Modular Articles With Customizable Sole Inserts

Abstract

An insert system includes a first article of footwear and a second article of footwear. The first article of footwear includes a first upper and first sole structure. The first sole structure includes a first midsole, the first midsole having a first side peripheral portion, a first bottom portion, a first top portion, and a first cavity. The second article of footwear includes a second upper and second sole structure. The second sole structure includes a second midsole, the second midsole having a second side peripheral portion, a second bottom portion, a second top portion, and a second cavity. The first side peripheral portion and the second side peripheral portion have different thicknesses. The first cavity and the second cavity have substantially similar geometries.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insert system comprising:
 a first article of footwear comprising:
 a first upper; 
 a first sole structure comprising a first midsole, the first midsole having a first side peripheral portion, a first bottom portion, a first top portion, and a first cavity; 
 wherein the first cavity has a first cavity sidewall associated with the first side peripheral portion of the first midsole and wherein the first cavity has a first lower cavity surface associated with the first bottom portion of the first midsole; and 
 wherein the first cavity sidewall is tapered; 
   a second article of footwear comprising:
 a second upper; 
 a second sole structure comprising a second midsole, the second midsole having a second side peripheral portion, a second bottom portion, a second top portion, and a second cavity; 
 wherein the second cavity has a second cavity sidewall associated with the second side peripheral portion of the second midsole and wherein the second cavity has a second lower cavity surface associated with the second bottom portion of the second midsole; and 
 wherein the second cavity sidewall is tapered; 
   wherein the first side peripheral portion and the second side peripheral portion have different thicknesses; and   wherein the first cavity and the second cavity have substantially similar geometries.   
     
     
         2 . The insert system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lower cavity surface is approximately parallel with a first ground contacting surface of the first article of footwear;
 wherein the second lower cavity surface is approximately parallel with a second ground contacting surface of the second article of footwear; and   wherein the first lower cavity surface and the second lower cavity surface have substantially equal widths.   
     
     
         3 . The insert system according to  claim 1 , wherein a first angle formed between the first cavity sidewall and the first lower cavity surface is in a range between 100 and 150 degrees; and
 wherein a second angle formed between the second cavity sidewall and the second lower cavity surface is in a range between 100 and 150 degrees.   
     
     
         4 . The insert system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a removable insert being configured to fit within the first cavity and the second cavity;   wherein the removable insert includes an insert sidewall;   wherein the insert sidewall is tapered;   wherein the first cavity sidewall is associated with the insert sidewall when the removable insert is disposed in the first cavity; and   wherein the second cavity sidewall is associated with the insert sidewall when the removable insert is disposed in the second cavity.   
     
     
         5 . The insert system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 wherein the removable insert includes an insert bottom portion; and   wherein the first lower cavity surface is associated with the insert bottom portion when the removable insert is disposed in the first cavity; and   wherein the second lower cavity surface is associated with the insert bottom portion when the removable insert is disposed in the second cavity.   
     
     
         6 . The insert system according to  claim 5 , wherein a first insert angle formed between the insert sidewall and the insert bottom portion is in a range between 100 and 150 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The insert system according to  claim 5 , wherein an insert angle formed between the insert sidewall and the insert bottom portion is substantially equal to the first angle and the second angle. 
     
     
         8 . The insert system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity has a first geometry, the first geometry being an approximately trapezoidal cross-sectional geometry at a longitudinal position of the first midsole;
 wherein the second cavity has a second geometry, the second geometry being an approximately trapezoidal cross-sectional geometry at a longitudinal position of the second midsole; and   wherein the removable insert has an insert geometry, the insert geometry being an approximately trapezoidal cross-sectional geometry corresponding to the first geometry and the second geometry.   
     
     
         9 . A set of sole structures comprising:
 a first sole structure having a first cavity, the first cavity having a first inner surface and a first outer surface;   a second sole structure having a second cavity, the second cavity having a second inner surface and a second outer surface;   wherein the first inner surface and the second inner surface have substantially similar geometries; and   wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface have substantially different geometries.   
     
     
         10 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 wherein the first inner surface includes a first lower cavity surface;   wherein the second inner surface includes a second lower cavity surface; and   wherein the first lower cavity surface and the second lower cavity surface have substantially equal widths.   
     
     
         11 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 10 , wherein the first lower cavity surface is approximately parallel with a ground contacting surface of the first article of footwear; and
 wherein the second lower cavity surface is approximately parallel with a ground contacting surface of the second article of footwear.   
     
     
         12 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 10 , wherein the first outer surface includes a first bottom portion spaced from the first lower cavity surface by a first bottom thickness;
 wherein the second outer surface includes a second bottom portion spaced from the second lower cavity surface by a second bottom thickness; and   wherein the first bottom thickness and the second bottom thickness are substantially different.   
     
     
         13 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 wherein the first inner surface further includes a first cavity sidewall having a first angle with the first lower cavity surface;   wherein the second inner surface includes a second cavity sidewall having a second angle with the second lower cavity surface; and   wherein the first angle is substantially equal to the second angle.   
     
     
         14 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 13 , wherein the first angle is in a range between 100 and 150 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 13 , wherein the first outer surface includes a first outer sidewall;
 wherein the second outer surface includes a second outer sidewall; and   wherein the first outer sidewall and the second outer sidewall are different.   
     
     
         16 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 15 , wherein the first outer sidewall is spaced from the first side cavity surface by a first lateral thickness;
 wherein the second outer sidewall is spaced from the second side cavity surface by a second lateral thickness; and   wherein the first lateral thickness and the second lateral thickness are substantially different.   
     
     
         17 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 15 , wherein the first outer sidewall forms a first outer angle with the first bottom portion;
 wherein the second outer sidewall forms a second outer angle with the second bottom portion; and   wherein the first outer angle and the second outer angle are substantially different.   
     
     
         18 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 15 , wherein the first outer sidewall has a substantially linear shape; and
 wherein the second outer sidewall has a substantially non-linear shape.   
     
     
         19 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 9 , where the first cavity and the second cavity are configured to receive identical inserts. 
     
     
         20 . A set of articles of footwear comprising:
 a first article of footwear having a first upper attached to a first midsole;   wherein the first midsole includes a first cavity, the first cavity having a first inner surface and a first outer surface;   a second article of footwear having a second upper attached to a second midsole;   wherein the second midsole includes a second cavity, the second cavity having a second inner surface and a second outer surface;   wherein the first inner surface and the second inner surface have substantially similar geometries; and   wherein the first upper and the second upper are different.   
     
     
         21 . The set of articles of footwear according to  claim 20 , wherein the first upper is formed of a material different than the second upper. 
     
     
         22 . The set of articles of footwear according to  claim 20 , wherein the first upper and the second upper have different heights. 
     
     
         23 . The set of articles of footwear according to  claim 20 , wherein the first article of footwear includes a first ground engaging element;
 wherein the second article of footwear includes a second ground engaging element; and   wherein the first ground engaging element and the second ground engaging element are different.   
     
     
         24 . The set of articles of footwear according to  claim 23 , wherein the first ground engaging element and the second ground engaging element are formed using different materials. 
     
     
         25 . The set of articles of footwear according to  claim 23 , wherein the first ground engaging element and the second ground engaging element have different thicknesses. 
     
     
         26 . The set of articles of footwear according to  claim 20 , wherein the first upper and the second upper are different selections of a group consisting of a sandal, track shoe, low-cut basketball shoe, high-cut basketball shoe, and a boot. 
     
     
         27 . The set of sole structures according to  claim 20 , where the first cavity and the second cavity are configured to receive identical inserts.