Adjustable footwear sole construction and related methods of use

Abstract

A footwear construction including a sole and an adjustable heel element selectively rotatable about an axis of rotation to configure the heel element in a fitness mode or a stability mode. The heel element can include a ground contacting surface having a first performance contour and a second, different performance contour. In the fitness mode, the first performance contour is positioned rearward of the second performance contour to provide a rolling/rocking motion when the heel region of the footwear engages a walking surface in a gait cycle. In the stability mode, the second performance contour is positioned rearward of the first performance contour to provide a stable impact when the heel region engages a walking surface. The footwear can include an actuator to enable the heel element to rotate and locking elements to hold the heel element in a fixed rotational position. A related method of use also is provided.

1 . A footwear construction including a forefoot region, an arch region and a heel region, the footwear construction comprising:
 an upper;   a sole primary portion joined with the upper, the sole primary portion including a rearwardmost portion;   a support element joined with the sole primary portion in the heel region;   an adjustable heel element joined with the support element in the heel region, the adjustable heel element defining an axis of rotation, a first end and a second end located on opposite ends of the adjustable heel element, the adjustable heel element including a ground contacting surface having a first performance contour proximal the first end and a second performance contour proximal the second end, the first performance contour being different from the second performance contour; and   a locking element adapted to selectively engage the adjustable heel element;   wherein the adjustable heel element is selectively rotatable about an axis 180 degrees, with the adjustable heel element remaining attached to the support element during rotation, to configure the adjustable heel element in either a fitness mode or a stability mode,   wherein in the fitness mode, the first performance contour is positioned rearward of the second performance contour and proximal the rearwardmost portion of the sole primary portion, whereby the first performance contour is positioned to provide at least one of a rolling motion and rocking motion when the heel region engages a walking surface in a wearer's natural gait cycle,   wherein in the stability mode, the second performance contour is positioned rearward of the first performance contour and proximal the rearwardmost portion of the sole primary portion, whereby the second performance contour is positioned to provide a stable engagement when the heel region engages the walking surface in a wearer's natural gait cycle,   wherein the locking element selectively engages the adjustable heel element when the adjustable heel element is in at least one of the fitness mode and the stability mode to prevent the adjustable heel element from rotating about the axis in use.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear construction of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable heel element includes a first material of a first durometer and a second material of a second durometer different from the first durometer, whereby the adjustable heel element compresses near the first end differently than the adjustable heel element compresses near the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear construction of  claim 2  wherein the first durometer is 35 to 50 on an Asker C Scale, and wherein the second durometer is 60 to 70 on the Asker C Scale, whereby the first material offers more cushion effect than the second material to a wearer's heel within the footwear when the heel region engages the walking surface in a wearer's natural gait cycle. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear construction of  claim 3  comprising an actuator joined with at least one of the sole primary portion and the support element, the actuator being manually depressible without the use of tools, wherein the actuator is adapted to disengage the adjustable heel element when the actuator is depressed to enable the adjustable heel element to rotate about the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear construction of  claim 4  wherein the adjustable heel element includes a first recess proximal the first end and a second recess proximal the second end, wherein the actuator is selectively registerable in the first recess or the second recess. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear construction of  claim 5  wherein one of the support element and the adjustable heel element defines an aperture, wherein the other of the support element and the adjustable heel element includes a plurality of flexible tabs including heads, wherein the flexible tabs are at least partially inserted in the aperture, wherein the heads lockingly engage a rim around the aperture to prevent the adjustable heel element from being manually removed from the support element. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear construction of  claim 1  comprising a biasing element joined with at least one of the support element and the adjustable heel element, the biasing element urging the adjustable heel element toward the support element. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear construction of  claim 1  wherein the first performance contour proximal the first end includes a first curvilinear ground contacting surface, and wherein the second performance characteristic proximal the second end includes a second curvilinear ground contacting surface, the first curvilinear ground contacting surface being different from the second curvilinear ground contacting surface. 
     
     
         9 . A footwear construction including a forefoot region, an arch region and a heel region, the footwear construction comprising:
 an upper;   a sole including an adjustable heel element positioned in the heel region, the adjustable heel element defining an axis of rotation, a first end and a second end located on opposite ends of the adjustable heel element, the adjustable heel element including a ground contacting surface having a first performance contour proximal the first end and a second performance contour proximal the second end, the first performance contour being different from the second performance contour, the adjustable heel element being selectively rotatable about an axis in 180 degree increments, with the adjustable heel element remaining attached to the sole during rotation, to configure the adjustable heel element in either a fitness mode or a stability mode; and   an actuator joined with the sole, the actuator being manually moveable without the use of tools, wherein the actuator is adapted to disengage the adjustable heel element when the actuator is moved to enable the adjustable heel element to rotate about the axis of rotation, the actuator further adapted to engage the adjustable heel element to prevent the adjustable heel element from rotating when the adjustable heel element is in at least one of the fitness mode and the stability mode,   wherein in the fitness mode, the first performance contour is positioned rearward of the second performance contour, wherein the first performance contour includes a first curvilinear ground contacting bottom surface, whereby the first performance contour is positioned to provide at least one of a rolling motion and rocking motion when the heel region engages a walking surface in a wearer's natural gait cycle,   wherein in the stability mode, the second performance contour is positioned rearward of the first performance contour, whereby the second performance contour is positioned to provide a stable engagement when the heel region engages the walking surface in a wearer's natural gait cycle.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  comprising a locking element, wherein the locking element selectively engages the adjustable heel element when the adjustable heel element is in at least one of the fitness mode and the stability mode to prevent the adjustable heel element from rotating about the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  wherein the adjustable heel element includes a first material, a second material of a different durometer from the first material, and an upper plate constructed from a third material different from the first and second materials. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  wherein the actuator is in the form of a tab that is manually depressible, the tab being selectively located in a recess defined by the adjustable heel element to lock the adjustable heel element in the fitness mode. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  comprising a bumper located at least partially in a cushioning material located in the adjustable heel element. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  comprising a coil spring urging the adjustable heel element toward the sole 
     
     
         15 . The footwear construction of  claim 14  wherein the sole and adjustable heel element include corresponding locking elements, wherein the coil spring is adapted to hold the corresponding locking elements in registration with one another. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  comprising a plurality of tabs joined with one of the adjustable heel element and the sole, and an aperture defined by the other of the adjustable heel element and the sole, wherein the flexible tabs are at least partially inserted in the aperture and prevent the adjustable heel element from being manually removed from the sole. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using footwear including a forefoot region, an arch region and a heel region, the method comprising:
 providing footwear including a sole and an adjustable heel element positioned in the heel region, the adjustable heel element defining an axis of rotation, a first end and a second end located on opposite ends of the adjustable heel element, the adjustable heel element including a ground contacting surface having a first performance contour proximal the first end and a second performance contour proximal the second end, the first performance contour being different from the second performance contour, the adjustable heel element being configured in a stability mode so that the second performance contour is positioned rearward of the first performance contour, whereby the second performance contour is positioned to provide a stable engagement when the heel region engages the walking surface in a wearer's natural gait cycle;   moving an actuator without the use of tools so that the actuator disengages the adjustable heel element;   exerting a moment about the axis of rotation to overcome a locking action provided by a locking element joined with at least one of the adjustable heel element and the sole;   selectively rotating the adjustable heel element about the axis 180 degrees with the adjustable heel element remaining attached to the sole during said rotation to reconfigure the adjustable heel element from the stability mode to a fitness mode so that the first performance contour is positioned rearward of the second performance contour, wherein the first performance contour includes a first curvilinear ground contacting bottom surface, whereby the first performance contour is positioned to provide at least one of a rolling motion and rocking motion when the heel region engages a walking surface in a wearer's natural gait cycle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the adjustable heel element defines a recess, wherein the actuator is a tab, wherein the moving step includes removing the tab from the recess. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the a plurality of tabs are joined with one of the adjustable heel element and the sole, and an aperture is defined by the other of the adjustable heel element and the sole, wherein the flexible tabs are at least partially inserted in the aperture and prevent the adjustable heel element from being removed from the sole during said rotating step. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the adjustable heel element includes a bumper, wherein the bumper is transitioned from a location rearward of the axis of rotation to a location forward of the axis of rotation during said rotating step.