FOOTWEAR
A footwear including a foot bed having an upper surface and a lower surface, the footbed having a length and a width, the footbed having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the footbed defining plural openings therethrough; an outer sole extending downward relative to the footbed, the outer sole supporting at least a portion of the footbed; the outer sole having a ground contacting surface opposite the footbed, wherein the outer sole defines a channel, the channel extending from the ground contacting surface to the footbed, wherein at least one of the plural opening communicates with the channel; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening over the footbed.
The present application relates to footwear. More particularly, the present application relates to footwear having a footbed that allows debris to pass through the footbed to reduce the likelihood of it from being entrapped under the wearer's foot. Most particularly, the present application relates to a footbed in footwear with openings that communicate with a channel in the outer sole that allow debris to pass through the footbed and exit the footwear.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, and not by way of limitation, various examples discussed in the present document.
SUMMARYExamples of the disclosure generally relate to footwear comprising a foot bed having an upper surface and a lower surface, the footbed having a length and a width, the footbed having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the footbed defining plural openings therethrough; an outer sole extending downward relative to the footbed, the outer sole supporting at least a portion of the footbed; the outer sole having a ground contacting surface opposite the footbed, wherein the outer sole defines a channel, the channel extending from the ground contacting surface to the footbed, wherein at least one of the plural opening communicates with the channel; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening over the footbed.
Another example relates to a footwear comprising a footbed defining plural openings, wherein at least one of the plural openings has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm; an outer sole in supporting relation to the footbed, the outer sole defining a channel that communicates with the opening; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening.
A further example relates to a footwear comprising a footbed including a layer of polymer material defining plural openings, wherein at least one of the plural openings has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm; the footbed defining a perimeter; an outer sole including an upper surface and a ground contacting surface, wherein the ground contacting surface is spaced from the upper surface and located beneath the footbed; the outer sole being in supporting relation to the perimeter of the footbed; the outer sole defining a channel inward of the perimeter and beneath the footbed; wherein the channel open upward to communicate with the plural openings and outward adjacent to the ground contacting surface of the outer sole; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONExamples of the disclosure generally relate to footwear. Footwear is often purpose built for various activities and environments. One example of footwear built for a particular environment is the sandal. A sandal is designed to be lightweight and breathable and generally is adapted for use in warmer environments. In addition, sandals are often designed to be used in activities and locations where water is present including trips to the beach, pools, showers, creeks, streams, and rivers. They may also be worn during activities on water including boating, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting and the like. To that end, sandals are made of lightweight and typically water proof or water resistant materials. Sandals often have a solid yet flexible footbed that supports the foot. In most instances, the footbed is solid to facilitate manufacture and provide a layer of protection covering the bottom of the foot. The minimalistic nature of the upper, which is often made by one or more straps, allows water to flow freely off of the wearer's foot. The contour of the solid footbed, however, relative to the wearer's foot may allow small amounts of water to be entrapped causing a squishing sound and undesirable feeling of moisture under foot. Often during activities near or in water, debris is drawn on to the footbed when wearing a sandal or other footwear. The debris may include a variety of objects including small rocks, pebbles, beach glass and other materials found in bodies of water that may cause discomfort when lodged between the wearer's foot and the footbed. To that end, there is a need for a footbed that facilitates drainage from beneath the wearer's foot and permits debris to pass through the footbed to reduce the likelihood of entrapment.
According to one example, a footbed used in footwear includes openings that allow debris and water to pass through the footbed and exit the footwear. With reference to the drawings, an article of footwear is generally indicated by the number 100. A variety of examples of footwear 100 are shown. It will be understood that features from these various examples may be interchanged. In addition, the look and other ornamental features are limited only by the imagination of the designer. As depicted, the footbed having openings that allow debris and liquid to pass through may be accomplished in a wide variety of designs having openings of various shape, size and configuration. The examples shown are not limiting.
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In general, footbed 120 is a member that contacts the sole of a wearer's foot F. It may be any suitable member in this regard including thick and thin walled members. In the examples shown, where footwear 100 is a sandal, a thin walled member or membrane is used to provide lighter weight within the footwear 100. Footbed 120 may be rigid or flexible. Footbed 120 may be constructed from a variety of materials suitable for use in footwear including but not limited to natural materials, such as, leather, wood, cork, sisal, cotton, hemp, gut, and other natural fibers; metal; rubber; plastics and other polymer materials; ceramics and other synthetic materials; and combinations thereof. The materials may be treated or modified to tailor the characteristics for use in the footbed 120 or other components of the footwear 100 including the outer sole 130 and upper 140 described below. For example, the materials may be treated with hardeners, softeners, water-proofing or water-repelling coatings or combinations thereof. In other examples, reinforcing elements including but not limited to fiber reinforcement, particle reinforcement, additives or other materials may be incorporated to improve wear characteristics, toughness or other characteristics of footwear 100.
Footbed 120 may formed from a single piece of material or multiple components may be combined to form footbed 120. The footbed 120 defines at least one opening 125 therethrough. The opening 125 is provided to allow liquid, such as water, and debris to pass through footbed 120 i.e. from upper surface 121 to lower surface 122 to assist in evacuating liquid or debris reducing the likelihood of it being entrapped between a wearer's foot and the upper surface 121 of footbed 120. The shape and number of openings 125 may vary according to aesthetic or design considerations and are limited only by the imagination of the designer.
In the example depicted in
The size of the opening may vary depending on consideration of the material to be evacuated from the foot bed 120. Any sized opening is believed suitable for allowing liquid to escape from foot bed 120. To evacuate debris, openings sized to facilitate evacuation of the debris may be selected. The opening size may vary based on the type of material, geometry or construction of foot bed 120. For example, in examples using a thin-walled geometry surrounding the opening, the thin walls may flex outward under pressure created by the debris expanding the opening to allow the debris to exit the footwear. Similarly, flexible materials may be selected for the foot bed 120 to allow the opening walls to stretch to accommodate the passage of debris. In other examples, the geometry of the opening or opening construction may permit the opening to deform to allow debris to pass. For example, for debris having a larger longitudinal dimension than the opening, the pressure on opening from debris may cause the opening stretch longitudinally while compressing laterally altering its configuration to allow the debris to pass. In these examples, openings that are smaller than the debris encountered by the wearer may be suitable for evacuating debris based on the ability of the opening to deform and stretch to allow the debris to pass. The following description provides examples of different configurations and materials for foot bed 120 and, also shows several examples of opening sizes that facilitate debris passing through foot bed 120. These examples are not limiting.
The size of opening 125 may be considered in terms of its major dimension, area or mesh value. For example, opening 125 may have a major dimension of at least 0.5 cm to facilitate passage of debris therethrough. In another example, opening 125 may have an area of greater than about 1 mm2 to suitably evacuate debris. According to other examples, opening 125 has an area of about 1 mm2 to about 5 cm2. According to still another example, opening 125 has as an area of about 2 mm2 to about 40 mm2. Alternatively, opening sizes may be constructed based on a mesh number suitable for allowing debris to pass. For example, a mesh of about 1 to about 10 may be suitable for allowing particles having a major dimension from about 10 mm to about 2 mm to pass through the openings 125.
In the example depicted in
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As depicted in the additional figures, the outer sole may have a variety of shapes and configurations limited only by the imagination of the designer. The examples depicted herein are not limiting. With reference to
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As shown, outer sole includes a ground contacting surface 132 opposite the footbed 120, which may be integrally formed with frame 134 or attached thereto. In the example, ground contacting surface 132 is attached to base 137 of frame 134. Ground contacting surface 132 may be constructed of a different material than frame 134. To provide greater traction, ground contacting surface 132 may be constructed of a softer material to improve conformity, a material with a suitable friction coefficient, or ground surface may include additional traction elements that are formed integrally or attached to ground contacting surface to improve traction or provide other desired characteristics. For example, ground contacting surface 132 may include a rubber layer that has a tread T molded thereon. The tread T may have any shape or pattern and include positive surfaces, such as ribs, blocks or other projections that extend outward from outer sole 130 to engage a supporting surface. Alternatively, tread T may include negative surfaces, i.e. inwardly extending surfaces, such as grooves, recesses or channels.
The outer sole 130 defines at least one channel 135 (
Footwear 100 may also include an upper 140 attached to at least one of the footbed 120 and outer sole 130, the upper 140 defining a foot receiving opening 145 over the footbed 120. In general, at least a portion of upper 140 overlies the wearer's foot F to support the footwear 100 on the foot F. As noted, upper 140 may have a variety of shapes and configurations. Several examples are provided in the figures, but these examples are not limiting. With reference to
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The outer sole of footwear 100 depicted in
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In this example, outer sole 430 includes plural tread blocks 480 that are located to support footbed 420. For example, outer sole 430 may include a pair of heel blocks 481, a pair of arch blocks 482, and a pair of toe blocks 483. In the example the blocks are spaced laterally from each other to define a channel 435 that extends the entire length of footbed 420. An upper surface 431 of blocks 480 provides support to footbed 420 and may be attached to footbed 420 as described in earlier examples. The ground contacting surface 432 may be formed as in earlier embodiments to improve traction and may include a tread T as shown. In the example, blocks 480 are located at perimeter 423 of footbed to define a channel 435 that communicates with opening 425. As best shown in
Upper 440 may further include a heel strap assembly 495 that attaches to heel upper members 491 to define an opening for receiving the ankle of the wearer. Heel strap assembly 495 may include a first strap that extends over the foot just forward of the ankle and a second strap that extends rearward from the first strap to go around the back of the ankle above the heel. A forefoot strap 496 may attach to at least one of the arch upper members 492 and toe upper members 493 to define an opening to receive the toes therethrough and engage the upper part of the forefoot.
An upper 540 is attached to at least one of footbed 520 and outer sole 530. Upper 540 may have any configuration including those shown in other examples. In the example shown, upper 540 includes a first strap 567 and a second strap 568 that are attached to the outer side of outer sole 530 and crossed over each other in a generally x-shape to define an opening for receiving the wearer's foot.
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Outer sole 630 is formed to support the perimeter 623 of footbed 620, and defines a channel 635 inward of perimeter 623. As shown, the straps forming footbed 620 may sag into channel 635. Openings 625 within footbed 620 allow liquid and debris to pass therethrough and exit footwear 100 via channel 635. For sake of simplicity, an upper is not shown in
A footwear comprising a foot bed having an upper surface and a lower surface, the footbed having a length and a width, the footbed having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the footbed defining plural openings therethrough; an outer sole extending downward relative to the footbed, the outer sole supporting at least a portion of the footbed; the outer sole having a ground contacting surface opposite the footbed, wherein the outer sole defines a channel, the channel extending from the ground contacting surface to the footbed, wherein at least one of the plural opening communicates with the channel; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening over the footbed.
Example 2A footwear of example 1, wherein the at least one opening has an area of 1 mm2 to about 5 cm2.
Example 3A footwear of example 1, wherein the at least one opening has a mesh of at least 1 and no greater than 10.
Example 4The footwear of example 1, wherein the at least one opening has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm.
Example 5A footwear of example 1, wherein the footbed includes a screen formed from longitudinal and members defining the at least one opening therebetween.
Example 6A footwear of example 5, wherein the longitudinal and lateral members are woven together.
Example 7A footwear of example 5, wherein the longitudinal and lateral members are formed from a polymer.
Example 8A footwear of example 1, wherein the at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening, where the first opening and second opening have a different configuration relative to each other.
Example 9A footwear of example 1, the outer sole is located below the perimeter of the footbed and wherein the channel is located inward of the perimeter.
Example 10A footwear of example 1, wherein the outer sole includes a frame having a truss-like member including a first leg and a second leg extending upward from a base to support an upper surface of the outer sole.
Example 11The foot wear of example 10, wherein the first leg extends at an angle relative to the base, and wherein the angle increases relative to the base from a forefoot portion of the frame to a heel portion of the frame.
Example 12The footwear of example 10, wherein the outer sole includes a sidewall extending upward to form a concave upper surface above supported on the frame, wherein the height of the sidewall at a heel portion of the frame is greater than the height of the sidewall at a forefoot portion of the frame.
Example 13The footwear of example 10, wherein the outer sole includes a tread attached to the base of the frame.
Example 14The footwear of example 1, wherein the ground contacting surface has a tread.
Example 15A footwear of example 1, wherein the upper includes at least one strap attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole.
Example 16A footwear of example 1, wherein the upper includes a y-shaped strap including an end extending downward to contact the footbed at a toe portion therof, and a first strap portion and a second strap portion extending laterally outward relative to the end and attaching to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole rearward of the end near the perimeter of the footbed.
Example 17A footwear of example 16, wherein the footwear further comprises a toe pad covering a portion of the footbed adjacent to the end.
Example 18The footwear of example 1, wherein the outer sole includes a cushioning layer and a traction layer.
Example 19A footwear comprising a footbed defining plural openings, wherein at least one of the plural openings has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm; an outer sole in supporting relation to the footbed, the outer sole defining a channel that communicates with the opening; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening.
Example 20A footwear comprising a footbed including a layer of polymer material defining plural openings, wherein at least one of the plural openings has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm; the footbed defining a perimeter; an outer sole including an upper surface and a ground contacting surface, wherein the ground contacting surface is spaced from the upper surface and located beneath the footbed; the outer sole being in supporting relation to the perimeter of the footbed; the outer sole defining a channel inward of the perimeter and beneath the footbed; wherein the channel open upward to communicate with the plural openings and outward adjacent to the ground contacting surface of the outer sole; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening.
Claims
1. A footwear comprising:
- a foot bed having an upper surface and a lower surface, the footbed having a length, a width, and a perimeter; the footbed having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;
- wherein the footbed defines at least one opening therethrough;
- an outer sole extending downward relative to the footbed, the outer sole supporting at least a portion of the footbed;
- the outer sole having a ground contacting surface opposite the footbed;
- wherein the outer sole defines a channel, the channel extending from the ground contacting surface to the footbed, and wherein the at least one opening communicates with the channel; and
- an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening over the footbed.
2. A footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening has an area of 1 mm2 to about 5 cm2.
3. A footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening has a mesh of at least 1 and no greater than 10.
4. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm.
5. A footwear of claim 1, wherein the footbed includes a screen formed from longitudinal and members defining the at least one opening therebetween.
6. A footwear of claim 5, wherein the longitudinal and lateral members are woven together.
7. A footwear of claim 5, wherein the longitudinal and lateral members are formed from a polymer.
8. A footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening, where the first opening and second opening have a different configuration relative to each other.
9. A footwear of claim 1, the outer sole is located below the perimeter of the footbed and wherein the channel is located inward of the perimeter.
10. A footwear of claim 1, wherein the outer sole includes a frame having a truss-like member including a first leg and a second leg extending upward from a base to support an upper surface of the outer sole.
11. The foot wear of claim 10, wherein the first leg extends at an angle relative to the base, and wherein the angle increases relative to the base from a forefoot portion of the frame to a heel portion of the frame.
12. The footwear of claim 10, wherein the outer sole includes a sidewall extending upward to form a concave upper surface above supported on the frame, wherein the height of the sidewall at a heel portion of the frame is greater than the height of the sidewall at a forefoot portion of the frame.
13. The footwear of claim 10, wherein the outer sole includes a tread attached to the base of the frame.
14. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the ground contacting surface has a tread.
15. A footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper includes at least one strap attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole.
16. A footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper includes a y-shaped strap including an end extending downward to contact the footbed at a toe portion therof, and a first strap portion and a second strap portion extending laterally outward relative to the end and attaching to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole rearward of the end near the perimeter of the footbed.
17. A footwear of claim 16, wherein the footwear further comprises a toe pad covering a portion of the footbed adjacent to the end.
18. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the outer sole includes a cushioning layer and a traction layer.
19. A footwear comprising: a footbed defining plural openings, wherein at least one of the plural openings has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm; an outer sole in supporting relation to the footbed, the outer sole defining a channel that communicates with the opening; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening.
20. A footwear comprising: a footbed including a layer of polymer material defining plural openings, wherein at least one of the plural openings has a major dimension greater than 0.5 cm; the footbed defining a perimeter; an outer sole including an upper surface and a ground contacting surface, wherein the ground contacting surface is spaced from the upper surface and located beneath the footbed; the outer sole being in supporting relation to the perimeter of the footbed; the outer sole defining a channel inward of the perimeter and beneath the footbed; wherein the channel open upward to communicate with the plural openings and outward adjacent to the ground contacting surface of the outer sole; and an upper attached to at least one of the footbed and the outer sole, the upper defining a foot receiving opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 30, 2018
Publication Date: Aug 1, 2019
Inventor: Alexander DARDINSKI (Newburyport, MA)
Application Number: 15/883,168