With Adjustment Of Shoe Size Patents (Class 36/97)
-
Publication number: 20130125420Abstract: An expandable shoe has a top portion, a pair of side portions, a back portion, a sole, a heel and a first elastic member. The first elastic member joins the top portion to the pair of side portions at a critical location which is at the junction of the top portion and the side portions. The first elastic member is in the shape of an inverted “U” extending along the front of the shoe. The expandable shoe may further have a second elastic member joining the back portion to the side portions at the critical locations at the junctions of the back and side portions and the junctions of the back and the rear of the sole. The second elastic member is in the shape of an upright “U”.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: May 23, 2013Inventor: Puthalath Koroth Raghuprasad
-
Patent number: 8402675Abstract: A footwear construction including a portion of an upper and/or sole, a strap defining a sleeve, and a cord joined with the upper and/or sole portion, extending toward the strap and slidably housed in the sleeve. An adjustment element is selectively locatable along a part of the cord. By sliding the cord relative to the sleeve and optionally adjusting the location of the adjustment element, the spatial relationship between the strap and the upper and/or sole portion can be selectively adjusted to accommodate a particular dimension of a wearer's foot and/or ankle. A method is also provided for manufacturing footwear including the above components.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Wolverine World Wide, Inc.Inventors: Brandan J. Hill, James S. Lindars
-
Patent number: 8372234Abstract: A method of manufacturing footwear includes providing a modular forepart and a modular rearpart, overlapping these parts along an overlap margin a preselected distance, and permanently joining the parts to selectively manufacture footwear of at least two different sizes, for example, a full size or a half size or some other partial size. The forepart and rearpart can be injection molded from one or more polymeric materials in a mold. The polymeric materials can be bonded to a sheet of material which can be at least partially retained in a three-dimensional, contoured shape by the polymeric material. The molded polymeric material can form a supportive and/or structural exoskeleton in an upper portion of the footwear. The exoskeleton can define one or more holes through which the sheet is visible to form one or more aesthetic regions on the upper. An article of footwear constructed with the method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Wolverine World Wide, Inc.Inventor: Christopher J. Loveder
-
Patent number: 8359773Abstract: Series, combination of series and method to produce sports shoes of different size, in which each sports shoe of different size comprises a casing substantially rigid and defining an internal compartment for containing the user's foot, a sole associated below the casing and an inner boot disposed in the internal compartment, in order to make putting the foot into the casing more comfortable. The sole has always the same length for all the sports shoes, and the casing has a different size to each other so as to define, on each occasion, an internal compartment with a different volume for each of the sports shoes of different size, so as to cover a plurality of foot sizes, within a determinate range, keeping the length of the sole always the same.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Calzaturificio dal Bello SRLInventors: Rino Dal Bello, Carletto Battilana
-
Publication number: 20120304496Abstract: Shoe constructions which automatically adjust the effective girth of a shoe to enable the shoe to change in girth throughout a day in accordance with changes in a wearer's foot, including along the upper and lower side edges of the ball, waist, and instep of the wearer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventor: Henri E. Rosen
-
Patent number: 8261470Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular footwear to provide a variety of footwear comprising: an outer enclosure, where the outer enclosure includes a base portion, a front portion, side portions and a rear portion, where the front portion includes an expansion joint and side portions include a first expansion joint and a second expansion joint; an inner enclosure, where the inner enclosure removably inserts within the outer enclosure through a first cavity; and a fastening mechanism, where said fastening mechanism secures the footwear to a foot of a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the fastening mechanism includes a plurality of eyelets along an edge of the side portions and laces, where said laces pass through the eyelets. The rear portion may include a peripheral portion, where said peripheral portion includes a first attachment mechanism for enabling a detachable engagement of the outer enclosure with the inner enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Inventors: Robert Wines, Betty Wines, Emiel Homberlin, Minnie Homberlin
-
Patent number: 8250692Abstract: A method of assembling the article of footwear may include assembling an upper with a first size and an outsole with a second size that is different from the first size. The method may also include assembling the article of footwear with a midsole that may be configured with an upper portion that fits the first size of the upper and a lower portion that fits the second size of the outsole.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Craig K. Sills
-
Publication number: 20120047769Abstract: A footwear construction including a portion of an upper and/or sole, a strap defining a sleeve, and a cord joined with the upper and/or sole portion, extending toward the strap and slidably housed in the sleeve. An adjustment element is selectively locatable along a part of the cord. By sliding the cord relative to the sleeve and optionally adjusting the location of the adjustment element, the spatial relationship between the strap and the upper and/or sole portion can be selectively adjusted to accommodate a particular dimension of a wearer's foot and/or ankle. A method is also provided for manufacturing footwear including the above components.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.Inventors: Brandan J. Hill, James S. Lindars
-
Publication number: 20120025480Abstract: Size-adjustable footwear includes a body in which first and second insoles are received, the insoles being nested together and one upon another with both extending to generally cover the length and width of the sole of the footwear body. A first insole has a re-entrant section for partially enclosing at least part of the periphery of the forefoot of a wearer and includes a first toe cap, and lateral and medial flanges integral with the first toe cap. The second upper insole includes a reentrantly shaped second toe cap and a heel cup in which a first longitudinal dimension, between the heel cup and the second toe cap, defines a first size, and a second longitudinal dimension, between the body heel and the first toe cap, defines a second size larger than the first size. A user may select footwear based on the smaller first size, and then remove the first and then the second insole to accommodate growth of the feet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2009Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: MARCO SKATES LTD.Inventor: Chun Lung Kwok
-
Patent number: 8104195Abstract: A sports shoe which comprises a rigid sole from which a shell protrudes, starting from a forefoot region and up to a heel region, a quarter being rotatably associated with the shell. An insole is slidingly associated within the shell, at a bottom thereof, is provided with a tip and interacts with elements for adjusting and guiding its axial position with respect to the shell.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Roces—S.R.L.Inventor: Massimo Cavasin
-
Patent number: 8032969Abstract: An attachable brush for footwear, particularly suited for an umpire to clean dirt from home plate during a baseball game is herein disclosed. The footwear comprises a bristle portion along one (1) side and sized approximately one (1) inch wide and four (4) inches long, with the bristle portions being approximately one (1) inch. The brush body is attached to the footwear by means of a flap made of leather or similar resilient material. The flap is attached to the top of the brush body and is removably attached to the footwear by use of eyelets that would be interlocked with the shoelaces on the footwear. This enables the umpire to slightly lift his foot, allowing the brush to hang down, and sweep it back and forth over the home plate area. Its positioning would not allow it to interfere with walking or other activities when not being used.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Inventor: Dennis E. Connelly
-
Publication number: 20110232131Abstract: A sports shoe which comprises a rigid sole from which a shell protrudes, starting from a forefoot region and up to a heel region, a quarter being rotatably associated with the shell. An insole is slidingly associated within the shell, at a bottom thereof, is provided with a tip and interacts with elements for adjusting and guiding its axial position with respect to the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventor: Massimo Cavasin
-
Patent number: 8011119Abstract: Personally adjustable footwear with at least one sole layer including: a toe portion, a heel portion, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has openings passing vertically through the layer so that the intermediate portion is elastically flexible to allow relative longitudinal displacement of the toe portion and the heel portion to vary a length of the layer without significant variation in a thickness of the layer. A retention mechanism selectively fixes the toe and heel portions in any of a number of relative positions. Also disclosed are implementations with insertable and removable segments, and with elongated elements sliding in channels.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Peeerfect Fit LLCInventors: Ofer Tvoua, Amir Tvoua, Offer Canfi
-
Patent number: 7992326Abstract: The invention relates to a sports shoe (1), in particular an alpine ski shoe (2), with an adjusting means (3) for varying the stiffness of the sole system (4) as and when necessary. This adjusting means (3) comprises at least one profiled tension element (19) which remains essentially dimensionally stable when forces act on it and which is connected at its oppositely lying end portions to a front sole platform (10) on the one hand and to a rear sole platform (11) of the sole system (4) on the other hand, its middle portion extending freely between the front and the rear sole platform (10, 11). The tension element (19) is mounted so as to be relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the sole system (4) in order to apply adjustable positioning forces relative to at least one sole platform (10, 11), and an individually adjustable tensing force can be expended between the front and the rear sole platform (10, 11) via the tension element (19).Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: ATOMIC Austria GmbHInventors: Gerhard Trinkaus, Helmut Holzer
-
Patent number: 7980007Abstract: A system for custom fitting athletic shoes to an individual wearer includes a foot measurement device, an adjustable footform and an infrared activation chamber. Shoes of a single width for each length size have at least a portion of the upper made of heat malleable material to be custom fitted for width. Foot measurement data is used to calculate length size, width size and a number of custom adjustment factors. After the length size is calculated, the appropriately sized shoe and last are assembled together and subject to infrared radiation until the heat malleable material becomes plastic. Adjustments are then made to the last in accordance with the adjustment factors to provide custom width sizing. After further heat treatment to set the shoe upper and cooling, the shoe is complete. In this manner, if used in a retail setting, shoes are custom fitted to the wearer in a matter of minutes.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Bruce J. Kilgore, James C. Meschter
-
Patent number: 7966751Abstract: Sole with stretchable structure, in which the forepart is associated with a stretchable material to fit differing foot widths easily; and footwear equipped with such a sole. The sole base (1) comprises openings (4) in which the lugs (3) of the stretchable part (2) are positioned in a sealed manner. The insole (5) comprises a deformable structure (6) in its forepart. When the wearer's foot is put into a footwear article provided with such a complex, it exerts pressure on the edges of the upper (10) thus causing deformation of the sole, which avoids feelings of compression of the foot.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: EXTEN.SInventor: Jean-Jacques Durand
-
Publication number: 20110146105Abstract: A shoe with improved fit, of the type comprising a sole and a shell made of plastics. Below the sole there is, in the toe region, a substantially longitudinally extended slot. At the sides of the slot there is a first seat and a second seat, respectively for a pivot and a cam-shaped bush. The pivot and the bush are associated at their ends with a plate arranged inside the sole.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Franco Caeran, Michele Pellizzon
-
Publication number: 20110047826Abstract: A shoe construction providing improved means for the adjustment of its girthwise dimensions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventor: Henri E. Rosen
-
Patent number: 7895772Abstract: A climbing shoe having a vamp; a sole fixed to the bottom of the vamp; a substantially horseshoe-shaped first binding covering the tip portion of the vamp surrounding the metatarsus-phalanx area of the sole of the foot; a substantially horseshoe-shaped second binding, which covers the area of the vamp directly over the heel, and extends along the sides of the vamp up to the first binding; and a third binding designed to cover the portion of the vamp at the metatarsus-phalanx area of the sole of the foot, underneath the sole, and to at least partly cover the portion of the vamp at the arch area of the sole of the foot. The third binding has two proximal appendixes and two distal appendixes, which extend on opposite sides of the main body of the third binding.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Calzaturificio S.C.A.R.P.A. S.p.A.Inventor: Heinz Mariacher
-
Publication number: 20100275461Abstract: A system for custom fitting athletic shoes to an individual wearer includes a foot measurement device, an adjustable footform and an infrared activation chamber. Shoes of a single width for each length size have at least a portion of the upper made of heat malleable material to be custom fitted for width. Foot measurement data is used to calculate length size, width size and a number of custom adjustment factors. After the length size is calculated, the appropriately sized shoe and last are assembled together and subject to infrared radiation until the heat malleable material becomes plastic. Adjustments are then made to the last in accordance with the adjustment factors to provide custom width sizing. After further heat treatment to set the shoe upper and cooling, the shoe is complete. In this manner, if used in a retail setting, shoes are custom fitted to the wearer in a matter of minutes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Bruce J. Kilgore, James C. Meschter
-
Patent number: 7823298Abstract: The present invention relates to the upper U of an athletic shoe comprising a first opening 1 out of which the foot sticks upwards during wearing and a second opening 2 which is closed with a tongue. The two openings 1, 2 are continuous with each other, and the upper U comprises a medial side stretchable part 51 which covers a part of a medial side face of an arch of the foot, a lateral side stretchable part 50 which covers a part of a lateral side face of a ball of a little toe (a fifth toe), a front part 3 located forward of the two stretchable parts 50, 51 and a rear part 4 located backward of the two stretchable parts. Each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is provided so as to essentially cross one of side faces of the upper U from a top surface of a sole S to the second opening 2. Young's modulus along the lengthwise direction L of the foot of each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is set smaller than that of the front part 3 and the rear part 4.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: ASICS CorporationInventors: Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki, Noboru Nakabe, Kiyomitsu Kurosaki, Toshikazu Kayano
-
Patent number: 7818900Abstract: Inner boot, particularly for a sports shoe such as a ski boot, an in-line roller skate or an ice skate, comprising a front portion, that covers the toes and part of the forefoot of the user, and a rear portion, that extends at the region of the plantar's arch up to the heel; the front portion is connected to the rear portion by way of one or more interconnection bellows having, in a rest position, its maximum elongation.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Roces S.R.L.Inventor: Massimo Cavasin
-
Patent number: 7814605Abstract: A floor washing system includes a foot covering that with a sole, a heal end and a toe end. A panel has a bottom side, a top side and a peripheral edge. The panel includes a peripheral lip that is coextensive with the peripheral edge. The panel has a front edge, a back edge and a pair of lateral edges. The panel has a break therein extending through the lateral edges to define a first portion and a second portion of the panel. A coupler extends between and secures together the first and second portions at a selected length from each other. A plurality of cleaning assemblies is removably attached to the bottom side of the panel. The foot covering is positioned on a foot, the sole placed on the top side of the panel and the cleaning assemblies used to clean a floor.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Inventor: Austin L. Tippel
-
Publication number: 20100175277Abstract: A sole with adjustable sizing is disclosed. The sole includes a fixed region and an adjustable region. The adjustable region is deformable when the sole is heated to a melting point associated with the adjustable region. The shape and size of the sole may be adjusted by deforming the adjustable region.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventor: Elizabeth Langvin
-
Publication number: 20100139122Abstract: A fit adjustable footwear, includes an insole, having a top layer and a bottom layer, mutually facing and kept spaced thereamong in correspondence of at least one length of the external peripheral edge thereof to slidably house a plurality of support elements arranged in a sequence and interconnected by a pulling element, the tensioning of which allows to radially let out, of a desired length, the support elements from the top and bottom layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2006Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventor: Bruno Zanatta
-
Patent number: 7690133Abstract: Shoe (10), in particular for a child, which advantageously has an unusually long lifetime, is of the type comprising a sole (12) and a upper (14), that define a determined fitting volume (V2), in which a determined length (L2) and a determined fitting (C2) are individualized, said shoe (10) comprising at least one removable, fittable spacer (20), which determines a reduced fitting volume (V1), in which a reduced length (L1) and a reduced fitting (C1) are individualized with respect to said determined length (L2) and said determined fitting (C2), respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Kellismere LLCInventor: Oliviero Olivieri
-
Patent number: 7681333Abstract: The present invention provides an interchangeable shoe footbed cartridge system. The system includes a footbed such as a midsole, insole or a sockliner. A cartridge is inserted into or otherwise attached to the forefoot section of the footbed. Multiple cartridges of varying depths, widths and/or lengths may be provided. The wearer can select a cartridge to achieve a desired fit. Because right and left feet may be of different sizes, different cartridges may be chosen for each foot. Furthermore, the user may swap cartridges depending upon different conditions, or to change the stiffness of the cartridge. Additionally, a slipcover having a stretchable portion may be placed over the cartridge system. The cartridges enable a footwear manufacturer to produce fewer shoe sizes while fitting more of the population. This reduces manufacturing, shipping, warehousing and accounting costs. All levels of the supply chain, as well as the end customers, will greatly benefit from the method of supplying footwear.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: The Timberland CompanyInventors: Alexander Dardinski, John Healy, Peter Dillon, David E. Miller, Simon Luthi, Charles Kraeuter, Douglas E. Clark
-
Patent number: 7673399Abstract: The invention relates to a self-ventilated, ergonomic footwear item and elastomeric sole. According to the invention, both sides of the sole comprise a plurality of longitudinal grooves, in the area corresponding to the sole of the foot, which are essentially parallel to the edge of the sole closest thereto and which have a depth equal to half of the height of the sole. Moreover, the grooves are disposed in an alternating manner in relation to one another on either side of the sole in the form of a bellows-type structure. The upper comprises a perforated elastic laminar body which is disposed beneath the insole in the area corresponding to the sole and the foot and which, together with the sole, forms a chamber having a volume that varies upon walking. In addition, three thick bands are solidly connected to the body and the upper in order to stiffen said elastic laminar body, namely: one longitudinal band and two transverse end bands.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Calzados Hergar, S.A.Inventor: Basilio Garcia-Perez Aradros
-
Publication number: 20100050473Abstract: A sneaker-like or exercise shoe with an adjustable, posterior heel strap that provides for a one size fits all configuration. A plurality of peripheral hook members are positioned around the mid-section and toe portion of the shoe for attaching an elastic or stretchable band. Specifically, the plurality of hook members are positioned (A) on the inside of the foot at the medial portion of the 1st metatarsal distal end; (B) on the outside of the foot at the lateral medial portion of the 5th metatarsal distal end; and (C) on the distal end of the 2nd metatarsal. At the back of the shoe the strap goes around the posterior calcaneus of a foot for adjustable sizes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventor: Anthony Rosso
-
Publication number: 20100024249Abstract: Sole with stretchable structure, a footwear article provided with such a sole and its assembly method The invention relates to a footwear sole where the forepart is associated with a stretchable material making it possible to fit differing foot widths easily; it also relates to the footwear equipped with such a sole and the method for mounting this footwear. It is constituted of a sole base (1) comprising openings (4) in which the lugs (3) of the stretchable part (2) are positioned in a sealed manner. The insole (5) comprises a deformable structure (6) in its forepart. When the wearer's foot is put into a footwear article provided with such a complex, it exerts pressure on the edges of the upper (10) thus causing deformation of the sole. This ability of deforming the sole avoids feelings of compression of the foot. The device according to the invention is intended in particular for the manufacture of footwear with the ability of adapting to differing foot anatomies.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2009Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: EXTEN.SInventor: Jean-Jacques DURAND
-
Publication number: 20100024248Abstract: A sizing system for an article of footwear includes an insert attachable to the upper of the article of footwear. The insert is positioned within a pocket formed between the lining of the upper and the exterior shell of the upper. When attached to the upper, the insert forms a part of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. When the insert is removed, part of the pocket forms a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear or a flap is extended over the pocket to form a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The insert may be secured within the pocket using a mechanical fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Brian D. Baker, Neil Crumbleholme, Vernon J. Hentz, III, Doug D. Wilken
-
Patent number: 7653956Abstract: A method of manufacturing footwear includes providing a first upper having a first size and positioning a first cushioning member, having a first recess of a first size, beneath the first upper. The first cushioning member is secured to the first upper and a first sole assembly to form a first article of footwear having a first size. A second cushioning member is positioned beneath a second upper having a second size different than the first upper's size. The second cushioning member has a second recess of a second size formed in an upper surface thereof, with the second size being different than the first size of the first recess. The second cushioning member is secured to the second upper and a second sole assembly to form a second article of footwear having a second size different than the first size of the first article of footwear.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Steven F. Smith
-
Publication number: 20100011621Abstract: An expandable and adjustable baby shoe or bootie which can be customized to fit during a baby's first two years. The concept is to allow the baby shoe to be expanded as the baby's foot grows so that a single shoe can be used for babies up to 24 months of age. The shoe has an expansion mechanism which enables the front portion of the shoe to be progressively increased as the baby grows. The rear portion of the shoe also has a fastening mechanism whereby the rear area which surrounds the ankles can also be adjusted as the baby grows for a customized fit. The present invention can also be incorporated into a children's slipper as well as a baby shoe.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventor: Galit Danielle Malka-Harari
-
Publication number: 20090313854Abstract: A sandal having easily adjustable straps that allows a user to quickly modify the tightness of the sandal to adjust to the exact dimensions of the user's foot in order to secure the most comfortable grip for either casual or athletic activities. The sandal exhibits a lightweight, robust, high strength, flexible construction including an elongated sole for supporting a foot, where the sole has a toe end and a heel end, a center toe strap, an interior strap, and an exterior strap. The toe strap is anchored in the toe and includes a distal end fixedly connected to a pivot means, such as a buckle, for securing and redirecting the side straps. The interior and exterior straps are fixedly secured near the middle of the sole of the sandal and extend forwardly with a slip fit through the front pivot means, then rearwardly back upon themselves.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Inventor: Sean Clarke
-
Patent number: 7634861Abstract: An article of footwear is constructed to dynamically provide width adjustment by cooperative expansion and contraction of a longitudinal split midsole with an expansion element integrated with an outsole that allows the midsole to expand from a narrow width to a wider width. The upper of the shoe has a corresponding section that can expand to a similar degree as the midsole and outsole to enable the volume of the upper to increase proportionally to the width of the sole.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2004Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Bruce J. Kilgore
-
Publication number: 20090307929Abstract: Personally adjustable footwear with at least one sole layer including: a toe portion, a heel portion, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has openings passing vertically through the layer so that the intermediate portion is elastically flexible to allow relative longitudinal displacement of the toe portion and the heel portion to vary. a length of the layer without significant variation in a thickness of the layer. A retention mechanism selectively fixes the toe and heel portions in any of a number of relative positions. Also disclosed are implementations with insertable and removable segments, and with elongated elements sliding in channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventors: Ofer Tvoua, Amir Tvoua, Offer Canfi
-
Patent number: 7627963Abstract: An article of footwear is constructed to dynamically provide width adjustment by cooperative expansion and contraction of a longitudinal split midsole with an expansion element integrated with an outsole that allows the midsole to expand from a narrow width to a wider width. The upper of the shoe has a corresponding section that can expand to a similar degree as the midsole and outsole to enable the volume of the upper to increase proportionally to the width of the sole.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Bruce J. Kilgore
-
Patent number: 7621058Abstract: Sole with stretchable structure, a footwear article provided with such a sole and its assembly method. The invention relates to a footwear sole where the forepart is associated with a stretchable material making it possible to fit differing foot widths easily; it also relates to the footwear equipped with such a sole and the method for mounting this footwear. It is constituted of a sole base (1) comprising openings (4) in which the lugs (3) of the stretchable part (2) are positioned in a seared manner. The insole (5) comprises a deformable structure (6) in its forepart. When the wearer's foot is put into a footwear article provided with such a complex, it exerts pressure on the edges of the upper (10) thus causing deformation of the sole This ability of deforming the sole avoids feelings of compression of the foot The device according to the invention is intended in particular for the manufacture of footwear with the ability of adapting to differing foot anatomies.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Exten.sInventor: Jean-Jacques Durand
-
Patent number: 7613588Abstract: A shoe shape selection method selects an appropriate shoe shape from a plurality of kinds of shoe shapes prepared beforehand, based on a plurality of items of data on a customer. The plurality of data items include the foot length of the customer, the foot girth of the customer and the difference between the lengths of the first and second toes of the customer.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2004Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: ASICS CorporationInventors: Makoto Katsu, Tetsuro Kurashina, Hiroyuki Kusumi
-
Publication number: 20090249649Abstract: An article of footwear with a size-adjustable system capable of adjusting the size of the artifice of footwear is provided. The size-adjustable system comprises three sets of removable inserts. The inserts engage the article of footwear in the heel region of the upper to provide both space-filling in the heel region as well as stabilization of the foot. When each set of sizing inserts are disposed within the article of footwear, the size of the foot the article of footwear is capable of receiving is different. By providing a size-adjustable system, the article of footwear is capable of receiving multiple foot sizes, such as that of a growing child.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Scott Schenone
-
Publication number: 20090229144Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe (1), in particular a sports shoe, with an upper (2). To obtain, in particular, a foldable shoe with sufficient rigidity during use, the invention proposes that the upper (2) should consist at least partially of a flexible material that makes it possible to push together the upper (2) in the longitudinal direction of the shoe (L). At least one section (3) of the upper (2), extending in a longitudinal direction of the shoe (L), has at least one reinforcing element (4), on or inside the upper (2), that maintains the form of the shoe (1) on a plane that is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shoe (L). The flexible material is arranged in the connecting area (5) between the front part of the shoe (6) and the rear part of the shoe (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2007Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: PUMA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, RUDOLF DASSLER SPORT, DEInventor: Reinhold Sussman
-
Patent number: 7581337Abstract: An expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly within the outer shell. The inner assembly includes a first sole portion, a second sole portion, and a screw drive. The screw drive has a screw passing through a screw insert mounted to one of the first and second sole portions and a screw-receiving portion attached to the other of the first and second sole portions, so that turning the screw causes the sole portions to move relative to one another, thereby adjusting a dimension of the shoe. The shoe includes a manually operable control to turn the screw without the need for tools. The control is operable between a first position in which the control resists movement around an axis defined by the screw and a second position in which the control can be used to turn the screw to adjust a dimension of the footwear.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Inchworm, Inc.Inventors: Harry Miller, Byong M. Shin, Kwong Dong Chil
-
Patent number: 7565755Abstract: Personally adjustable footwear with at least one sole layer including: a toe portion, a heel portion, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has openings passing vertically through the layer so that the intermediate portion is elastically flexible to allow relative longitudinal displacement of the toe portion and the heel portion to vary a length of the layer without significant variation in a thickness of the layer. A retention mechanism selectively fixes the toe and heel portions in any of a number of relative positions. Also disclosed are implementations with insertable and removable segments, and with elongated elements sliding in channels.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Peeerfect Fit LLCInventors: Ofer Tvoua, Amir Tvoua, Offer Canfi
-
Publication number: 20090183392Abstract: An article of manufacture may be adjustable and may include a cage having a plurality of apertures and an insert having a frame with a plurality of projections that extend from the frame. The insert may be inserted into the cage and may cause the cage to expand to the shape of the insert. The projections on the frame may extend through the apertures of the cage when the insert is inserted into the cage. The cage may be capable of expanding to a plurality of sizes and shapes of various inserts. The article of manufacture may be an article of footwear, a container, an article of apparel, a textile, and any other object of manufacture.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2009Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: S. Kohatsu Shane
-
Publication number: 20090000151Abstract: A sports shoe which comprises a rigid sole from which a shell protrudes, starting from a forefoot region and up to a heel region, a quarter being rotatably associated with the shell. An insole is slidingly associated within the shell, at a bottom thereof, is provided with a tip and interacts with elements for adjusting and guiding its axial position with respect to the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventor: Massimo Cavasin
-
Patent number: 7469490Abstract: This invention discloses an adjusting device used to adjust the size of a sliding sports shoe, which is composed of an adjusting member for shoe size and a driving spring. With this adjusting device the size of a sliding sports shoe can be adjusted in a step manner by pressing directly a button on its side and can be automatically locked by itself.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Inventor: Guoqiang Tang
-
Patent number: 7464427Abstract: A method for producing shoes includes the following steps: obtaining an assembly (T,T1), formed by a shoe upper (2) and an elastic element, fastened to the shoe upper at least along the sections facing the lower edges of the shoe upper central-fore area; obtaining a sole (5), whose size corresponds to the size of the shoe upper, and whose upper surface has fastening means (50), engaging at least the central-fore portion thereof, so that the upper surface defines at least one fore fastening area (Z) and at least one rear fastening area (Z1); mutual fastening the fore fastening area (Z) of the sole (5) to a corresponding fore portion of said assembly, and of the rear fastening area (Z1) of the sole (5) to a corresponding rear portion of the assembly, to obtain a sole—assembly group (W,W1); introduction of a user's foot into the sole—assembly group (W,W1), with a subsequent transversal stretching of the elastic element (60) and adapting of the shoe upper (2) to the foot conformation; pre-fastening of the elasticType: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Inventors: Nello Caponi, Roberto Montagna
-
Patent number: 7461470Abstract: The present invention provides an interchangeable shoe footbed cartridge system. The system includes a footbed such as a midsole, insole or a sockliner. A cartridge is inserted into or otherwise attached to the forefoot section of the footbed. Multiple cartridges of varying depths, widths and/or lengths may be provided. The wearer can select a cartridge to achieve a desired fit. Because right and left feet may be of different sizes, different cartridges may be chosen for each foot. Furthermore, the user may swap cartridges depending upon different conditions, or to change the stiffness of the cartridge. Additionally, a slipcover having a stretchable portion may be placed over the cartridge system. The cartridges enable a footwear manufacturer to produce fewer shoe sizes while fitting more of the population. This reduces manufacturing, shipping, warehousing and accounting costs. All levels of the supply chain, as well as the end customers, will greatly benefit from the method of supplying footwear.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: The Timberland CompanyInventors: Alexander Dardinski, John Healy, Peter Dillon, David E. Miller, Simon Luthi, Charles Kraeuter, Douglas E. Clark
-
Publication number: 20080184597Abstract: Series, combination of series and method to produce sports shoes of different size, in which each sports shoe of different size comprises a casing substantially rigid and defining an internal compartment for containing the user's foot, a sole associated below the casing and an inner boot disposed in the internal compartment, in order to make putting the foot into the casing more comfortable. The sole has always the same length for all the sports shoes, and the casing has a different size to each other so as to define, on each occasion, an internal compartment with a different volume for each of the sports shoes of different size, so as to cover a plurality of foot sizes, within a determinate range, keeping the length of the sole always the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: CALZATURIFICIO DAL BELLO SrlInventors: Rino Dal Bello, Carletto Battilana
-
Patent number: 7392605Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure. The upper may include an exterior layer and an interior layer. The exterior layer forms at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, and the exterior layer includes a plurality of incisions that extend through the exterior layer. The interior layer is located adjacent an inner surface of the exterior layer, and the interior layer is exposed through the incisions. The sole structure may include a connecting portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements. The connecting portion is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar, Jeffrey C. Pisciotta, James Meschter, Kevin W. Hoffer, Stann Norman Richard Sheperd, Todd Anthony Waatti