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US 7,451,557 B2Granted
Article of footwear with a removable midsole element
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSteven McDonald, Bradley S. Long
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper, an outsole, and a midsole. The upper is configured to receive a foot, and the outsole is secured to the upper. The outsole defines a plurality of apertures extending entirely through the outsole. In addition, the outsole has a ground-engaging surface positioned at a first elevation. The midsole is separate from the upper and the outsole. The midsole is also positionable within the upper such that a lower surface of the midsole extends into the apertures of the outsole and is exposed by the apertures. The lower surface is at a second elevation, the first elevation being less than the second elevation.
Claims25
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper for extending around at least a portion of a foot;
- an outsole that is permanently secured to the upper and defines a plurality of apertures extending entirely through the outsole, the outsole having a ground-engaging surface positioned at a first elevation;
- and
- a midsole positioned within the upper such that a lower surface of the midsole extends into the apertures of the outsole and is exposed by the apertures, wherein the lower surface is at a second elevation, the first elevation is less than the second elevation, and the midsole is non-destructively separable from the permanently secured outsole and upper,
- wherein the outsole includes a rim section that extends around a periphery of the footwear, and
- wherein the midsole portion extending downwardly into the apertures around the periphery of the footwear includes at least one flange that extends laterally from a side portion of the midsole through the at least one outsole aperture and under the rim section to secure the midsole to the outsole.
3 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper for extending around at least a portion of a foot;
- an outsole that is permanently secured to the upper and defines a plurality of apertures extending entirely through the outsole, the outsole having a ground-engaging surface positioned at a first elevation;
- and
- a midsole that is non-destructively separable from the permanently secured upper and the outsole, the midsole including a foot-supporting portion and a plurality of projections that extend downward from the foot-supporting portion, the midsole being positionable within the upper such that the projections extend into the apertures of the outsole and a lower surface of the projections are exposed by the apertures, the lower surface being at a second elevation, the first elevation being less than the second elevation, and at least one of the projections is located at a periphery of footwear and extends downward and includes a flange that extends laterally from a side portion of the midsole and under a portion of the outsole to secure the midsole to the outsole.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper having an ankle opening, a pair of side portions extending downward from the ankle opening;
- an outsole permanently secured to the upper, the outsole being located opposite the ankle opening and extending between the side portions, the outsole forming a ground-engaging element of the footwear, and the outsole defining an aperture that extends entirely through the outsole;
- and
- a midsole having a foot-supporting portion and a projection extending from the foot-supporting portion, the midsole being insertable through the ankle opening and installable such that the foot-supporting portion is positioned adjacent an upper surface of outsole and the projection extends through the aperture, a lower surface of the projection being positioned at a greater elevation than a lower surface of the outsole,
- wherein the midsole is non-destructively separable from the permanently secured outsole and upper after installation, and wherein a portion of the projection extends downwardly and a portion extends laterally from a side portion on of the midsole and under a portion of the outsole to secure the midsole to the outsole.
2 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- a combination of an upper permanently secured to an outsole;
- and
- a midsole that is non-destructively separable from the combination, the combination defining a void located on an interior of the footwear, the void having a shape and a size that accommodates both the midsole and a foot, and the combination defining a plurality of apertures that extend through a bottom portion of the combination, the midsole having a foot-supporting portion positioned on an interior of the combination, and the midsole having a plurality of projections secured to the foot-supporting portion, the projections extending into the apertures such that a lower surface of the projections are at a greater elevation than a lower surface of the combination, and the combination forming a ground-engaging portion of the footwear,
- wherein the combination includes a rim section that extends around a periphery of the footwear, and wherein the midsole includes projections around the periphery extending downward and having at least one flange that extends laterally from a side portion of the midsole and under the rim section to secure the midsole to the combination.
1 more element
A method of modifying an article of footwear, the method comprising steps of:
- removing a midsole from an upper that is permanently secured to an outsole, wherein prior to removal the midsole includes portions extending through and exposed by apertures formed in the outsole;
- inserting a replacement midsole into the upper, wherein the replacement midsole has a shape similar to the removed midsole, and wherein portions of the replacement midsole extend through the apertures formed in the outsole and are exposed by the apertures;
- and
- positioning the replacement midsole such that a lower surface of the replacement midsole is at a greater elevation than a lower surface of the outsole,
- wherein the step of positioning includes locating a flange portion the replacement midsole, extending laterally from a side portion of the midsole, under a rim section of the outsole to secure the replacement midsole to the outsole, the rim section forming at least a portion of a periphery of the outsole.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.