Footwear outsole

Abstract

A footwear outsole is provided. The footwear outsole includes a chassis, a plurality of openings formed within the chassis, the plurality of openings includes at least a first opening and a second opening, and a plurality of inserts configured to be removably received within the plurality of openings. The plurality of inserts includes at least a first insert and a second insert, where the first insert is configured to be received within the first opening, and the second insert is configured to be received within the second opening. The first insert has a first coefficient of friction to provide a first surface property in a first outsole location, and the second insert has a second coefficient of friction to provide a second surface property in a second outsole location, where the second coefficient of friction is different than the first coefficient of friction. The first and second inserts each include a mechanical faster to removably secure the first and second inserts respectively in the first and second openings.

1 . A footwear outsole comprising:
 a chassis;   a plurality of openings formed within the chassis, the plurality of openings including at least a first opening and a second opening;   a plurality of inserts configured to be removably received within the plurality of openings, the plurality of inserts including at least a first insert and a second insert, wherein the first insert is configured to be received within the first opening, and the second insert is configured to be received within the second opening;   wherein the first insert has a first coefficient of friction to provide a first surface property in a first outsole location, and the second insert has a second coefficient of friction to provide a second surface property in a second outsole location, wherein the second coefficient of friction is different than the first coefficient of friction; and   wherein the first and second inserts each include a mechanical faster to removably secure the first and second inserts respectively in the first and second openings.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener on each of the first and second inserts includes a tongue, and wherein each of the first and second openings in the chassis includes a mating mechanical fastener, wherein the tongue is configured to be slidably received within the mating mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear outsole of  claim 2 , wherein the mating mechanical fastener on each of the first and second openings is a groove configured to receive the tongue. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear outsole of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the grooves extends from a medial side of the footwear outsole through to a lateral side of the footwear outsole. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert comprises:
 a first layer which includes the mechanical fastener to removably secure the first insert to the first opening; and   a second layer secured to the first layer, wherein the second layer is made of a slide or traction material.   
     
     
         6 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis extends from a forefoot region to a heel region, and wherein the first opening and first insert are located in the heel region of the chassis, and the second opening and second insert are located in the forefoot region of the chassis. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear outsole of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of openings further includes a third opening located in a forefoot region of the chassis, and wherein the plurality of inserts includes a third insert configured to be removably received within the third opening, wherein the third insert has a third coefficient of friction to provide a third surface property in a third outsole location. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear outsole of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of openings further includes a fourth opening located in the forefoot region of the chassis, and wherein the plurality of inserts includes a fourth insert configured to be removably received within the fourth opening, wherein the fourth insert has a fourth coefficient of friction to provide a fourth surface property in a fourth outsole location. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert includes a slide or traction pad, such as a microfiber material, rubber, split suede leather, nubuck leather, and/or a non-woven fiber board. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). 
     
     
         11 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert has a coefficient of friction that enables a user wearing the footwear outsole to push along the first outsole location, and wherein the second insert has a coefficient of friction that enables a user wearing the footwear outsole to slide along the second outsole location. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inserts are substantially disc-shaped inserts that include at least one flange, and wherein each of the first and second openings in the chassis includes a mating mechanical fastener, and wherein the disc-shaped inserts are configured to be rotatably received within the matching mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear outsole of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second openings in the chassis are substantially circular and wherein the mating mechanical fastener on each of the first and second openings includes a receptacle with at least one engagement surface configured to couple with the at least one flange on a disc-shaped insert. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis extends from a forefoot region to a heel region, and wherein the first opening and first insert are located in the heel region of the chassis, and the second opening and second insert are located in the forefoot region of the chassis. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear outsole of  claim 14 , wherein there are a plurality of disc-shaped inserts configured to be rotatably received within a plurality of receptacles in the forefoot region of the chassis. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear outsole of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism to selectively lock the position of the first and second inserts respectively in the first and second opening. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear outsole of  claim 14 , further comprising a push button configured to unlock the locking mechanism to selectively unlock the position of the first and second inserts in the first and second openings so that a user can remove the first and second inserts from the openings. 
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising a pair of footwear outsoles recited in  claim 1 , including a right footwear and a left footwear, in combination with at least four inserts configured to be removably received within the plurality of openings, the at least four inserts having a plurality of coefficients of frictions such that a user can select the first and second inserts based upon the desired surface properties, wherein the coefficient of friction for the inserts in the right footwear are different than the coefficient of friction for the inserts in the left footwear.