Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Occupational or athletic shoe
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-12
2001-01-30
Kavanaugh, Ted (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Occupational or athletic shoe
C036S117700, C036S117100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178665
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fit and support systems for the foot and in particular to improvements thereto relating to forefoot/midfoot compression members and liner or shoe retention members.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,350 discloses a dynamic coupling means for connecting the foot of a user to mediums such as skis, skates and the like wherein an instep counter is pivotally mounted on a rigid arch-like structure connected to a rigid base on the medial and lateral aspects of the foot. The instep counter is brought to bear on the dorsum of the user's foot with a threaded adjustment means. While the arch-like structure is efficient insofar as producing the desired effect it has several limitations insofar as convenient operation for the user and application to consumer products. These limitations include such things as excessive bulk, difficult entry of a user's foot and insertion and removal of shoes and liner structures when the invention is applied to mediums such as inline and ice skates. Limitations also are present insofar as the location of the connection points of the rigid arch with the base structure of the technology particularly as it relates to the lateral aspect where it is desirable to minimize the introduction of structures in the forefoot which could interfere with the natural spreading of the heads of the metatarsals.
The present invention overcomes the above limitations by a forefoot/midfoot compression member whose connections means with the base of the footwear resides on one aspect of the user's foot.
The dynamic fit system for the foot disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,350 provides structures which maintain the position of discrete elements of the foot in place on the rigid base even when the device is used in conjunction with a liner system. However problems arise when a liner is removable from the dynamic fit system or when the footwear is employed with it. Without the action of the instep counter pressing on the user's foot within the liner there is no influence acting to maintain the position of these elements especially during ingress and egress of the user's foot. When street shoes are employed with the device a problem exists in ensuring that the sole of the footwear is correctly positioned on the rigid base prior to the engagement of the instep counter. In the use of such footwear a further problem arises relating to the coefficient of friction between the sole of the footwear and the rigid base of the device. It is desirable to have a sufficient coefficient of friction between these two elements to reduce laterally acting shear forces acting between the rigid base and the instep counter.
The present invention overcomes the above limitations by a retention member for securing the liner or footwear within the footwear device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the invention provides a footwear device comprising:
a rigid base for supporting the foot of a user thereon;
an instep counter for engaging the dorsum of the users foot;
an arm assembly operatively connecting said instep counter to said base of said footwear device to rigidly support said instep counter in a position for exerting a force on the user's foot, said arm assembly being disposed along only one of the medial or lateral aspects of said footwear device, wherein said arm assembly comprises a rigid arm and an arm base, said rigid arm having a first portion that is connected to said instep counter and a second portion that is adjustably connected to said arm base, said arm base being rigidly connected to said base of said footwear device;
an adjustment assembly located on said arm assembly for moving said instep counter into said position for exerting a force on the user's foot; and
a retention member disposed on said adjustment assembly for retaining said instep counter in said position for exerting a force on the user's foot.
In another aspect the invention provides a footwear device comprising:
a rigid base for supporting the foot of a user thereon;
an instep counter for engaging the dorsum of the users foot;
an arm assembly operatively connecting said instep counter to said base of said footwear device to rigidly support said instep counter in a position for exerting a force on the user's foot, said arm assembly including a rigid arm and an arm base, said rigid arm having a first portion that is connected to said instep counter, a second portion that is adjustably connected to said arm base and a third portion that is pivotally connected to a forefoot support structure for said footwear device, said second portion and said third portion being offset transversely relative to each other on opposing ends of said rigid arm, said arm base being rigidly connected to said base of said footwear device;
an adjustment assembly located on said arm assembly for moving said instep counter into said position for exerting a force on the user's foot; and
a retention member located on said adjustment assembly for retaining said instep counter in said position for exerting a force on the user's foot.
In another aspect the invention provides a footwear device comprising:
a rigid base for supporting the foot of a user thereon;
a heel counter on the rigid base for contact with the foot of a user in a first area of the foot posterior to the posterior aspect of the heel of the foot;
a medial forefoot counter for contact with the foot of a user in a second area of the foot medial to the medial aspect of the head of the first metatarsal of the foot;
a forefoot/midfoot compression member including an instep counter for engaging the dorsum of a user's foot and an arm assembly operatively connecting said instep counter to said rigid base of said footwear device to rigidly support said instep counter in a position for exerting a force on the user's foot, said arm assembly being disposed along only one of the medial or lateral aspects of said footwear device, wherein said arm assembly comprises a rigid arm and an arm base, said rigid arm having a first portion that is connected to said instep counter and a second portion that is adjustably connected to said arm base, said arm base being rigidly connected to said base of said footwear device;
an adjustment assembly located on said arm assembly for moving said instep counter into said position for exerting a force on the user's foot; and
a retention member disposed on said adjustment assembly for retaining said instep counter in said position for exerting a force on the user's foot.
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pate
Hoshizaki Blaine
MacPhail David M.
Podborski Steve
Bereskin & Parr
Kavanaugh Ted
Macpod Enterprises Ltd.
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