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  Impact-attenuating elements removably mounted in footwear or other productsUSPTO Application #: 20060112592Title: Impact-attenuating elements removably mounted in footwear or other products Abstract: Impact-attenuating elements include a plurality of impact-attenuating members and a means for releasably securing the impact-attenuating element to at least one of the upper member or the sole member of a piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device. The impact-attenuating elements may be included in the footwear or other foot-receiving devices in a selectively removable manner so that a user, retailer, or another can customize and freely select an appropriate element, e.g., depending on user preferences, characteristics of the user, characteristics of the intended use, and the like. (end of abstract) Agent: Banner & Witcoff - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Gregory Ross Leedy, Anthony Carl Dean USPTO Applicaton #: 20060112592 - Class: 036029000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Soles, Cushion, Pneumatic The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060112592. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates generally to impact-attenuating elements, products containing them, and methods of using them. Such elements may be provided in a wide variety of different products, e.g., in footwear products or other foot-receiving devices, such as in the heel and/or toe areas of footwear products. BACKGROUND [0002] Conventional articles of athletic footwear have included two primary elements, namely, an upper member and a sole member structure. The upper member provides at least a partial covering for the foot that securely receives and positions the foot with respect to the sole structure. In addition, the upper member may have structures and a configuration that protect the foot and provide ventilation, thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration. The sole structure generally is secured to a lower portion of the upper member and generally is positioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces (i.e., imparting cushioning), the sole structure may provide traction and help control foot motions, such as pronation. Accordingly, the upper member and the sole structure operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a variety of ambulatory activities, such as walking and running. [0003] The sole member or structure of athletic footwear generally has exhibited a layered configuration that includes a comfort-enhancing insole, a resilient midsole (e.g., formed from a polymer foam material), and a ground-contacting outsole that provides both abrasion-resistance and traction. The midsole typically is the primary sole structure element that attenuates ground reaction forces and controls foot motions. Suitable polymer foam materials for the midsole include ethylvinylacetate or polyurethane that compress resiliently under an applied load to attenuate ground reaction forces. [0004] Conventional polymer foam materials are resiliently compressible, in part, due to the inclusion of a plurality of open or closed cells that define an inner volume substantially displaced by gas. [0005] As noted above, various ground reaction force attenuating elements and systems have been known, including such elements and systems for use in footwear products including athletic footwear products. Conventionally, the structure, feel, and characteristics of such elements and systems are selected by a footwear manufacturer, and these elements and systems (as well as their associated characteristics) are permanently fixed in the footwear products once the footwear products are made. Each individual footwear user, however, possesses unique characteristics that affect their physical fitness or training regimes, such as weight, foot size, type of workout or exercise performed, stride or gait characteristics (e.g., a pronation or supination tendency), personal tastes and preferences, etc. Therefore, this "one size fits all" approach to footwear design and production can lead to uncomfortable fits and/or limited sales due to the failure of the footwear products to match the conditions or characteristics desired and/or preferred by users. [0006] Accordingly, it would be useful to provide footwear products or other foot-receiving devices that are readily customizable to a user's tastes and specifications, e.g., based on the user's immediate needs and/or the characteristics he/she desires in the footwear product or other foot-receiving device in general and/or at a given time. SUMMARY [0007] The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of at least some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below. [0008] Aspects of this invention relate to impact-attenuating elements and products in which they are used (such as footwear, other foot-receiving devices, and the like). Impact-attenuating elements in accordance with at least some example aspects of this invention may include, for example: (a) a first base member; (b) optionally a second base member; and (c) a plurality of impact-attenuating members. The impact-attenuating members may be engaged with the first and/or second base members to provide an integral structure and/or they may be at least partially provided between the first and second base members. At least one of the first base member, the second base member, and/or the impact-attenuating members may include a means for releasably securing the impact-attenuating element to a foot-receiving device (e.g., to an upper member, a sole member, and/or the like). [0009] Impact-attenuating elements, e.g., of the type described above, may be included in pieces of footwear and/or other foot-receiving devices (e.g., athletic shoes) in accordance with additional aspects of this invention. Such pieces of footwear or foot-receiving devices may include, inter alia: (a) an upper member; (b) a sole member engaged (directly or indirectly) with the upper member (e.g., at least in a toe area); and (c) an impact-attenuating element included as part of the sole member and/or the upper member and/or provided between the upper member and at least a portion of the sole member (e.g., at least in the heel area). In at least some examples, the impact-attenuating element may be attached to or included as a part of at least one of the upper member or the sole member. The impact-attenuating element may include a plurality of impact-attenuating members and a means for releasably securing the impact-attenuating element to at least one of a portion of the upper member or a portion of the sole member. [0010] Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods for including impact-attenuating elements in products, such as in pieces of footwear or other foot-receiving devices. Such methods may include, for example: (a) providing an upper member and a sole member of a foot-receiving device; and (b) releasably engaging an impact-attenuating element with at least one of the upper member or the sole member. The impact-attenuating element may include a plurality of impact-attenuating members and a means for releasably securing the impact-attenuating element to at least one of a portion of the upper member or a portion of the sole member. In at least some examples of the invention, the impact-attenuating element will be releasably engaged at a heel area of the foot-receiving device, although it may be engaged in other areas without departing from the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: [0012] FIGS. 1A and 1B provide perspective views of an example impact-attenuating element in accordance with one example of this invention; [0013] FIGS. 2 through 8 illustrate various examples of structures used for releasably securing an impact-attenuating element to a foot-receiving device; [0014] FIGS. 9A through 9C illustrate additional details of an example turnbuckle type system for releasably engaging an impact-attenuating element to a portion of a foot-receiving device; and [0015] FIGS. 10A through 10C illustrate additional details of an example clip or clasp type system for releasably engaging an impact-attenuating element to a portion of a foot-receiving device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] In the following description of various examples of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example systems and environments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example systems, and environments may be utilized, and that structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms "top," "bottom," "side," "front," "rear," and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention. [0017] To assist the reader, this specification is broken into various subsections, as follows: Terms; General Description of Impact-Attenuating Elements According to Examples of the Invention; Specific Examples of the Invention; and Conclusion. A. Terms [0018] The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings provided below. Continue reading... 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