Patent Publication Number: US-2016242496-A1

Title: Article of footwear

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an article of footwear such as a skate. 
     2. Description of Related Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,639 discloses a SHOE WITH AN IMPROVED MIDSOLE. The midsole for a shoe includes one or more foam columns disposed between an upper and a lower plate. One or more elastomeric foam elements are disposed between the upper and lower plates. The foam elements are made of a material such as microcellular polyurethane-elastomer based on a polyester-alcohol and naphthalene-disocyanate (NDI). In one embodiment, the foam elements have the shape of hollow cylindrical columns, and may include grooves formed on the exterior surface. One or more elastic rings are disposed about the columns and are removably disposable in the grooves, allowing the stiffness of the columns to be adjusted. In a further embodiment, inflatable gas bladders are disposed in the hollow regions. The heights of the gas bladders may be less than the heights of the columns such that when the midsole is compressed, the wearer experiences a first stiffness corresponding to compression of the columns alone, and a second stiffness corresponding to compression of both the columns and the bladders. Alternatively, the bladders may be inflated so as to cause the columns to be stretched, even when no load is applied. Since the level of inflation of the bladders may be adjusted, the overall stiffness of the midsole may be tuned to the individual requirements of the wearer. 
     The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     An article of footwear comprises a sole extending along a longitudinal axis between a heel portion and a toe portion. The sole extends along a width axis between inner and outer edges. The width axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis. A maximum width of the sole is defined along the width axis. The sole extends along a height axis between a top surface and a bottom surface. The height axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis and to the width axis. A maximum height of the sole is defined along the height axis. The bottom surface is at least partially convex. A convex portion of the bottom surface is defined by a radius having a center positioned lower than the width axis along the height axis. The sole can be engaged with a boot. The sole can be part of a kit including a boot and a skate blade assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description set forth below references the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial front view of an article of footwear according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of an article of footwear having a boot, a sole, and a skate blade assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A plurality of different embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in the Figures of the application. Similar features are shown in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar features across different embodiments have been numbered with a common reference numeral and have been differentiated by an alphabetic suffix. Similar features in a particular embodiment have been numbered with a common two-digit, base reference numeral and have been differentiated by a different leading numeral. Also, to enhance consistency, the structures in any particular drawing share the same alphabetic suffix even if a particular feature is shown in less than all embodiments. Similar features are structured similarly, operate similarly, and/or have the same function unless otherwise indicated by the drawings or this specification. Furthermore, particular features of one embodiment can replace corresponding features in another embodiment or can supplement other embodiments unless otherwise indicated by the drawings or this specification. 
     The present disclosure, as demonstrated by the exemplary embodiments described below, can provide an article of footwear. The benefits of using the article of footwear come in a number ways in various embodiments of the present disclosure. When, for example, a user wears the article while doing various off-ice puck handling and shooting drills, the user will be mimicking a more realistic on-ice feel by being in the same physical orientation as on the ice, such as height and stability. 
     Wearing the article during strength training will allow a user to utilize important stabilizer muscles that are very important for on-ice strength. On-ice strength is all about muscle memory. Wearing the article during strength training will allow a user to utilize the same stabilizer muscles that a user would use while battling an opponent in the corners or driving the puck to the net during a game. 
     Using different balancing equipment such as balancing boards or exercise balls while wearing the article will improve a user&#39;s on-ice balance and help develop important stabilizer muscles which are vital to on-ice strength and power. 
     The game of hockey is becoming all about speed. Foot speed is one of the biggest factors that separates a player who is playing in the NHL from a player in the minor leagues. The biggest thing Steve Yzerman was looking for in players when selecting the Canadian Olympic team this past year was a player&#39;s ability to skate on the big (international) ice. Foot speed was a big reason why certain players were selected. Users will find using one or more embodiments of the present disclosure will help them achieve their full potential as a elite hockey player. 
     One or more embodiments of the present disclosure can closely mimic the feel of wearing a skate on the ice while training off the ice. A player can train in a manner as close to how they actually play in order to get the on-ice results that they strive for using an embodiment of the present disclosure during off-ice training 
     One or more embodiments of the present disclosure is an off-ice training tool that can be utilized by hockey players. However it could also be used by figure skaters. The design of the article can come in more than one embodiment. One embodiment could be similar to a traditional light weight lace up skate boot. The blade and blade holder can be replaced with a combination of rugged shock-absorbing polymers and rubbers to create a similar feel to the bottom of a cross training shoe, giving the athlete the same on-ice feel and body orientation while training off-ice. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an article  10  of footwear can include a boot  12  and a sole  14 . The boot  12  can include an upper  16 , a toe cap  18 , and a heel portion  20 . The boot  12  can include eyelets, such as eyelet  22 , for receiving laces. Alternatively, the boot  12  could include over-center latches or hook and loop fasteners for securing a user&#39;s foot within the boot  12 . The boot  12  can define an internal cavity defining a sock liner for receiving a user&#39;s foot. 
     The sole  14  can be engaged with the boot  12 . The sole  14  can extend along a longitudinal axis  28  between a heel portion  24  and a toe portion  26 .  FIG. 2  shows a top surface of the sole  14  when the sole  14  is disengaged from the boot  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the sole  14  can extend along a width axis  30  between inner and outer edges  32 ,  34 . The width axis  30  is transverse to the longitudinal axis  28  (referenced in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). A maximum width of the sole  14  can be defined along the width axis  30 . 
     The sole  14  can extend along a height axis  36  between a top surface  38  and a bottom surface  40 . The height axis  36  is transverse to the longitudinal axis  28  and to the width axis  30 . A maximum height of the sole  14  can be defined along the height axis  36 . 
     The bottom surface  40  can be at least partially convex. A convex portion  42  of the bottom surface  40  can be defined by a radius having a center positioned lower than the width axis  30  along the height axis  36 . The radius is referenced at  44  and the center is referenced at  46 . 
     The exemplary convex portion  42  extends about the center  46  a predetermined arc length and the bottom surface  40  then transitions to straight side walls  48 ,  50  respectively extending to the inner and outer edges  32 ,  34 . The straight side walls  48 ,  50  can taper toward one another along the height axis  36 . A chord  52  of maximum length extending between two points on the convex portion  42  in a plane being one of coplanar and parallel to the height axis  36  is positioned lower than the width axis  30  along the height axis  36 . 
     The convex portion  42  is substantially centered between the inner and outer edges. The convex portion  42  defines a singular apex  54  of the bottom surface  40 . The profile of the bottom surface  40  can be substantially constant between the heel portion  24  and the toe portion  26 . Thus, the convex portion  42  can extend along a majority of the longitudinal axis  28 . 
     It is noted that the sole  14  can include a plurality of layers having different shock-absorbing capacities. A layer  56  can be rigid plastic or metallic to enhance structural rigidity. The relatively hard upper layer  56  of the sole  14  could be like a shell that would give the entire sole  14  (side to side) support however a shock absorbing material could fill the hard shell and would be contacting a base of the boot (the upper  16 ) and carry on down to the bottom-most edge of the assembly. The soft polymer could be connected with a strong adhesive to the hard shell which would be riveted to the boot. 
     A layer  58  can be formed from materials operable to absorb shock greater than the layer  56 . The material for the layer  58 , or any layer, can be chosen to ensure that the layer withstands loading forces that would be applied during use. The layer defining the bottom surface  40  can include carbon rubber or blown rubber. The layer defining the bottom surface  40  can be formed from the same or similar materials used for cross-trainer shoes. U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,710 is hereby incorporated by reference for materials used for shoe soles; materials that can be used to form one or more layers of the sole  14  in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 1  also shows that in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the sole  14  can include an aperture  82  (shown in phantom by way of example and not limitation) much like that of the skate blade holder on a ice skate. 
     The sole  14  and the boot  12  can be fixedly engaged with one another. In one or more embodiments, the sole  14  and the boot  12  can be fixedly engaged with one another with adhesive. In other embodiments, the sole  14  and the boot  12  can be fixedly engaged with one another with rivets. Rivets are shown in phantom in  FIGS. 1 and 3  and referenced at  60 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an article  10   a  of footwear can include a boot  12   a  and a sole  14   a.  The boot  12   a  can include an upper  16   a,  a toe cap  18   a,  and a heel portion  20   a.  The boot  12   a  can include eyelets, such as eyelet  22   a,  for receiving laces. Alternatively, the boot  12   a  could include over-center latches or hook and loop fasteners for securing a user&#39;s foot within the boot  12   a.  The boot  12   a  can define an internal cavity defining a sock liner for receiving a user&#39;s foot. 
     The sole  14   a  can extend along a longitudinal axis  28   a  between a heel portion  24   a  and a toe portion  26   a.  The sole  14   a  can extend along a width axis  30   a  between inner and outer edges  32   a,    34   a.  The width axis  30   a  is transverse to the longitudinal axis  28   a.  A maximum width of the sole  14   a  can be defined along the width axis  30   a.  The sole  14   a  can also extend along a height axis  36   a  between a top surface  38   a  and a bottom surface  40   a.  The height axis  36   a  is transverse to the longitudinal axis  28   a  and to the width axis  30   a.  A maximum height of the sole  14   a  can be defined along the height axis  36   a.    
     The bottom surface  40   a  can be at least partially convex. A convex portion  42   a  of the bottom surface  40   a  can be defined by a radius having a center positioned lower than the width axis  30   a  along the height axis  36   a.  The radius is referenced at  44   a  and the center is referenced at  46   a.    
     The sole  14   a  and the boot  12   a  can be releasibly engaged with one another. A layer  56   a  of the sole  14   a  can be formed as tongue portion and the boot  14   a  can define a groove portion  62   a.  The tongue portion  56   a  can be received in the groove portion  62   a.  The tongue portion  56   a  and the groove portion  62   a  can releasibly engage the boot  12   a  and the sole  14   a  with respect to one another. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the boot  12   a  can include a locking tab  64   a.  The locking tab  64   a  can project from a flap  66   a.  The flap  66   a  can pivot about a pivot axis  68   a.  As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the layer  56   a  can define a locking groove  70   a.  The locking tab  64   a  can be received in the locking groove  70   a  to releasibly lock the boot  12  and the sole  14  together. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , an article  10   b  of footwear can include a sole  14   b.  The sole  14   b  can be engageable with the boot. The sole  14   b  can extend along a longitudinal axis  28   b  between a heel portion  24   b  and a toe portion  26   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the sole  14   b  can extend along a width axis  30   b  between inner and outer edges  32   b,    34   b.  The width axis  30   b  is transverse to the longitudinal axis  28   b.  A maximum width of the sole  14   b  can be defined along the width axis  30   b.    
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the sole  14   b  can extend along a height axis  36   b  between a top surface  38   b  and a bottom surface  40   b.  The height axis  36   b  is transverse to the longitudinal axis  28   b  and to the width axis  30   b.  A maximum height of the sole  14   b  can be defined along the height axis  36   b.  The bottom surface  40   b  can be at least partially convex as the bottom surfaces  40 ,  40   a  are partially convex. 
     The embodiment of the sole  14   b  can include layers  56   b,    58   b  that are interconnected with a tongue and groove arrangement. The dashed line  57   b  is the boundary of the  58   b  within the layer  56   b.  The layer  56   b  can be formed with a groove portion  72   b  and the layer  58   b  can define a tongue portion  74   b.  The tongue portion  74   b  can be received in the groove portion  72   b.  The tongue portion  74   b  and the groove portion  72   b  can releasibly engage the layers  56   b,    58   b  with respect to one another. The tongue portion  74   b  and the groove portion  72   b  extend along the height axis  36   b  at the heel portion  24   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , an article  10   c  of footwear can include a sole  14   c.  The sole  14   c  can be engageable with the boot. The sole  14   c  can extend along a longitudinal axis between a heel portion and a toe portion. The sole  14   c  can also extend along a width axis  30   c  between inner and outer edges. The width axis  30   c  is transverse to the longitudinal axis. A maximum width of the sole  14   c  can be defined along the width axis  30   c.  The sole  14   c  can also extend along a height axis  36   c  between a top surface and a bottom surface  40   c.  The height axis  36   c  is transverse to the longitudinal axis and to the width axis  30   c.  A maximum height of the sole  14   c  can be defined along the height axis  36   c.    
     The bottom surface  40   c  can be at least partially convex. A convex portion  42   c  of the bottom surface  40   c  can be defined by a radius having a center positioned lower than the width axis  30   c  along the height axis  36   c.  The radius is referenced at  44   c  and the center is referenced at  46   c.    
     The exemplary convex portion  42   c  extends about the center  46   c  a predetermined arc length and the bottom surface  40   c  then transitions to straight side walls extending to the inner and outer edges. The straight side walls can include a first set of walls  76   c,    78   c  that extend parallel to the height axis  36   c.  The straight side walls can also include a second set of walls  48   c,    50   c  that tapered toward one another along the height axis  36   c.    
     The walls  76   c,    78   c  and the convex portion  42  can define a protuberance analogous to a skate blade. The protuberance can be internally reinforced with a metallic rod extending the length of the sole  14   c  or a metallic mesh. A rod or mesh could be embedded in shock-absorbing plastic, rubber, or elastomeric material. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , an article  10   d  of footwear can include a boot  12   d  and a sole  14   d.  The sole  14   d  can be releasibly engaged with the boot  12   d.  The boot  12   d  and sole  14   d  can be components of a kit. The kit can also include a skate blade assembly  80   d.  The skate blade assembly  80   d  and the sole  14   d  are releasibly engageable with the boot  12   d.  A user can engage the skate blade assembly  80   d  with the boot  12   d  to skate and train on ice. A user can engage the sole  14   d  with the boot  12   d  to train off the ice. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the “present disclosure” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other present disclosures in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.