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US 6,481,121 B1Granted
Footwear and accessory device
AssigneeMontrail Corporation
InventorScott L. Tucker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeMontrail Corporation
InventorScott L. Tucker
Estimating the term…
Improved footwear and accessory devices, such as crampons, are disclosed for enhancing the performance of footwear under different conditions and, thus, providing more versatile footwear. The footwear has an outsole flex zone in a forefoot region that flexes during hiking and climbing in various terrains. The footwear also includes toe and heel attachment points for installation of an accessory, such as a crampon and, additionally, includes a midfoot attachment point for mounting of the accessory. The midfoot attachment point is preferably located between the outsole flex zone and the heel attachment point. A forefoot contact mechanism may also be provided in the footwear outsole that interacts with a rigid forefoot contact mechanism of the accessory to enhance the rigidity of the forefoot region when the accessory is mounted. A crampon accessory device for mounting on the footwear is also disclosed.
An article of footwear comprising:
An article of footwear comprising an outsole and a frame positioned above the outsole, the outsole having an exterior contacting surface to contact terrain when an accessory device is not installed, the frame being flexible in a forefoot region of the footwear and having a toe attachment mechanism and a heel attachment mechanism for attachment of an accessory device on a lower surface of the outsole at a toe portion and a heel portion, and additionally having a midfoot attachment mechanism for attachment of an accessory device at a midfoot location intermediate between the forefoot region and the heel portion, wherein the outsole is provided with at least one groove positioned in a forefoot region of the outsole and extending generally in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the outsole for contacting a stiffening element on an accessory device and the outsole is provided with exterior contacting surface including lugs for traction on terrain when an accessory device is not installed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.