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  Chassis for footwear and method of making footwearUSPTO Application #: 20070240333Title: Chassis for footwear and method of making footwear Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a chassis having an upper side and a lower side. At least one outsole component is attached to the lower side of the chassis, at least one midsole component is attached to the upper side of the chassis, and an upper is attached to the chassis. At least one opening extends through the chassis from the upper side to the lower side which is unobstructed by the outsole and midsole components. The openings allow for air circulation and water drainage. The chassis is comprised of multiple sub-frames that can be independently fastened to the other footwear components. (end of abstract) Agent: Greer, Burns & Crain - Chicago, IL, US Inventors: Tuan Le, Barry McGeough, Angel Martinez, Dindo Daquioag USPTO Applicaton #: 20070240333 - Class: 03603000R (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070240333. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE [0001] This application claims priority from co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 60/791,679 filed Apr. 12, 2006 and 60/812,287 filed Jun. 9, 2006, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to footwear, and particularly to a framework support structure or chassis for footwear. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Conventional footwear includes a sole and an upper that is sewn, tacked, cemented or otherwise attached to the sole. Conventional shoe soles comprise one or more generally flat, planar layers of leather, rubber or synthetic materials, e.g., ethyl vinyl acetate. Sole structures for active footwear typically comprise multiple sole layers, including an outsole having traction and wear properties, a midsole having energy absorption properties, and an insole or sockliner for providing cushioning for the wearer's foot. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] An article of footwear comprises a chassis having an upper side and a lower side. At least one opening and preferably multiple openings are defined in the chassis. The chassis forms a structural framework for the article of footwear. At least one and preferably multiple discrete outsole components are attached to the lower side of the chassis. Openings or gaps are provided in the outsole components or between outsole components. At least one midsole component is provided for cushioning, and is attached to the upper side of the chassis. Openings, gaps or spaces are provided within and between the midsole components. The gaps or openings in the chassis, outsole and midsole components are at least partially aligned with one another to provide a fluid flow path for air circulation and water drainage. At least one upper component, for example sandal straps, is attached to the chassis. A toe guard may also be attached to the chassis and extends up and over at least a portion of the toes of the user. [0005] A method of manufacturing the article of footwear comprises forming the chassis of multiple sub-frame members, including a main sub-frame and a plurality of minor sub-frames. The midsole component(s) are attached to an upper side of the main sub-frame. The upper components are attached to the minor sub-frames in an operation separate from the step of attaching the midsole components to the main sub-frame. Next, the minor sub-frames are mechanically and adhesively joined to the main sub-frame. Finally, the outsole component(s) are attached to a lower side of the main sub-frame. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of an article of footwear of the present invention; [0007] FIG. 2 is a top, front perspective view of a chassis frame of the article of footwear of FIG. 1; [0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom, front perspective view of the chassis of FIG. 2; [0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded assembly view of a sole assembly of the article of footwear of FIG. 1; [0010] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the article of footwear; [0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and [0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] In contrast to conventional footwear having one or more generally flat, planar layers, the present disclosure provides a structural framework, i.e., a chassis, onto which selected components are attached. The framework is preferably three-dimensional, i.e., non-planar (not flat), and provides the structural support for other components of the footwear. [0014] Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, one preferred embodiment of a chassis 10 for an article of footwear 22 is illustrated. Chassis 10 comprises a plurality of sub-frame structures 11, and numbered 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, which are joined together to form the support structure for the article of footwear 22. The chassis 10 is preferably three-dimensional, having (in a top plan view) an exterior outline generally corresponding to a human foot. Each sub-frame may be comprised of one or more frame members that are integrally molded together, or alternatively, separately formed and secured together to form the sub-frame. Because the chassis comprises sub-frames each of which is comprised of one or more frame members, each frame member can be designed, sized and located to provide desired structural and/or biomechanical functions. [0015] The chassis 10 performs multiple functions in the article of footwear 22. Similar to an automobile chassis, chassis 10 is the structural framework upon which the footwear 22 is constructed. It lends structural integrity to the footwear 22. As will be described with respect to FIG. 4, the chassis 10 provides the structure upon which the other footwear components are mounted, including for example, outsole components, an upper, straps, arch support pads, cushions, toe guard and other footwear components. The chassis provides bio-mechanical properties such as a propulsive energy return, pronation and supination control, and otherwise stabilizes the foot during one's gait. Chassis 10 preferably has an open structure or otherwise comprises one or more openings which provide for fluid flow into and out of the foot receiving interior 22 of the footwear, thereby increasing airflow to the wearer's foot and allowing for drainage of water from the interior. The open structure also decreases the weight of the footwear. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein includes these features, other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims may have less than all features. [0016] The chassis 10 includes a forefoot portion 14, a heel portion 16, a medial side 18 and a lateral side 20 corresponding to the forefoot, heel, medial and lateral sides of the wearer's foot. As best seen in FIG. 2, a main sub-frame 13 extends a majority of the length of the chassis 10, from the forefoot portion 14 to the heel portion 16. In the preferred embodiment, the main sub-frame 13 does not extend the full length of the article of footwear 22, but extends substantially into the forefoot and heel regions of the footwear. However, it is contemplated that the chassis 10 can extend the full length of the article of footwear 22. [0017] Preferably, minor sub-frames 15 and 17 are located at the medial side 18 and the lateral side 20 of the forefoot portion 14, respectively, and minor sub-frames 19, 21 are located at the medial side and the lateral side of the heel portion 16, respectively. While the preferred embodiment has four minor sub-frames 15, 17, 19, 21 at the four specified locations, alternative numbers and arrangements of sub-frames are contemplated. The sub-frames 15, 17, 19, 21 are preferably adapted for attachment of straps that comprise the upper portion of the footwear, as described below. [0018] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the sub-frame structures 11 may include discrete frame members or ribs 12, which may be separately or integrally formed with the other portions of the sub-frame. Preferably, the main sub-frame 13 extends between the forefoot 14 and heel portions 16 of the footwear. The frame members or ribs 12 provide structural support to the sub-frame. Relatively thinner planar members 25 may extend between frame members 12. Further, the relatively thinner and more flexible planar members 25 preferably extend from the frame members 12 towards the forefoot portion 14 and the heel portions 16. Continue reading... Full patent description for Chassis for footwear and method of making footwear Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Chassis for footwear and method of making footwear patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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