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US 7,197,840 B2Granted
Footwear and related method of manufacture
AssigneeWolverine World Wide, Inc.
InventorKiyotaka Nakano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A footwear construction including a midsole having medial and lateral flanges, and that defines a recess in the heel. An upper can be joined to the flanges along a lower peripheral allowance of the upper. The flanges can be separated into a medial forefoot flange segment and a medial heel flange segment, and a lateral forefoot flange segment and a lateral heel flange segment, respectively. The footwear optionally can include an outsole and an optional heel wedge, either or both of which can define a secondary recess into which the midsole interfits. A method for constructing the footwear includes providing the midsole, joining an upper peripheral allowance with the flanges, and joining an outsole with the midsole. Optionally, a heel wedge can be secured between the midsole and the outsole.
Claims20
A footwear construction comprising:
- an upper including a peripheral allowance;
- a midsole including a medial flange extending upwardly and outwardly from a medial side of the midsole to form a medial flange upwardly projecting portion and a medial flange outwardly projecting portion, a lateral flange extending upwardly and outwardly from a lateral side of the midsole to form a lateral flange upwardly projecting portion and a lateral flange outwardly projecting portion, a forefoot region, an arch region and a heel region, the heel region defining a heel recess corresponding to the heel of a wearer, the medial flange and the lateral flange stitched to the peripheral allowance of the upper so that the peripheral allowance covers at least a portion of at least one of the medial flange outwardly projecting portion and the lateral flange outwardly projecting portion;
- a footbed positioned over the midsole so that at least a portion of the footbed rests in the heel recess;
- a heel wedge joined with the heel region of the midsole;
- and
- an outsole joined with the forefoot region of the midsole, the outsole further joined with the heel wedge.
3 more elements
A footwear construction comprising:
- an upper including a peripheral allowance;
- a midsole including a medial flange extending from a medial side of the midsole, a lateral flange extending from a lateral side of the midsole, a forefoot region, an arch region and a heel region, the heel region defining a heel recess corresponding to the heel of a wearer, the medial flange and the lateral flange stitched to the peripheral allowance of the upper;
- wherein the medial flange includes a medial forefoot segment and a medial heel segment, and wherein the lateral flange includes a lateral forefoot segment and a lateral heel segment;
- wherein the medial forefoot segment and the medial heel segment are separated by a first recess, and wherein the lateral forefoot segment and a lateral heel segment are separated by a second recess;
- a footbed positioned over the midsole so that at least a portion of the footbed rests in the heel recess;
- a heel wedge joined with the heel region of the midsole;
- an outsole joined with the forefoot region of the midsole, the outsole further joined with the heel wedge;
- and
- wherein at least one of the heel wedge and the outsole include a concealment flange that extends upwardly into at least one of the first recess and the second recess.
6 more elements
A footwear construction comprising:
- an upper defining an interior, and including an exterior and a peripheral allowance;
- a midsole including a medial forefoot flange segment and a medial heel flange segment, and a lateral forefoot flange segment and a lateral heel flange segment, the midsole including a heel region and defining a heel recess in the heel region, the peripheral allowance being substantially wrapped over and concealing at least one of the medial heel flange segment, the medial forefoot flange segment, the lateral forefoot flange segment and the lateral heel flange segment;
- and
- an outsole joined with the midsole.
1 more element
A footwear construction comprising:
- an upper defining an interior, and including an exterior and a peripheral allowance;
- a midsole including a medial forefoot flange segment and a medial heel flange segment, and a lateral forefoot flange segment and a lateral heel flange segment, the midsole including a heel region and defining a heel recess in the heel region, the peripheral allowance being joined with at least one of the medial heel flange segment, the medial forefoot flange segment, the lateral forefoot flange segment and the lateral heel flange segment;
- an outsole joined with the midsole;
- and
- wherein at least one of the medial heel flange segment, the medial forefoot flange segment, the lateral forefoot flange segment and the lateral heel flange segment include an upper surface, an outer edge and a lower surface, wherein the peripheral allowance is wrapped over the upper surface, the outer edge and the lower surface.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing footwear comprising:
- providing an upper defining an interior, and including an exterior and a peripheral allowance;
- joining the peripheral allowance with a midsole including a medial forefoot flange segment and a separate medial heel flange segment, and a lateral forefoot flange segment and a separate lateral heel flange segment, the midsole including a heel region and defining a heel recess in the heel region, wherein at least one of the medial forefoot flange segment, medial heel flange segment, lateral forefoot flange segment, and lateral heel flange segment include an upwardly projecting portion and an outwardly projecting portion, wherein the outwardly projecting portion is substantially completely covered by a portion of the peripheral allowance;
- joining an outsole with the midsole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.