Systems and Methods of Customizing Heel Cushioning in Articles of Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the heel cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the heel cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for customizing an article of footwear, comprising:
 receiving data on a customer computing system for generating an evaluation system for evaluating heel cushioning of a first article of footwear;   receiving a customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning of the first article of footwear on the customer computing system; and   transmitting, from the customer computing system to a manufacturer or third party computing system, data including the customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning for the first article of footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation system provides an evaluation scale through which a customer enters information relating to the customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning for the first article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the evaluation scale receives information from the customer relating to the heel cushioning of the first article of footwear over a sliding scale ranging between “too soft” and “too firm.” 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation system provides multiple evaluation scales through which a customer enters information relating to properties of the heel cushioning for the first article of footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the multiple evaluation scales include: (i) a first scale for providing resilience property information, (ii) a second scale for providing rigidity property information, (iii) a third scale for providing shock absorption property information, and (v) a fourth scale for providing comfort property information. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning of the first article of footwear corresponds to a first iteration of a customization cycle, and wherein the method further comprises:
 generating on the customer computing system an evaluation system for evaluating heel cushioning of a second article of footwear in a second iteration of the customization cycle;   receiving a customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning of the second article of footwear on the customer computing system; and   transmitting, from the customer computing system to a manufacturer or third party computing system, data including the customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning of the second article of footwear.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first article of footwear includes a first pattern of apertures in a heel region of a first sole member of the first article of footwear, wherein the second article of footwear includes a second pattern of apertures in a heel region of a second sole member of the second article of footwear, and wherein the second pattern differs from the first pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 generating on the customer computing system an evaluation system for evaluating heel cushioning of a third article of footwear in a third iteration of the customization cycle;   receiving a customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning of the third article of footwear on the customer computing system; and   transmitting, from the customer computing system to a manufacturer or third party computing system, data including the customer-selected evaluation of the heel cushioning of the third article of footwear.   
     
     
         9 . A system for customizing an article of footwear comprising:
 a computing system configured to generate an evaluation system for evaluating heel cushioning of a first article of footwear;   an information entry system configured to receive customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning of the first article of footwear; and   a transmission system to transmit the customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning of the first article of footwear to a manufacturer or third party.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the computing system, the information entry system, and the transmission system comprise portions of a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the mobile computing device is a smartphone or a cell phone. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the mobile computing device is a tablet or a laptop. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the evaluation system is generated by an application program running on the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the evaluation system provides an evaluation scale through which a customer enters the customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning for the first article of footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the evaluation scale receives information from the customer relating to the heel cushioning of the first article of footwear over a sliding scale ranging between “too soft” and “too firm.” 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the evaluation system provides multiple evaluation scales through which a customer enters information relating to properties of the heel cushioning for the first article of footwear. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the multiple evaluation scales include: (i) a first scale for providing resilience property information, (ii) a second scale for providing rigidity property information, (iii) a third scale for providing shock absorption property information, and (v) a fourth scale for providing comfort property information. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning of the first article of footwear corresponds to a first iteration of a customization cycle, and wherein the computing system further:
 generates an evaluation system for evaluating heel cushioning of a second article of footwear in a second iteration of the customization cycle;   receives customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning of the second article of footwear; and   transmits data including the customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning of the second article of footwear to a manufacturer or third party.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the first article of footwear includes a first pattern of apertures in a heel region of a first sole member of the first article of footwear, wherein the second article of footwear includes a second pattern of apertures in a heel region of a second sole member of the second article of footwear, and wherein the second pattern differs from the first pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the computing system further:
 generates an evaluation system for evaluating heel cushioning of a third article of footwear in a third iteration of the customization cycle;   receives a customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning of the third article of footwear; and   transmits data including the customer-selected evaluation information of the heel cushioning of the third article of footwear to a manufacturer or third party.