Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Occupational or athletic shoe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-02
2001-05-08
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Occupational or athletic shoe
C036S117300, C036S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226897
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a sports shoe and more particularly to a sports boot having a structural interface for use with an attachment device.
Sports shoes or boots designed to connect to devices such as bicycle pedals, ski bindings or snowboard bindings typically include a rigid shank. The rigid shank lies beneath the footbed and works as a leaf spring structure and provides a foundation for mounting a pin or boss for mating with an attachment device on the pedal, or to a ski or snowboard binding. These sports are associated with impact forces that are transmitted by the shank into the entire footbed, causing discomfort. Since the shank is typically close to the foot, there is little or no room to include shock absorbing materials to cushion the blows, and even when soft materials are added in strategic locations under the foot, the presence of the rigid shank is still perceptible and still causes discomfort. Consequently, during or following athletic activity, the wearer of such sports boots may experience foot fatigue and/or pain. Footwear designed for other high impact sports such as basketball or running solve this problem by constructing the outsole from various shock absorbing materials.
The popularity of sports such as bicycling, skiing and snowboarding has been increasing each year. In addition, new high-speed chair lift technology now enables skiers and snowboarders to get in more runs down the mountain during the course of a day than was possible in the past. Thus, ski and snowboard boots must be lightweight, comfortable and durable, while still providing support for the foot and the rider with a “feel” for the ski or snowboard. Thus, there is a need for a structural support system for sports shoes that will enable a rider to comfortably participate in her sport while minimizing foot fatigue and/or foot pain due to impact forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A structural interface for a sports shoe includes a lateral beam member having at least one mounting location, a medial beam member having at least one mounting location and at least one bridge member. The bridge member spans the width of a footbed and connects the lateral and medial beam members together.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. At least one connection means may be attached to at least one of the mounting locations. Additionally or alternately, at least one attachment device may be attached to at least one of the mounting locations.
In another aspect, a method for manufacturing a structural interface for a sports shoe includes constructing a lateral beam member, constructing a medial beam member and constructing at least one bridge member having first and second sides. The first side of the bridge member is connected to the lateral beam member, and the second side of the bridge member is connected to the medial beam member.
One or more of the following features may be included. The lateral beam member, the medial beam member and at least one bridge member may be molded separately. Alternately, the lateral beam member, the medial beam member and at least one bridge member may be molded together to form a unitary structural interface.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to a structural interface for a sports shoe that includes at least one lateral beam member, at least one medial beam member, and a bridge member that spans the width of a footbed. The bridge member connects the lateral and medial beam members together. Other features may include at least one connection means attached to at least one of the lateral or medial beam members. Additionally or alternately, at least one attachment device may be attached to at least one of the lateral or medial beam members.
Another aspect concerns a method for manufacturing a structural interface for a sports shoe. The method includes constructing at least one lateral beam member, constructing at least one medial beam member, and constructing a bridge member having first and second sides. The first side of the bridge member is connected to each lateral beam member, and the second side of the bridge member is connected to each medial beam member. Further features may include that the lateral beam members, the medial beam members and the bridge member are molded separately. Alternately, the lateral beam members, the medial beam members and the bridge member may be molded together to form a unitary structural interface.
In yet another aspect, a sports shoe includes an upper, a structural interface and an outsole. The structural interface includes a lateral beam member attached to a lateral portion of the upper and having at least one mounting location, a medial beam member attached to a medial portion of the upper and having at least one mounting location, and a bridge member connecting the lateral and medial beam members together. Additional features may include at least one connection means attached to at least one mounting location. In addition or alternately, at least one attachment device may be attached to at least one mounting location. Further, a midsole may be connected to the outsole and to the upper, and a cushioning material may be wrapped around at least a portion of the structural interface. In addition, a foot support padding layer may be included.
Yet another aspect concerns a method for constructing a sports shoe including a structural interface having a lateral beam member, a medial beam member and a bridge member connecting the lateral and medial beam members together. The method includes constructing an upper, connecting the lateral beam member of the structural interface to a lateral portion of the upper, connecting the medial beam member of the structural interface to a medial portion of the upper, and connecting an outsole to the upper. Additional features may include connecting at least one connection means to at least one of the medial and lateral beam members, and/or connecting at least one attachment device to at least one of the medial and lateral beam members.
Another implementation concerns a structural support system for the rider of a snowboard. The support system includes at least one snowboard boot having a structural interface. The structural interface includes at least one lateral beam member attached to a lateral portion of the upper, at least one medial beam member attached to a medial portion of the upper and a bridge member connecting the lateral and medial beam members together. The support system further includes at least one connection means attached to at least one of the lateral and medial beam members, and a snowboard binding including at least one attachment device for mating with the connection means. Alternately, such a structural support system may include at least one attachment device attached to at least one of the lateral and medial beam members, and a snowboard binding including at least one connection means for mating with the attachment device.
Advantages of the invention include that the structural interface allows for a high performance, lightweight shoe design. Lightweight cushioning materials common to footwear, such as EVA and/or polyurethane and/or other shock-absorbing materials, may be used with a thin outsole when fabricating the sports shoe. In addition, the structural interface permits the foot to be closer to the sports product, such as a snowboard, than prior art sports shoe and shank designs, which improves the rider's control. Since there is no large structural shank under foot, most perceived vibrational loads that previously went into the foot during sports activity have been eliminated. Further, the structural interface may be molded as a one piece unit, and only four sizes are required to cover an entire range of foot sizes from USA shoe sizes 3 through 14. Thus, a cost savings is realized over conventional full-size foot shanks, which must be manufactured for each shoe size. Yet further, the shape and use of a bridge member makes it easy to position the structural interface within the shoe during
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Patterson M. D.
Vans, Inc.
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