Method and system for providing a customized shoe

Abstract

A system for providing a shoe customized to a person includes a plurality of shoe cavity units each having an upper portion and a sole assembly coupled to the upper portion to form a shoe cavity configured to accommodate a foot. Also included is a plurality of interchangeable first shoe components each configured to be coupled to a shoe cavity unit and each configured to provide substantially the same first footwear function but having a different physical attribute based on differences among wearers, and a plurality of interchangeable second shoe components each configured to be coupled to a shoe cavity unit and each configured to provide substantially the same second footwear function but having a different physical attribute based on differences among wearers. A selected shoe cavity unit, a selected first shoe component and a selected second shoe component can be selected from their respective pluralities based on a characteristic of the person such that a combination of these selected items can be coupled to each other to provide a shoe customized to the person.

1 . A system for providing a shoe customized to a person, comprising: 
 a plurality of shoe cavity units each having an upper portion and a sole assembly coupled to said upper portion to form a shoe cavity configured to accommodate a foot;    a plurality of interchangeable first shoe components each configured to be coupled to a shoe cavity unit and each configured to provide substantially the same first footwear function but having a different physical attribute based on differences among wearers; and    a plurality of interchangeable second shoe components each configured to be coupled to a shoe cavity unit and each configured to provide substantially the same second footwear function but having a different physical attribute based on differences among wearers, wherein a selected shoe cavity unit, a selected first shoe component and a selected second shoe component can be selected from their respective pluralities based on a characteristic of the person such that a combination of these selected items can be coupled to each other to provide a shoe customized to the person.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sole assembly of each of said shoe cavity units is configured to expand in at least one of a length or width direction.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of each of said shoe cavity units is configured to expand in girth.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interchangeable first components comprises a plurality of insoles each configured to fit within said shoe cavity.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of interchangeable second components comprises a plurality of insole components configured to attach to said insoles.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one physical attribute of size, shape, configuration or material composition is different among the plurality of insoles or the plurality of insole components based on at least one characteristic of the wearer.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of insole components comprises a plurality of toe crests that function to assist the wearer in propulsion during use.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of insole components comprises a plurality of metatarsal head pressure shelves that function to cushion a metatarsal head region of the wearer.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of metatarsal head pressure components further function to provide a varus wedge for the wearer's foot at impact.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of insole components comprises a plurality of metatarsal rise components that function to distribute pressure of the wearer's metatarsal region.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of insole components comprises a plurality of arch supports that function to support the wearer's longitudinal arch.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of insole components comprises a plurality of heel pads that function to cushion the wearer's heel during impact.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of insole components comprises a plurality of heel clips that function provide a varus wedge for the wearer's foot at impact.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interchangeable first components comprises a plurality of upper components configured to attach to the upper.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one physical attribute of size, shape, configuration or material composition is different among the plurality of upper components based on at least one characteristic of the wearer.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said upper comprises a pocket provided on a surface of the upper that forms an interior of said cavity, and    said plurality of upper components comprises a plurality of heel guides configured to be inserted into said pocket to perform the function of guiding said persons heel into said shoe.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said upper comprises a tongue having a pocket provided on a surface thereof, and    said plurality of upper components comprises a plurality of tongue inserts configured to be inserted into said pocket to perform the function of occupying a predetermined volume of said shoe cavity.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interchangeable first components comprises a plurality of sole assembly components configured to attach to the sole assembly.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one physical attribute of size, shape, configuration or material composition is different among the plurality of sole assembly components based on at least one characteristic of the wearer.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said sole assembly comprises an attachment surface provided on an outer portion of the sole assembly facing a ground surface, and    said plurality of sole assembly components comprises a plurality of tread segments configured to be attached to said attachment surface to perform the function of gripping the ground surface.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said sole assembly comprises at least one deformable member having opposing flanges and configured to divide the sole assembly into a plurality of segments, and    said plurality of sole assembly components comprises a plurality of tread segments each configured to be attached to one of said flanges.    
     
     
         22 . A method for providing a shoe customized to a person, comprising: 
 selecting a shoe cavity unit from a plurality of shoe cavity units each having an upper portion and a sole assembly coupled to said upper portion to form a shoe cavity configured to accommodate a foot;    selecting a first shoe component from a plurality of interchangeable first shoe components each configured to be coupled to a shoe cavity unit and each configured to provide substantially the same first footwear function but having a different physical attribute based on differences among wearers;    selecting a second shoe component from a plurality of interchangeable second shoe components each configured to be coupled to a shoe cavity unit and each configured to provide substantially the same second footwear function but having a different physical attribute based on differences among wearers; and    coupling the selected cavity unit, first shoe component and second shoe component to one another to provide a shoe customized to the person.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein any of said selecting steps comprises selecting based on at least one of a measured characteristic of a wearer and a non-measured characteristic of a wearer.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said measured characteristic comprises at least one of two dimensional foot measurements, three dimensional foot measurements, pressure point measurements, weight measurements, or gait length measurements.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said non-measured characteristic comprises a medical diagnosis, biomechanical problems, demographic information, customer habit information, customer activity level information or customer preference information.