US2009139114A1PendingUtilityA1

Sole Assembly for an Article of Footwear

52
Assignee: GENESCO INCPriority: Dec 3, 2007Filed: Dec 2, 2008Published: Jun 4, 2009
Est. expiryDec 3, 2027(~1.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David W. Malek
A43B 13/181A43B 7/144A43B 21/26
52
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

The present invention is related to an article of footwear that has an upper extending around at least a portion of a foot. The outsole is secured to the upper. The article of footwear has a midsole that is detachably secured to the outsole. This midsole has a vertically projecting generally dome shaped support element located in the heel portion of the midsole. The dome shaped support element may be in contact with outsole interior sidewalls only while in an compressed state or it may remain in contact with the interior sidewalls in an uncompressed state. The dome shaped support element is at least partially covered by a cushioning cover that is made of a material less stiff than the material comprising the dome shaped support element. The cushioning cover may be partially covered by a heel plate that extends from the heel of the shoe towards the toe of the shoe. The heel plate may or may not extend the entire length of the shoe.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An article of footwear comprising: an upper extending around at least a portion of a foot; an outsole secured to the upper; a midsole detachably secured to the outsole wherein the heel portion of the midsole comprises a vertically projecting generally dome shaped support element, the generally dome shaped support element located within a portion of the outsole where the dome shaped support element is in contact with outsole interior sidewalls, while in an uncompressed state said dome shaped support element being at least partially covered by a cushioning cover comprised of a material less stiff than the material comprising the dome shaped support element. 
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the dome shaped support element comprises a series of legs projecting from the apex of the dome towards the outsole. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2  wherein the legs are generally triangular in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the legs have small projections that extend from the legs generally perpendicular to the legs at the point of contact with the outsole. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cushioning cover is dome shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cushioning cover is generally rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cushioning cover has vents. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cushioning cover is partially in contact with a heel plate. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gas. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gel. 
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear comprising: an upper extending around at least a portion of a foot; an outsole secured to the upper; a midsole detachably secured to the outsole wherein the heel portion of the midsole comprises a vertically projecting generally dome shaped support element, the generally dome shaped support element located within a portion of the outsole where the dome shaped support element is in contact with outsole interior sidewalls only while in an compressed state and being at least partially covered by a cushioning cover comprised of a material less stiff than the material comprising the dome shaped support element. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the dome shaped support element comprises a series of legs projecting from the apex of the dome towards the outsole. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13  wherein the legs are generally triangular in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the legs have small projections that extend from the legs generally perpendicular to the legs at the point of contact with the outsole. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the cushioning cover is dome shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the cushioning cover is generally rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the cushioning cover has vents. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the cushioning cover is partially in contact with a heel plate. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gas. 
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 12  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gel. 
     
     
         23 . An article of footwear comprising: an upper extending around at least a portion of a foot; an outsole secured to the upper; a midsole detachably secured to the outsole wherein the heel portion of the midsole comprises a vertically projecting generally dome shaped support element, the generally dome shaped support element located within a portion of the outsole where the dome shaped support element is in contact with outsole interior sidewalls while in an uncompressed state and being at least partially covered by a cushioning cover comprised of a material less stiff than the material comprising the dome shaped support element; the cushioning cover partially covered by a heel plate; and the heel plate extends at least partially from the heel of the shoe towards the toe of the shoe. 
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the dome shaped support element comprises a series of legs projecting from the apex of the dome towards the outsole. 
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 24  wherein the legs are generally triangular in shape. 
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 25  wherein the legs have small projections that extend from the legs generally perpendicular to the legs at the point of contact with the outsole. 
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the cushioning cover is dome shaped. 
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the cushioning cover is generally rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the cushioning cover has vents. 
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gas. 
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         32 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gel. 
     
     
         33 . An article of footwear comprising: an upper extending around at least a portion of a foot; an outsole secured to the upper; a midsole detachably secured to the outsole wherein the heel portion of the midsole comprises a vertically projecting generally dome shaped support element, the generally dome shaped support element located within a portion of the outsole where the dome shaped support element is in contact with outsole interior sidewalls only while in an compressed state and being at least partially covered by a cushioning cover comprised of a material less stiff than the material comprising the dome shaped support element; the cushioning cover partially covered by a heel plate; and the heel plate extends at least partially from the heel of the shoe towards the toe of the shoe. 
     
     
         34 . The article of  claim 33  wherein the dome shaped support element comprises a series of legs projecting from the apex of the dome towards the outsole. 
     
     
         35 . The article of  claim 34  wherein the legs are generally triangular in shape. 
     
     
         36 . The article of  claim 35  wherein the legs have small projections that extend from the legs generally perpendicular to the legs at the point of contact with the outsole. 
     
     
         37 . The article of  claim 33  wherein the cushioning cover is dome shaped. 
     
     
         38 . The article of  claim 33  wherein the cushioning cover is generally rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         39 . The article of  claim 33  wherein the cushioning cover has vents. 
     
     
         40 . The article of  claim 33  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gas. 
     
     
         41 . The article of  claim 33  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         42 . The article of  claim 33  wherein the cavity surrounding the dome shaped support element comprises a gel.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2009139114A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.