Modular footwear sole systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of forming a modular footwear sole. The modular sole includes a midsole layer having a first attachment fixture disposed on at least a portion of the lower surface of the midsole layer. A heel member includes a deformable heel layer that includes a plurality of deformable elements having the same or different mechanical properties. The heel member includes a second attachment fixture that couples to the first attachment fixture. An outsole member includes a deformable outsole layer that includes a plurality of deformable elements having the same or different mechanical properties. The outsole member includes a third attachment fixture that couples to the first attachment fixture. The deformable elements may be selected based on a user's foot pressure map.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A footwear apparatus, comprising:
 a midsole member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the midsole member including a first attachment fixture disposed on the lower surface;   a heel member having a second attachment fixture to engage at least a first portion of the first attachment fixture, the second attachment fixture to maintain the heel member proximate the lower surface of the midsole member;
 wherein the heel member includes: 
 an upper heel portion; 
 a lower heel portion; and 
 a deformable heel portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion; 
   an outsole member having a third attachment fixture to engage at least a second portion of the first attachment fixture, the third attachment fixture to maintain the outsole member proximate the lower surface of the midsole member;
 wherein the outsole member includes: 
 an upper outsole portion; 
 a lower outsole portion; and 
 a deformable outsole portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upper portion couplable to the upper surface of the midsole member.   
     
     
         3 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the deformable heel portion comprises a plurality of deformable elements. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of linear or non-linear spring-mass dampers. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, each of the plurality of deformable elements formed using a material having the same mechanical properties. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, at least two of the plurality of deformable elements formed using materials having different mechanical properties. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second attachment fixture permits the detachable attachment of the heel member to the lower surface of the midsole member. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the upper surface of the heel member includes a plurality of surface features; and   wherein the lower surface of the midsole member includes a plurality of surface features complimentary to the surface features on upper surface of the heel member.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the deformable outsole portion comprises a plurality of deformable elements. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of linear and non-linear spring-mass dampers. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, each of the plurality of deformable elements formed using a material having the same mechanical properties. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, at least two of the plurality of deformable elements formed using materials having different mechanical properties. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the third attachment fixture permits the detachable attachment of the outsole member to the lower surface of the midsole member. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the upper surface of the outsole member includes a plurality of surface features; and   wherein the lower surface of the midsole member includes a plurality of surface features complimentary to the surface features on upper surface of the outsole member.   
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a footwear sole, the method comprising:
 forming a first attachment fixture on at least a portion of a lower surface of a midsole member;   coupling a heel member to a first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, the heel member having a second attachment fixture to engage at least a first portion of the first attachment fixture;
 wherein the heel member includes:
 an upper heel portion; 
 a lower heel portion; and 
 a deformable heel portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion; 
 
   coupling an outsole member to a second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, the outsole member having a third attachment fixture to engage at least a second portion of the first attachment fixture;
 wherein the outsole member includes:
 an upper outsole portion; 
 a lower outsole portion; and 
 a deformable outsole portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 coupling an upper shoe portion to at least a portion of an upper surface of the midsole member.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, wherein the deformable heel portion comprises a plurality of deformable elements. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the flexible midsole member, wherein the deformable heel portion includes the plurality of deformable elements further comprises:
 coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of linear or non-linear spring-mass dampers. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, wherein the deformable heel portion includes the plurality of deformable elements further comprises:
 coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the flexible midsole member, wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, each of the plurality of deformable elements formed using a material having the same mechanical properties. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, wherein the deformable heel portion includes the plurality of deformable elements further comprises:
 coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the flexible midsole member, wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, at least two of the plurality of deformable elements formed using materials having a different mechanical properties. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the flexible midsole member further comprises:
 detachably attaching the heel member to the lower surface of the flexible midsole member via the second attachment fixture. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the heel member to the first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 engaging a plurality of surface features disposed across at least a portion of the upper surface the heel member with a corresponding plurality of surface features disposed across at least a portion of the first portion of the lower surface of the midsole member. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the flexible midsole member, wherein the deformable outsole portion comprises a plurality of deformable elements. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the flexible midsole member, wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of linear or non-linear spring-mass dampers. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, each of the plurality of deformable elements formed using a material having the same mechanical properties. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member, wherein the plurality of deformable elements comprise a plurality of deformable elements, at least two of the plurality of deformable elements formed using materials having different mechanical properties. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 detachably attaching the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member via the third attachment fixture. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15  wherein coupling the outsole member to the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member further comprises:
 engaging a plurality of surface features disposed across at least a portion of the upper surface the outsole member with a corresponding plurality of surface features disposed across at least a portion of the second portion of the lower surface of the midsole member.