Footwear with interchangeable bootie system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9392836-B2
Application number	US-201113198482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2011
Priority date	Aug 4, 2011
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

An interchangeable bootie system includes an article of footwear and a plurality of interchangeable booties. Each bootie includes a support system configured to provide targeted support to different regions of the foot. This allows a user to select a bootie that provides the desired type of support for an athletic activity. An interchangeable bootie system with midsole portions having different types of cushioning systems is also disclosed. This allows a user to select a bootie with the desired type of support and the desired type of cushioning for an athletic activity. An interchangeable bootie and midsole insert system is also disclosed. Each midsole insert fits inside a bootie and includes a cushioning system configured to provide targeted cushioning to different regions of the foot. This allows a user to select a desired type of cushioning for an athletic activity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A kit of parts, comprising:
an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper;
a first bootie configured to be inserted into the article of footwear and including:
a first base layer that has the approximate shape of a foot, wherein the first base layer includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midfoot portion disposed between the forefoot portion and the heel portion, wherein the forefoot portion, heel portion, and midfoot portion are designed to together cover a top portion of a wearer's foot, including the wearer's toes, and a heel portion of the wearer's foot when the first bootie is worn by the wearer;
a first midsole secured to the first base layer, wherein the first midsole is more rigid than the first base layer; and
a first support system secured to the forefoot portion of the first base layer and extending from the midsole in the forefoot portion of the first base layer, wherein the first support system causes the first base layer to resist stretching at the forefoot portion of the first bootie; and

a second bootie configured to be inserted into the article of footwear and including:
a second base layer that has the approximate shape of a foot, wherein the second base layer includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midfoot portion disposed between the forefoot portion and the heel portion, wherein the forefoot portion, heel portion, and midfoot portion are designed to together cover the top portion of a wearer's foot, including the wearer's toes, and a heel portion of the wearer's foot when the second bootie is worn by the wearer;
a second midsole secured to the second base layer, wherein the second midsole is more rigid than the second base layer;
a second support system secured to an ankle portion of the second base layer and extending from the second midsole in the ankle portion of the second base layer, wherein the second support system causes the second base layer to resist stretching at the ankle portion of the second bootie; and
wherein the second support system includes a plurality of threads collected into a first thread group, wherein the first thread group extends from a medial side of a heel portion of the second bootie upwardly into the ankle portion of the second bootie and around a forward portion of a throat of the second bootie.

2. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the kit of parts includes a container configured to store the article of footwear, the first bootie, and the second bootie.

3. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the first support system includes a plurality of threads collected into a second thread group, wherein the plurality of threads of the second thread group spreads radially outwardly towards a lateral side of the first bootie.

4. The kit of parts according to claim 3 , wherein the second support system includes a plurality of threads collected into a third thread group disposed on the heel portion of the second bootie.

5. The kit of parts according to claim 4 , wherein the first lace receiving portion of the first bootie is configured to align with a first lace receiving portion of the upper when the first bootie is inserted in an opening of the upper such that a lace can extend consecutively through the first lace receiving portion of the upper to and through the first lace receiving portion of the first bootie.

6. The kit of parts according to claim 3 , wherein the first bootie is a high-top bootie.

7. An interchangeable bootie system, comprising:
an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper;
a group of booties including:
a first bootie configured to be inserted into the article of footwear and having:
a first base layer that has the approximate shape of a foot, wherein the second base layer includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midfoot portion disposed between the forefoot portion and the heel portion, wherein the forefoot portion and midfoot portion are designed to together cover a top portion of a wearer's foot; and
a first support system including a plurality of threads collected into a first thread group secured to the first base layer in the midfoot portion, wherein the plurality of threads cause the first base layer to resist stretching at the midfoot portion of the first bootie and wherein the plurality of threads of the first thread group are attached together at end portions of the plurality of threads and the end portions of the plurality of threads are joined with a first lace receiving portion of the first bootie; and

a second bootie configured to be inserted into the article of footwear, the second bootie being a high-top bootie and having:
a second base layer that has the approximate shape of a foot, wherein the second base layer includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midfoot portion disposed between the forefoot portion and the heel portion, wherein the forefoot portion, heel portion, and midfoot portion are designed to together cover the top portion and a heel portion of the wearer's foot; and
a second support system including a second plurality of threads collected into a second thread group secured to an ankle portion of the second base layer and extending from a medial side of a heel portion of the second bootie upwardly into the ankle portion of the second bootie and around a forward portion of a throat of the second bootie, wherein the second thread group causes the second base layer to resist stretching at the ankle portion of the second bootie.

8. The interchangeable bootie system according to claim 7 , wherein the first bootie is a high-top bootie.

9. The interchangeable bootie system according to claim 7 , wherein the first bootie includes a first midsole that is more rigid the first base layer.

10. The interchangeable bootie system according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of threads of the first thread group extend from the first midsole.

11. The interchangeable bootie system according to claim 10 , wherein the second support system includes a plurality of threads collected into a third thread group extending from the medial side of the heel portion of the second bootie and upwardly into the ankle portion of the second bootie and around a rearward portion of the throat of the second bootie.

12. The interchangeable bootie system according to claim 8 , wherein each thread of the plurality of threads of the first thread group are spaced from one another a constant amount.

13. The interchangeable bootie system according to claim 7 , further comprising a third bootie configured to be inserted into the article of footwear and having:
a third base layer that has the approximate shape of a foot, wherein the third base layer includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midfoot portion disposed between the forefoot portion and the heel portion, wherein the forefoot portion, heel portion, and midfoot portion are designed to together cover the top portion and the heel portion of the wearer's foot; and
a third support system secured to the forefoot of the third base layer, wherein the third support system causes the third base layer to resist stretching at a forefoot portion of the third bootie.

14. The interchangeable bootie system according to claim 7 , wherein the first bootie and the second bootie each have a midsole that is more rigid than the base layer.

15. A kit of parts, comprising:
an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper;
a first bootie configured to be inserted into the article of footwear and including:
a first bas

Assignees

• Hatfield Tinker L
• Heard Joshua P
• Bruce Robert M
• Luedecke Tom
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hatfield Tinker L
• Heard Joshua P
• Bruce Robert M
• Luedecke Tom

Classifications

• A43B13/189

  filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water · CPC title

• A43B7/1425

  situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange · CPC title

• A43B7/1475

  characterised by the type of support · CPC title

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B3/242

  characterised by the upper · CPC title