Footwear and accessory device

Abstract

Improved footwear and accessory devices, such as crampons, are disclosed for enhancing the performance of footwear under different conditions and, thus, providing more versatile footwear. The footwear has an outsole flex zone in a forefoot region that flexes during hiking and climbing in various terrains. The footwear also includes toe and heel attachment points for installation of an accessory, such as a crampon and, additionally, includes a midfoot attachment point for mounting of the accessory. The midfoot attachment point is preferably located between the outsole flex zone and the heel attachment point. A forefoot contact mechanism may also be provided in the footwear outsole that interacts with a rigid forefoot contact mechanism of the accessory to enhance the rigidity of the forefoot region when the accessory is mounted. A crampon accessory device for mounting on the footwear is also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising an outsole forming an exterior lower surface of the footwear and a frame positioned above the outsole, the frame being flexible in a forefoot region of the footwear and having at least one of a toe attachment mechanism and a heel attachment mechanism for attachment of an accessory device at a toe portion and a heel portion of the footwear, and additionally having a midfoot attachment mechanism for attachment of an accessory device at a midfoot location intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion.  
     
     
         2 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear additionally comprises an outsole flex zone located in a forefoot region of the footwear, and the midfoot location is intermediate the outsole flex zone and the heel portion.  
     
     
         3 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , having a toe attachment mechanism and a heel attachment mechanism.  
     
     
         4 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the midfoot attachment mechanism is provided as at least one bracket extending out of the plane of the outsole and forming a slot.  
     
     
         5 . An article of footwear according to claim J, additionally having a forefoot contact region on a forefoot portion of the outsole for contacting the accessory device and providing enhanced rigidity when the accessory device is installed.  
     
     
         6 . An article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the forefoot contact region comprises an engagement mechanism that cooperates with a mating engagement mechanism provided on the accessory device.  
     
     
         7 . An article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the forefoot portion of the outsole is provided with at least one groove extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the outsole.  
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear according to  claim 7 , additionally comprising a midpoint attachment bracket having an attachment mechanism extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one groove.  
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear and accessory device combination comprising an article of footwear according to  claim 1  and an accessory device mounted on the footwear and attached to at least one of the toe attachment mechanism and the heel attachment mechanism, and additionally attached at the midfoot attachment mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear and accessory device combination according to  claim 9 , wherein the accessory device is a crampon device having a plurality of points.  
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear and accessory device combination according to  claim 10 , wherein the footwear is provided with an outsole flex zone located in a forefoot region, and a forefoot contact region in the area of the flex zone in which positive contact is maintained with a rigid forefoot portion of the crampon device.  
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear and accessory device combination according to  claim 11 , wherein the forefoot region has at least one engagement mechanism engaging a mating rigid crampon mechanism in the forefoot contact region.  
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear and accessory device combination according to  claim 12 , wherein the outsole has at least one groove in a forefoot region providing the forefoot engagement mechanism and the crampon device has at least one rigid rail in a rigid forefoot portion that mates with and engages in the groove.  
     
     
         14 . A footwear accessory device for detachable installation on a footwear outsole comprising at least one of a toe attachment mechanism and a heel attachment mechanism for attachment to a toe portion and a heel portion of the footwear, and a midfoot attachment mechanism for detachable attachment to a midfoot outsole location intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion, the accessory device additionally comprising a rigid forefoot engagement mechanism for engaging a mating mechanism in a forefoot region of the outsole when the accessory device is installed on the outsole, wherein the rigid forefoot engagement mechanism comprises a rail that extends generally in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the accessory device.  
     
     
         15 . A footwear accessory device according to  claim 14 , wherein the midfoot attachment mechanism is intermediate a forefoot region and the heel portion.  
     
     
         16 . A footwear accessory device according to  claim 14 , additionally comprising a plurality of points oriented out of the plane of the device for gripping terrain.  
     
     
         17 . A footwear accessory device according to  claim 14 , additionally comprising a pivot located intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion.  
     
     
         18 . At least two articles of footwear having different lengths, each of the articles of footwear comprising a toe portion and an arch portion and having a predetermined degree of curvature along a generally longitudinal axis of an exterior lower surface of the article of footwear between the toe portion and the arch portion, wherein the predetermined degree of curvature is the same for each of the articles of footwear.  
     
     
         19 . At least two articles of footwear according to  claim 1  having different lengths, wherein each of the articles of footwear comprises an arch portion and has a predetermined degree of curvature along a generally longitudinal axis of the exterior lower surface of the article of footwear between the toe portion and the arch portion, wherein the predetermined degree of curvature is the same for each of the articles of footwear.  
     
     
         20 . At least two articles of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the outsole of each of the articles of footwear is provided with at least one groove located in a forefoot portion of the article of footwear and extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the outsole, and where the at least one groove has a predetermined degree of curvature that is the same for each of the articles of footwear.