Impact-attenuating elements and customizable products containing such elements

Abstract

Impact-attenuating elements for footwear or the like may include (a) a first impact-attenuating material (e.g., foam) in a first region; and (b) a second impact-attenuating material in a second region (e.g., foam of a higher density). At least one characteristic of the impact-attenuating characteristics (e.g., support) provided by the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in the footwear. For example, the “firmness” of the support provided by the impact-attenuating element may be changed by rotating or flipping the impact-attenuating element so that foam of a different density is provided at different areas of the foot.

1 . A foot-receiving device, comprising: 
 a foot-covering member;    a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes a foot-contacting surface; and    an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface, and wherein the impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member includes a retaining element that engages an outer surface of the impact-attenuating element to hold at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.  
   
   
       4 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a first impact-attenuating material and a second region including a second impact-attenuating material that differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material.  
   
   
       5 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area.  
   
   
       8 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the second impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the second impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface, and wherein the second impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear.  
   
   
       11 . A foot-receiving device, comprising: 
 a foot-covering member;    a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member; and    an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a foam material having a first density and a second region including a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density, and wherein the impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       12 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 11 , wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a cylindrically shaped member formed, at least in part, from the foam material having the first density and the foam material having the second density.  
   
   
       13 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 12 , wherein the foam material having the first density faces the foam material having the second density along an interface.  
   
   
       14 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 13 , wherein the interface extends along a diagonal of the cylindrically shaped member.  
   
   
       15 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 11 , wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area.  
   
   
       16 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the second impact-attenuating element is movably or removably mounted with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member so as to enable changing of at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the foot-receiving device by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 11 , wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear.  
   
   
       19 . A foot-receiving device, comprising: 
 a foot-covering member;    a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes a foot-contacting surface;    an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface; and    means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element.    
   
   
       20 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for varying enables changes in a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.  
   
   
       21 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 19 , wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a first impact-attenuating material and a second region including a second impact-attenuating material that differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material.  
   
   
       24 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 19 , wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area.  
   
   
       25 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the second impact-attenuating element is shaped and arranged such that an axial direction of the second impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface; and    means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the second impact-attenuating element.    
   
   
       26 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 19 , wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear.  
   
   
       27 . A foot-receiving device, comprising: 
 a foot-covering member;    a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member;    an impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a foam material having a first density and a second region including a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density; and    means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element.    
   
   
       28 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 27 , wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a cylindrically shaped member formed, at least in part, from the foam material having the first density and the foam material having the second density.  
   
   
       29 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 28 , wherein the foam material having the first density faces the foam material having the second density along an interface.  
   
   
       30 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 29 , wherein the means for varying enables changes in a position or orientation of at least a portion of the interface with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change the at least one impact-attenuating characteristic.  
   
   
       31 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 27 , wherein the impact-attenuating element is provided in a heel area.  
   
   
       32 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a second impact-attenuating element engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member; and    means for varying at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the second impact-attenuating element.    
   
   
       33 . A foot-receiving device according to  claim 27 , wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear.  
   
   
       34 . An impact-attenuating element for a foot-receiving device, comprising: 
 a first impact-attenuating material included in a first region; and    a second impact-attenuating material included in a second region, wherein the second impact-attenuating material differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material, wherein the first region and the second region combine to form at least a portion of a composite member and are oriented with respect to one another such that at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in a foot-receiving device, and wherein the first impact-attenuating material faces the second impact-attenuating material along an interface that extends along a diagonal of the composite member.    
   
   
       35 . An impact-attenuating element according to  claim 34 , wherein the first impact-attenuating material contacts the second impact-attenuating material along an impact-attenuating material interface.  
   
   
       36 . An impact-attenuating element for a foot-receiving device, comprising: 
 a first impact-attenuating material included in a first region, wherein the first impact-attenuating material includes a foam material having a first density; and    a second impact-attenuating material included in a second region, wherein the second impact-attenuating material includes a foam material having a second density greater than the first density, and wherein the first region and the second region combine to form at least a portion of an integral structure and are oriented with respect to one another such that at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element may be controlled by changing a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element in a foot-receiving device.    
   
   
       37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . An impact-attenuating element according to  claim 36 , wherein the first impact-attenuating material contacts the second impact-attenuating material along an interface.  
   
   
       39 . An impact-attenuating element according to  claim 36 , wherein the first impact-attenuating material faces the second impact-attenuating material along an interface that extends along a diagonal of the integral structure.  
   
   
       40 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a foot-receiving device including: 
 a foot-covering member, and  
 a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, the foot-supporting member including a foot-contacting surface; and  
   engaging an impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member such that an axial direction of the impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface of the foot-supporting member, and wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element.    
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 changing the position or orientation of at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the changing includes rotating at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.  
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the changing includes inverting at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 after the engaging, maintaining at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member and the foot-supporting member, wherein the maintaining includes engaging a retaining element provided with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member with an outer surface of the impact-attenuating element to hold at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 40 , wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a first impact-attenuating material and a second region including a second impact-attenuating material that differs in at least one impact-attenuating characteristic as compared to the first impact-attenuating material.  
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 46 , wherein the first impact-attenuating material is a foam material having a first density and the second impact-attenuating material is a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density.  
   
   
       48 . A method according to  claim 40 , wherein the impact-attenuating element is engaged in a heel area of the foot-receiving device.  
   
   
       49 . A method according to  claim 40 , wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear.  
   
   
       50 . A method according to  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 engaging a second impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member such that an axial direction of the second impact-attenuating element extends in a direction so as to pass through the foot-contacting surface of the foot-supporting member, and wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element.    
   
   
       51 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a foot-receiving device including: 
 a foot-covering member, and  
 a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member; and  
   engaging an impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the impact-attenuating element, and wherein the impact-attenuating element includes a first region including a foam material having a first density and a second region including a foam material having a second density that is greater than the first density.    
   
   
       52 . A method according to  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 changing the position or orientation of at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the changing includes rotating at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.  
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the changing includes inverting at least a portion of the impact-attenuating element with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.  
   
   
       55 . A method according to  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 after the engaging, maintaining at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member and the foot-supporting member, wherein the maintaining includes engaging a retaining element provided with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member with an outer surface of the impact-attenuating element to hold at least the portion of the impact-attenuating element in place with respect to the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member.    
   
   
       56 . (canceled)  
   
   
       57 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the impact-attenuating element is engaged in a heel area of the foot-receiving device.  
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the foot-receiving device is a piece of athletic footwear.  
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 engaging a second impact-attenuating element with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein a position or orientation of at least a portion of the second impact-attenuating element may be changed with respect to at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member to thereby change at least one impact-attenuating characteristic of the second impact-attenuating element.