Patent ID: 8869433
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: A43B,A43C

Abstract:
1. An article of footwear that defines an interior space that receives a foot of a wearer comprising: an upper operable to be worn about the foot; a sole that is connected to the upper; an outer surface defined on one of the upper and the sole; a chamber wall operably coupled to one of the upper and the sole, the chamber wall defining at least a portion of a chamber operable to hold a vacuum for at least partially conforming the footwear to the foot of the wearer, the chamber wall being flexible, the chamber wall defining a valve of a passage that extends through the chamber wall to be in selective fluid communication with the chamber, the chamber wall also including an outer rim that partially defines the passage; and a compressible inner layer that is layered on the chamber wall inside the chamber, the compressible inner layer configured to compress between the chamber wall and the foot, the passage also defined through the compressible inner layer; the valve operable to provide suction that draws air from the chamber via the passage through the compressible inner layer and through the chamber wall to draw the vacuum within the chamber, the chamber wall configured to flex to move the valve between a closed position and an open position, the outer rim being one of flush with the outer surface and recessed inward from the outer surface toward the chamber when the valve is in the closed position.