Footwear including a self-adjusting midsole

a technology of footwear and midsoles, applied in the direction of fastenings, footwear, apparel, etc., can solve the problems of high cost of multiple pairs of shoes, loose gravel or mud for off-road runners,

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-08-11
DECKERS OUTDOOR CORPORATION
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present footwear includes a midsole that adjusts traction to different terrains. By providing self-adjusting traction, the same footwear can be used on different terrains without sacrificing support or traction.

Problems solved by technology

For example, off-road runners often encounter loose gravel or mud.
Having multiple pairs of shoes is expensive.
Also if a runner plans to run on a coarse having both on-road and off-road surfaces, the runner must decide which of their pairs of shoes will work best for both surfaces, often sacrificing traction on one of the surfaces.

Method used

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  • Footwear including a self-adjusting midsole
  • Footwear including a self-adjusting midsole
  • Footwear including a self-adjusting midsole

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0013]Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an article of footwear including a midsole that adjusts to the hardness or softness of different terrains to provide better traction for users.

[0014]The article of footwear generally designated as reference number 10, includes a midsole 11 that is removably attached to an outsole 12 formed of a relatively durable material that is molded to have a particular design or shape such as the shape shown in FIG. 2. The outsole 12 includes a ground-contacting side or bottom surface 14 having a plurality of relatively rigid, fixed traction members or lugs 16 integrally formed with the bottom surface 14 of the outsole and extending about at least a portion of the outer perimeter 18 of the bottom surface. The bottom surface 14 of the outsole also includes a tread pattern 20 for enhancing the traction of the outsole. The tread pattern 20 may be any suitable tread pattern or combination of tread patterns. The outsole 12 also defines a plurality of openings or thr...

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PUM

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Abstract

An article of footwear including an outsole having a plurality of first traction members extending from the outsole and defining a plurality of openings. A plurality of second traction members extend through the openings in the outsole and are configured to move between an extended position, where the second traction members are fully extended in the openings, and a retracted position, where the second traction members are at least partially retracted within the openings. A compressible member is positioned adjacent to the plurality of second traction members and is configured to compress when the second traction members move to the retracted position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Running and walking generate stress on a person's body, especially their feet, from the repeated impact of their feet with the ground. Off-road running, where the ground's softer and more forgiving than pavement, lessens the impact on the body. Trail running is gaining popularity for this and other reasons.[0002]Different terrains require different footwear traction. For example, off-road runners often encounter loose gravel or mud. Trail shoes are, for the most part, quite similar in construction to road running shoes. However, off-road running shoes are made to be more durable than road shoes to endure the roughness of the terrain, i.e., rocks and uneven ground. Also, off-road running shoes typically have cleats or cleat-like surfaces that project downwardly from the bottom surface of the shoe to improve traction between the shoe and the ground. The longer the cleats, the better grip a shoe will have with the ground. Road shoes, on the other hand, ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A43B5/00A43C15/00
CPCA43C15/14A43B13/26
Inventor GESER, JUERGHILLYER, CHRISTOPHERMACEY, ANTHONY T.
Owner DECKERS OUTDOOR CORPORATION
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