeric materials, living hinges, or mechanical hinges. The sole structure may include a lower support base which may have hollow segments alternating with rigid or flexible supports. The rigid segments of the sole may be supported by rigid supports. The rigid segments may be wood. The conjoined interfaces may be perpendicular to the surface. A rigid segment may overhang a flexible segment or a flexible segment may overhang a rigid segment.
Claims27
A multi segment sole structure for use in footwear comprising:
- two or more segments conjoined and having an upper support surface and an opposing lower base surface;
- at least one of said segments is a rigid segment positioned to correspond to an area of a wearer foot which is weight-bearing;
- at least one of said segments is a flexible segment conjoined to said rigid segment positioned and sized to correspond to an area of a wearer foot that is less weight bearing.
A sole structure for footwear comprising:
- a flexible sole layer of a size and shape generally suitable to accommodate a perimeter of a wearer's foot and exhibiting a continuous frame and one or more recesses;
- and
- one or more rigid inserts located in said one or more recesses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.