Footwear sole with a stiffness adjustment mechanism
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Aveni, David Grelewicz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is an article of footwear having a sole comprised of one or more support elements formed of a resilient, compressible material. The support elements are designed such that the positions of one or more bands that encircle the exterior surface of the support elements may be altered such that the deflection characteristics of the support elements are changed. In order to facilitate the repositioning of the bands, the support element includes an access indentation defined by the exterior surface or flanges that are secured to each band.
Claims36
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer;
- and
- a sole attached to said upper, said sole having at least one support element that includes:
- an exterior surface, wherein an upper portion and a lower portion of said exterior surface slope outward to form a ridge that encircles said at least one support element;
- at least one band encircling said exterior surface;
- and
- a structure different from said at least one band that facilitates movable positioning of said at least one band with respect to said exterior surface to thereby alter deflection and stiffness characteristics of said at least one support element.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer;
- and
- a sole attached to said upper, said sole having at least one support element that includes:
- an exterior surface;
- at least one band encircling said exterior surface;
- and
- at least one flange attached to said at least one band and extending outward from said at least one band, said at least one flange facilitating movable positioning of said at least one band with respect to said exterior surface to thereby alter deflection and stiffness characteristics of said at least one support element.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer;
- and
- a sole attached to said upper, said sole having at least one support element that includes:
- an exterior surface;
- at least one band encircling said exterior surface and being movably positionable with respect to said exterior surface to thereby alter deflection and stiffness characteristics of said at least one support element;
- and
- at least one access indentation defined by said exterior surface, said at least one access indentation forming a gap between said exterior surface and said at least one band to facilitate positioning of said band.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer;
- and
- a sole attached to said upper, said sole having at least one support element that includes:
- an exterior surface;
- a first band encircling said exterior surface and being movably positionable with respect to said exterior surface to thereby alter deflection and stiffness characteristics of said at least one support element;
- at least one access indentation defined by said exterior surface, said at least one access indentation forming a gap between said exterior surface and said first band to facilitate positioning of said first band;
- and
- a securing device for removably securing a position of said first band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.