# US 9,775,404 B2 · Custom article of footwear and method of making the same

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- Number: US 9,775,404 B2
- Document ID: US9775404B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/175,042
- Filed: 2016-06-07
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Granted: 2017-10-03
- Earliest claimed: 2000-03-10
- Applicants: Robert M. Lyden
- Inventors: Robert M. Lyden
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775404B2

## CPC

- A43B 13/183: {Leaf springs}
- A43B 1/0063: {made at least partially of material that can be recycled}
- A43B 1/0081: {made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material (hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493)}
- A43B 3/128: {characterised by the sole}
- A43B 3/26: adjustable as to length or size
- A43B 7/1463: with removable pads to allow custom fit
- A43B 7/22: with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like
- A43B 13/026: {Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite}
- A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
- A43B 13/122: {characterised by the outsole or external layer}
- A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion}
- A43B 13/184: {the structure protruding from the outsole}
- A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)}
- A43B 13/188: {Differential cushioning regions}
- A43B 13/203: {provided with a pump or valve}
- A43B 13/36: Easily-exchangeable soles (protecting-soles A43C13/12)
- A43B 23/021: {Leather}
- A43B 23/0215: {Plastics or artificial leather}
- A43B 23/026: {Laminated layers}
- A43B 23/028: {Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing}
- A43B 23/042: {Uppers made of one piece (one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124)}
- A43D 1/02: Foot-measuring devices (measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107)
- A43D 11/006: {Devices for temporarily fixing or aligning insoles on lasts}
- G06Q 30/0621: {by configuring or customising goods or services}
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

## Abstract

The present invention teaches a method of making a custom article of footwear. Further, the article of footwear can include a knitted upper and means for cushioning. In addition, the components of the article of footwear can be selected from a wide range of options, and can be easily removed and replaced, as desired.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An article of footwear comprising an anterior side, a posterior side, a medial side, a lateral side, a superior side, an inferior side, a rearfoot area, a midfoot area, a forefoot area, an upper comprising a bottom side, a heel counter, and a spring element,
said spring element comprising a superior spring element and a plurality of integrally formed inferior spring elements projecting downwardly and rearwardly from said superior spring element,
said superior spring element comprising a top side and extending substantially between said anterior side and said posterior side of said article of footwear and said top side of said superior spring element being connected to said bottom side of said upper,
said plurality of inferior spring elements each comprising a posteriormost side, a medialmost side, a lateralmost side, a top surface comprising a top curved configuration, a bottom surface comprising a bottom curved configuration and an inferiormost point and a geometric shape,
said plurality of inferior spring elements comprising a first inferior spring element located on said medial side and being positioned across from at least one other of said plurality of inferior spring elements comprising a second inferior spring element located on said lateral side and being at least partially separated by a void space located therebetween,
said first inferior spring element and said second inferior spring element each being configured to provide a vertical elevation of at least 10 mm from said inferiormost point to said top side of said superior spring element, each of said first inferior spring element and said second inferior spring element being located in at least one of said midfoot area and said rearfoot area, said midfoot area and said rearfoot area therefore both being elevated and capable of deflection,
said first inferior spring element located on said medial side comprising a first top surface comprising a first top curved configuration and a first bottom surface comprising a first bottom curved configuration and comprising a first geometric shape, and said second inferior spring element located on said lateral side comprising a second top surface comprising a second top curved configuration and a second bottom surface comprising a second bottom curved configuration and comprising a second geometric shape,
said first bottom curved configuration of said first inferior spring element being substantially the same as said second bottom curved configuration of said second inferior spring element, and said first geometric shape of said first inferior spring element being different and asymmetric relative to said second geometric shape of said second inferior spring element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements comprises a void space located between at least two inferior spring element sub-portions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The article of footwear according to claim 2, further comprising an outsole element connected to and extending between said at least two inferior spring element sub-portions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein said at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements projects from said superior spring element along said transverse axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and a flexural axis deviated from said transverse axis less than 50 degrees, wherein at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements projects from said superior spring element along said flexural axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, said plurality of inferior spring elements comprising an anterior inferior spring element located in said forefoot area comprising a third bottom surface comprising a third bottom curved configuration different from said second bottom curved configuration of said second inferior spring element located in at least one of said midfoot area and rearfoot area of said article of footwear.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said spring element comprises a V shape.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said bottom curved configuration of at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements is substantially convex.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, said plurality of said inferior spring elements being located at least in said rearfoot area and said forefoot area.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements comprising a different thickness on said medialmost side relative to said lateralmost side.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements comprising a tapered configuration.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said top curved configuration of at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements is substantially concave.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements comprises a length of said at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements on said lateralmost side is different than on said medialmost side.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear according to claim 1, at least one of said plurality of inferior spring elements further comprising an outsole.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of integrally formed inferior spring elements comprises a U shape.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of integrally formed inferior spring elements comprises a J shape.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of integrally formed inferior spring elements is disposed in at least one of said rearfoot area and said midfoot area.