Team shoe set with differing soles

Abstract

A set of shoes for use by members of a team. The shoes allow for a uniform appearance in a team environment while providing an individualized sole unit. The shoes of the set have matched uppers and differing sole designs. The sole designs may differ based on cushioning type used in the midsole or may differ based on the outsole of the shoe. The matched upper, which may be color matched, provides a uniform appearance for the team. The individualized sole of each shoe takes into account comfort, performance and/or safety preferences for each player.

1 . A team set of shoes comprising: 
 a first pair of shoes and a second pair of shoes;    the first pair of shoes having an upper and sole;    the second pair of shoes having an upper and a sole;    wherein the first and second pairs of shoes have matched uppers and the sole of the first pair is different from the sole of the second pair;    wherein the sole of the first pair includes a first cushioning type and the sole of the second pair includes a second cushioning type, different from the first cushioning type.    
     
     
         2 . The team set of shoes of  claim 1  further comprising a third pair of shoes, the third pair of shoes having an upper and a sole, wherein the upper of the third pair of shoes is matched to the upper of the first and second pairs of shoes.  
     
     
         3 . The team set of shoes of  claim 2  wherein the sole of the third pair of shoes includes a third cushioning type, wherein the third cushioning type is different from the first and second cushioning types.  
     
     
         4 . The team set of shoes of  claim 3 , wherein the first pair of shoes includes a first outsole and the second pair of shoes includes a second outsole and wherein the first and second outsole are different.  
     
     
         5 . The team set of shoes of  claim 1 , wherein the upper of the first pair of shoes and the upper of the second pair of shoes are color matched.  
     
     
         6 . The team set of shoes of  claim 5 , wherein the upper of the first pair of shoes and the upper of the second pair of shoes are of identical designs.  
     
     
         7 . The team set of shoes of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pairs of shoes are contained in a kit.  
     
     
         8 . The team set of shoes of  claim 1  further comprising at least five pairs of shoes, each of the five pairs having an upper and a sole unit, wherein the upper of each of the five pairs is matched and wherein the soles of the five pairs comprise at least two different cushioning types.  
     
     
         9 . The team set of shoes of  claim 8  wherein the soles of three of the five pairs include different cushioning types, and wherein the uppers of all five of the pairs are color matched.  
     
     
         10 . The team set of shoes of  claim 8  wherein one of the cushioning types is a column type.  
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a set of shoes to multiple players on a team, the method comprising: 
 identifying a midsole cushioning type for multiple players on the team;    providing a set of shoes having matched uppers and differing sole designs based on the identified midsole cushioning types.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the providing step further includes providing at least three pairs of shoes having matched uppers and differing sole designs based on the identified midsole cushioning types.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of identifying the matched design for an upper based on properties relating to the team,  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the providing step further includes providing at the least three pairs of shoes with different outsole designs.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the providing step further includes providing at least five pairs of shoes having matched uppers and including soles having at least two different cushioning types.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein one of the cushioning types is a column type cushioning system and a second one of the cushioning types is a bladder type cushioning system.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing step further includes providing at least five pairs of shoes having matched uppers and including soles having at least three different cushioning types.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing step includes providing the set of shoes together in a common carrier.  
     
     
         19 . A team set of shoes comprising: at least three pairs of shoes, each pair of shoes having an upper and a sole, the pairs having a color matched upper with similar panel designs, and the sole of each pair having a different cushioning type from the sole unit of the other two pairs.  
     
     
         20 . The team set of shoes of  claim 19 , wherein each of the pairs of shoes further includes an outsole configured for use in the sport of basketball.