Method of Customizing Forefoot Cushioning in Articles of Footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021030110-A1
Application number	US-202017021432-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 15, 2020
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	Feb 4, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for customizing an article of footwear, comprising:
receiving data for generating a rating system on a customer computing system for evaluating a first level of forefoot cushioning of a first sole member of a first article of footwear, wherein the first article of footwear has a first base sole layer; transmitting, from the customer computing system to a manufacturer computing system, data including a customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning received from the rating system; transmitting, from the customer computing system to the manufacturer computing system, an order for a second article of footwear based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning, wherein the second article of footwear has a second base sole layer; and providing the second article of footwear to a customer location, wherein the second article of footwear includes a second sole member with a second level of forefoot cushioning formed with at least a first aperture in a forefoot portion of the second base sole layer to form a second sole member with a second level of forefoot cushioning, wherein the second level of forefoot cushioning is different from the first level of forefoot cushioning and is determined based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning of the first sole member.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing an application interface on the customer computing system, wherein the application interface is configured to receive one or more user inputs relating to the customer-selected rating.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving data for generating the rating system on the customer computing system includes receiving data for generating an application program for interactively providing the rating system on a mobile computer device.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving data for generating the rating system on the customer computing system includes receiving data for generating a rating system having a sliding scale for rating forefoot cushioning from a “too soft” rating to a “too firm” rating.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving data for generating the rating system on the customer computing system includes receiving data for generating a customer prompt to submit one or more evaluations in the rating system over a period of time.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second base sole layer includes a foam material, wherein said at least the first aperture is a pattern of apertures formed in a surface of the foam material.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the customer computing system, a pattern of one or more incisions to be cut in the second base sole layer based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning of the first sole member.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving data for generating the rating system on the customer computing system includes receiving data for generating a sliding scale on the customer computing system, wherein the sliding scale allows a user to select different levels of forefoot cushioning for the first sole member.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising storing data including customer-selected ratings associated with a first customer in an evaluation database.

10 . A system for customizing an article of footwear comprising:
a customer computing system configured to:
receive input data including a customer-selected rating of a first level of forefoot cushioning of a first sole member of a first article of footwear, wherein the first article of footwear has a first base sole layer; and
prepare an order for a second article of footwear based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning, wherein the second article of footwear has a second base sole layer; and
manufacturer computing system configured to:
receive the order for the second article of footwear from the customer computing system; and
prepare the order for the second article of footwear, wherein the second article of footwear includes a second sole member selected from a plurality of base sole layers based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning of the first sole member, wherein the plurality of base sole layers includes plural base sole layers having different forefoot cushioning levels, and wherein the second base sole layer includes one or more incisions based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning of the first sole member; and
send the second article of footwear to a customer location.

11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the customer computing system further is programmed and adapted to provide an application interface, wherein the application interface is configured to receive one or more user inputs relating to the customer-selected rating.

12 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the manufacturer computing system further is programmed and adapted to determine a pattern of one or more incisions to be cut in the second base sole layer based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning of the first sole member.

13 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the customer computing system further is programmed and adapted to receive data for generating an application program for interactively providing a rating system on a mobile computer device.

14 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the customer computing system further is programmed and adapted to receive data for generating a rating system having a sliding scale for rating forefoot cushioning from a “too soft” rating to a “too firm” rating.

15 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the customer computing system further is programmed and adapted to receive data for generating a rating system having a sliding scale for rating forefoot cushioning from a “too soft” rating to a “too firm” rating.

16 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the customer computing system further is programmed and adapted to receive data for generating a customer prompt to submit one or more evaluations in a rating system over a period of time.

17 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the customer computing system further is programmed and adapted to store data including customer-selected ratings associated with a first customer in an evaluation database.

18 . An apparatus for customizing an article of footwear, comprising a customer computing device configured to:
generate a rating system for evaluating a first level of forefoot cushioning of a first sole member of a first article of footwear, wherein the first article of footwear has a first base sole layer; receive data including a customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning received from the rating system; transmitting an order for a second article of footwear based on the customer-selected rating of the first level of forefoot cushioning, wherein the second article of footwear has a second base sole layer; and receive an order completion notification for the order for the second article of footwear, wherein the second article of footwear includes a second sole member with a second level of forefoot cushioning, wherein the second level of forefoot cushioning is different from the first level of forefoot cushioning and is determined based on the customer-selected ra

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Cook Christopher S
• Kohatsu Shane S
• Schoolmeester Bret
• Rowe Daniel T

Classifications

• G06Q30/06211

  using personal content of shoppers, e.g. personal photographs · CPC title

• A43B13/181 Primary

  Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole · CPC title

• G06Q30/0621 Primary

  by configuring or customising goods or services · CPC title

• G06Q30/0601

  Electronic shopping [e-shopping] · CPC title

• A43B13/186

  Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32) · CPC title