US 7,461,470 B2
Shoe footbed system and method with interchangeable cartridges
Alexander Dardinski, Newburyport, Mass. (US); John Healy, Madbury, N.H. (US); Peter Dillon, Topsfield, Mass. (US); David E. Miller, Dayton, Me. (US); Simon Luthi, Lake Oswego, Oreg. (US); Charles Kraeuter, Lake Oswego, Oreg. (US); and Douglas E. Clark, Durham, N.H. (US)
Assigned to The Timberland Company, Stratham, N.H. (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/259,587.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/667970, filed on Apr. 04, 2005.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/623475, filed on Oct. 29, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0107553 A1, May 25, 2006
Int. Cl. A43B 3/24 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 36—100  [36/30 R; 36/97] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cartridge system kit for adjusting sizing in an article of footwear, the kit comprising:
a footbed having a forefoot region and a heel region coupled to the forefoot region, the forefoot and heel regions having a first surface for supporting the wearer's foot, the forefoot region having a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface including a first connection member, the heel region having an anterior end adjacent the second surface, a posterior end opposite the anterior end and a third surface extending between the anterior and posterior ends thereof for contacting an interior surface of the article of footwear during wear, the heel region including a receptacle therein extending from an opening at the anterior end at least partly toward the posterior end, the footbed being removably insertable into the article of footwear; and
a plurality of interchangeable cartridges each having a first section adapted to mate with the forefoot region of the footbed and a second section adapted to connect to the heel region of the footbed, each cartridge including a second connection member for releasably attaching the first section of cartridge to the first connection member of the footbed and a third connection member for insertion into the receptacle of the heel region of the footbed;
wherein a user adjusts the volume available to a wearer's foot within a forefoot region of the article of footwear by selecting one of the plurality of cartridges.