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US 8,763,276 B2Granted
Removable outsole elements for articles of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsPamela S. Greene, James E. Goddard, Christopher C. Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An outsole element for an article of footwear having a base and a lug that extends from the base. The outsole element includes a body and a cavity defined in the body. The cavity receives the lug to removably couple the body to the lug. Also, the cavity includes an internal undercut.
Claims24
An outsole element for an article of footwear having a base and a lug that extends from the base, the outsole element comprising:
- a body that includes a first end and a second end;
- and
- a cavity defined in the body, the cavity including an internal undercut that is configured to receive a portion of the lug to removably attach the body to the lug,
- wherein the body is configured to have a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the lug, the body being exposed to a ground surface in both the first orientation and the second orientation, the internal undercut receiving the portion of the lug in both the first orientation and the second orientation, the first end facing the base and the second end facing away from the base in the first orientation, the second end facing the base and the first end facing away from the base in the second orientation.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- a midsole that is resiliently compressible to provide cushioning for the article of footwear, the midsole including a base and a lug that extends from the base;
- and
- an outsole element having a body and a cavity defined in the body, the body being exposed to a ground surface and configured to provide traction on the ground surface, the body including a first end with a first aperture providing access into the cavity, the body including a second end with a second aperture providing access into the cavity, the first aperture and the cavity configured to receive the lug to removably couple the body to the lug, the cavity including an internal undercut configured to receive a portion of the lug to secure the body to the lug.
A system for modifying an article of footwear having a midsole with a base and a lug that extends from the base, the system comprising:
- a plurality of outsole elements, each having a body and a cavity defined in the body, the body including a first end with a first aperture providing access into the cavity, the body including a second end with a second aperture providing access into the cavity, the cavity and the first aperture configured to receive the lug to removably couple the body to the lug, the cavity including an internal undercut, at least one of the plurality of outsole elements being resiliently flexible to increase a width of the first aperture and the second aperture to receive the lug within the first aperture;
- and
- a tool for selectively resiliently flexing the at least the plurality of outsole elements to removably couple the at least one of the plurality of outsole elements to the lug.
An article of footwear comprising:
- a resiliently compressible midsole that provides cushioning for the article of footwear, the midsole including a base and a lug extending from the base, the lug including a terminal end with a flange;
- an outsole element defining an axis, the outsole element having a body and a cavity defined in the body, the cavity including an internal undercut, the outsole element including a first end with a first aperture, a second end with a second aperture, and a side wall extending between the first end and the second end, the first end defining a first surface, the second end defining a second surface that faces in a direction opposite the first surface, the first aperture receiving the lug and the internal undercut receiving the flange to removably couple the outsole element to the lug with the first surface facing the base, the second surface exposed to a ground surface to provide traction on the ground surface;
- and
- an insert that is removably attached to the outsole element and the lug, the insert being disposed between the second end of the outsole element and the terminal end of the lug, the insert at least partially covering the terminal end of the lug, the insert being exposed to the ground surface through the second aperture of the outsole element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.