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US 8,573,981 B2Granted
Training system for an article of footwear with a ball control portion
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorErez Morag
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A training system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The training system includes a method of training an athlete to use an article of footwear with a ball control portion to help enhance accuracy when kicking a ball. The method can be implemented on a computer, mobile device or as an instruction booklet. The training system provides a total training solution for an athlete that is designed to enhance specific athletic skills.
Claims20
A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:
- receiving training instructions;
- and
- in accordance with the training instructions, moving along a predetermined path and kicking a ball by contacting the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;
- each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;
- each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a planar gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis;
- and
- wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an arc-like configuration along an arc;
- wherein adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the adjacent protrusions in substantial alignment with each other;
- and
- wherein non-adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the non-adjacent protrusions in substantial non-alignment with each other.
7 more elements
A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:
- receiving training instructions;
- and
- in accordance with the training instructions, dribbling a ball around at least one marker and kicking the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;
- each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;
- each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a planar gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis;
- and
- wherein the plurality of protrusions are configured to bend in a manner so that the gripping portions confront a surface of the ball during the kick;
- wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an arc-like configuration along an arc extending from a forefoot region of the upper to a midfoot region of the upper;
- wherein the arc extends from the midfoot region proximate a sole structure of the article of footwear to the forefoot region, the arc also extending in an upward direction as the arc proceeds toward the forefoot region;
- wherein adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the adjacent protrusions in substantial alignment with each other;
- and
- wherein non-adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the non-adjacent protrusions in substantial non-alignment with each other.
9 more elements
A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:
- receiving training instructions;
- in accordance with the training instructions, moving along a predetermined path, the predetermined path being determined from the training instructions;
- kicking a ball by contacting the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;
- each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;
- each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a planar gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis;
- and
- wherein the major axes of some protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are aligned with a curve on a surface of a ball when the ball control portion contacts the ball during a kick;
- wherein the protrusions aligned with the curve on a surface of a ball when the ball control portion contacts the ball during a kick are disposed in an arc-like configuration along an arc extending from a forefoot region of the upper to a midfoot region of the upper;
- wherein adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the adjacent protrusions in substantial alignment with each other;
- and
- wherein non-adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the non-adjacent protrusions in substantial non-alignment with each other.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.