Elongate foot engagement element for footwear, and footwear article

Abstract

An elongate foot engagement element (100) for a footwear article (200), the foot engagement element (100) comprising two elongate portions (110a, 110b) each having a longitudinal axis (310), a first and a second planar surfaces which are opposes to each other, wherein the elongate portions (110a, 110b) have a first longitudinal edge region and an opposed second longitudinal edge; wherein a plurality of recesses (324, 334) extending along at least a portion of at least one edge of at least one of the elongate portions (110a, 110b) of the foot engagement element (100), and wherein plurality of recesses (324, 334) of the elongate portions (110a, 110b) provides for flexion of that elongate portion (110a, 110b) within the plane of the first and the second planar surfaces, and wherein the elongate portion (110a, 110b) is sized and arranged in conjunction with plurality of recesses (324, 334) such that the foot engagement element (100) is substantially flexible and elastic so as to allow for substantial flexion when in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elongate foot engagement element for a footwear article, said foot engagement element comprising:
 two elongate portions each having a longitudinal axis, a first and a second planar surfaces which are opposes to each other, wherein the elongate portion have a first longitudinal edge region and an opposed second longitudinal edge;   wherein a plurality of recesses extending along at least a portion of at least one edge of at least one of the elongate portions of the foot engagement element, and wherein said plurality of recesses of the elongate portion provides for flexion of that elongate portion within the plane of the first and a second planar surfaces, and wherein the elongate portion is sized and arranged in conjunction with said plurality of recesses such that the foot engagement element is substantially flexible and elastic so as to allow for substantial flexion when in use.   
     
     
         2 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 1 , wherein the recesses are provided on both edges of the elongate portion of the foot engagement element. 
     
     
         3 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the recesses are provided both edges of both elongate portions of the foot engagement element. 
     
     
         4 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 2 or claim 3 , wherein the recesses on one edge of elongate portion of the foot engagement element are aligned with the recesses on the opposed edge of the elongate portion. 
     
     
         5 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 2 or claim 3 , wherein the recesses on one edge of elongate portion of the foot engagement element are offset from the recesses on the opposed edge of the elongate portion in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion. 
     
     
         6 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  any one of the preceding claims , further comprising an extension portion extending from the first ends of the elongate portions and having an engagement portion thereon for engagement with a sole member of a footwear article, and the second ends of elongate portions each having an engagement portion thereon for engagement with a sole member of a footwear article. 
     
     
         7 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 6 , wherein the extension portion is sized to as to pass between the big toe and the second toe of a user of a user, and wherein the elongate portions are sized so as to extend from the first ends thereof and over the upper surface of the foot of a user in a direction towards the rear of the foot of the user, and a first and second elongate portion extending towards the lateral and medial sides of the foot of the user respectively. 
     
     
         8 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the foot engagement element is a shape-formed element having been formed from a flowable and settable polymeric material, and wherein upon setting said polymeric material forms the shape of the foot engagement element and has said elastic properties. 
     
     
         9 . An elongate foot engagement element according to any one of  claims 1 to 7 , wherein the foot engagement element is a molded element. 
     
     
         10 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot engagement element is an injection molded element. 
     
     
         11 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot engagement element is a compression molded element. 
     
     
         12 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot engagement element is a cast molded element. 
     
     
         13 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 9 , wherein the foot engagement element is a transfer molded element. 
     
     
         14 . An elongate foot engagement element according to any one of  claims 1 to 7 , wherein the foot engagement element is additive formed element. 
     
     
         15 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 14 , wherein the foot engagement element is a three dimensional (3D) printed element. 
     
     
         16 . An elongate foot engagement element according to any one of  claims 1 to 7 , wherein the foot engagement element is a fused filament fabricated element. 
     
     
         17 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 16 , wherein the foot engagement element is a Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP) element. 
     
     
         18 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  claim 15 , wherein the foot engagement element is a Digital Light Synthesised (DLS) element. 
     
     
         19 . An elongate foot engagement element according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the foot engagement element is formed from an elastic material including a rubber or rubber compound, an elastomer, elastic polymer, polymeric resins or the like. 
     
     
         20 . A footwear article comprising the elongate foot engagement element of any one of  claims 1 to 19  and a sole member. 
     
     
         21 . A footwear article according to  claim 20 , wherein the sole member is a sole member of a flip flop. 
     
     
         22 . A footwear article according to  claim 21 , wherein the sole member includes an upper surface, a lower surface, an upper layer being for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the underside of the foot of the person and being formed from a first polymeric material having a first density, and a lower layer having a side wall and forming substantially the entire lower surface and being for direct contact and interaction with a surface and being formed from a second polymeric material having a second density, wherein the first polymeric material is provided in a gel form and the second polymeric material is provided in an expanded form whereby the first density is greater than the second density. 
     
     
         23 . A footwear article according to  claim 22 , wherein the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are selected and the upper layer and the lower layer are sized and arranged such that the sole is substantially flexible and elastic so as to allow for substantial flexion of the sole longitudinally and return, when in use and during ambulation of the person;
 and wherein said upper layer extends at least to the upper surface of the sole member, and the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are selected and the upper layer and lower are sized and arranged such that said upper layer provides for dampening of load imparted to the foot of the person upon contact with the surface.   
     
     
         24 . A footwear article according to any one of  claims 20 to 23 , wherein said footwear article is a flip-flop footwear article.