Impact-attenuating elements removably mounted in footwear or other products
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsGregory Ross Leedy, Anthony Carl Dean, Christopher S. Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Impact-attenuating elements include a plurality of impact-attenuating members and a means for releasably securing the impact-attenuating element to at least one of the upper member or the sole member of a piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device. The impact-attenuating elements may be included in the footwear or other foot-receiving devices in a selectively removable manner so that a user, retailer, or another can customize and freely select an appropriate element, e.g., depending on user preferences, characteristics of the user, characteristics of the intended use, and the like.
Claims20
A foot-receiving device, comprising:
- an upper;
- an outsole member engaged with the upper, wherein the outsole member includes an outsole flap including a retaining extension;
- and
- an impact-attenuating element releasably engaged with the upper, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes:
- (a) a first base member, (b) a second base member, and (c) a plurality of impact-attenuating members provided at least partially between the first base member and the second base member, wherein the retaining extension of the outsole flap extends around the impact-attenuating element and engages a retaining element provided at a rear heel area of the foot-receiving device to releasably engage the impact-attenuating element and to at least in part hold the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the upper.
A foot-receiving device, comprising:
- an upper;
- an outsole member engaged with the upper, wherein the outsole member includes an outsole flap;
- and
- an impact-attenuating element releasably engaged with the upper, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes:
- (a) a first base member, (b) a second base member, and (c) a plurality of impact-attenuating members provided at least partially between the first base member and the second base member, wherein at least a portion of the outsole flap is made from an elastomeric material that stretches around the impact-attenuating element to a retaining element provided at a rear heel area of the foot-receiving device to releasably engage the impact-attenuating element and to at least in part hold the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the upper.
A foot-receiving device, comprising:
- an upper;
- an outsole member engaged with the upper, wherein the outsole member includes an outsole flap including a retaining extension;
- and
- an impact-attenuating element releasably engaged with the upper, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes:
- (a) a first base member and (b) a plurality of impact-attenuating members engaged with the first base member, wherein the retaining extension of the outsole flap extends around the impact-attenuating element and engages a retaining element provided at a rear heel area of the foot-receiving device to releasably engage the impact-attenuating element and to at least in part hold the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the upper.
A foot-receiving device, comprising:
- an upper;
- an outsole member engaged with the upper, wherein the outsole member includes an outsole flap;
- and
- an impact-attenuating element releasably engaged with the upper, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes:
- (a) a first base member and (b) a plurality of impact-attenuating members engaged with the first base member, wherein at least a portion of the outsole flap is made from an elastomeric material that stretches around the impact-attenuating element to a retaining element provided at a rear heel area of the foot-receiving device to releasably engage the impact-attenuating element and to at least in part hold the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the upper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.