«2 United States Patent Linth et al. US 9,215,907 B2 Dec. 22, 2015 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: (54) FOOTWEAR ASSEMBLY WITH OUTSOLE HAVING AN ABRASION RESISTANT ARCH Andrew James Linth, Portland, OR (US); Aaron Barker, Portland, OR (US) (75) Inventors (73). Assignce: LaCrosse Footware, Ine. Portland, OR ws) (4) Notice: Suibjoct to any dislaimer the tem of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 US.C. 154(b) by 456 days. (21) Appl. Nos 197816201 (22) Filed: Dee. 9, 2011 ws) Prior Publication Data US 201200144701 AL Jn, 14, 2012 Related US. Application Data (0) jon No, 61/422,552, fled on Dee. (1) Ince AaB 500 (2006.01) AASB 13/04 (2006.01) AASB 1316 (2006.01), “AASB 1322 (2006.01) (2) US. cee AdBB 13223 201301); A438 S100 (2013.01); 443B 13404 2013.01); A438 13716 01301), (58) Fleld of Classification Search Pc 'AA3B 1/10, A43B 5/00; 438 5/005: "AASB 13/04; ASB 15/16; AASB 13/228, src 36/25 R, 31, 108, 107, 113 See aplication ile for complete search history. 66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS ‘5906.50 4 Gutso46 A SASt ADS A Morris tl 247251 BLE '6 2001 Iamee (6467198 BL? 102002 James ‘6xeI 284 HD 3006. Wegener B2* 1007 Adame B2* 9009 Wegener B+ 10202 Rober A* 92010, Robert * cited by examiner Hayes Moneta S69 Primary Examiner — Khoa Huyoh “Assistant Examiner — Sbaron M Prange (74) Atornes, Agent, or Firm — Perkins Coie LLP on ABSTRACT An aspect ofthe present disclosure includes footwear with 3 sole assembly including an abrasion resistant medial arch portion, In vatious embodiments, a sole assembly can include {primary portion extending across lnteral, toe, and hes] ‘gions of the sole assembly, and a secondary portion at 2 ‘ei arch region ofthe sole assembly. The primary portion ca elude ‘compound having a fist durometer snd the rion eam inclide a second conponind having 3 neter higher than the frst durometer. Adition- ally, the sole assembly can include a dam portion spaced between the primary and secondary portions. The dam pot tion can include sidewalls that frm a recess configured ta the fst compound from the second eompotnd, 13 Claims, 3 Drawing SheetsUS 9,215,907 B2 Sheet 1 of 3 Dec. 22, 2015 U.S, PatentU.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 2 of 3 US 9,215,907 B2U.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 3 of 3 US 9,215,907 B2US 9,215,907 B2 1 FOOTWEAR ASSEMBLY WITH OUTSOLE HAVING AN ABRASION RESISTANT ARCH (CROSS-REPERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/422,582, fled Dee. 13, 2010, andl incor- porated herein by reference in its entirety ‘TECHNICAL FIELD ‘The present technology is directed to footwear, and more particularly to footwear with sole assemblies having abrasion resistant portions and methods of making the same. BACKGROUND Fast-roping is a method of exiting an aircraft, such as a helicopter, while the aireraft hovers above the ground. This ‘deployment method is often used by military personnel and Special Forces when ground fre, poor conditions, andior oor tein prevent helicopters from landing. During a fst- roping deployment, a rope is extend from helicopter and person quickly descends the rope using his or her handsand eet as resents. No hamesses,earabinoers, of other ext neous equipment beyond gloves are used while fast-roping. Accordingly, the person can quiekly release and move away fom the rope once on the ground, so as to avoid interfering with others descending slong the same rope. ‘This allows several peopleto simultaneously descend along the samerspe ‘hile being spaced apar from each other. Thus, fst-roping is particularly useful for quickly deploying troops in hazardous ‘environments ‘Without additional restints or braking mechanisms fis roping ean create a lange amount of heat and friction on & fastroper’s gloves and shoes and thus, wear on any material that contacts the rope. I is desirable to provide footwear that ‘can withstand the hea, friction, and abrasive wea typically ‘encountered during fist roping, and substantially without leaving any residue oa the rope. Any such residue le on @ rope from gloves and shoes ean eause the rope to become ‘more slippery overtime or otherwise wearing the rope faster than desired. For example, some agencies instruct the fast ropers 10 n0t grip the rope with their feet during descent bowattse shoe polish and leather on boots can ub onto the rope, thereby changing the frictional characteristics of the rope overtime. However itis often beneficial for fast-ropers to use ther feet o provide wldvional strength and beaking oF speed control capabilities during descent. Thus, it would be ‘advantageous to have footwear that can withstand the rigors ‘of fst-roping without leaving residue on the rope, while also being suitable for oer use, such as hiking, running, climb- ing etc. afer dhe person has descended he rope. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. FIG. 1 is mesial side elevational view of a boot having 3 sole assembly with an abrasion resistant portion in accor ‘dance with an embodiment ofthe new weehnology. TFIG. 2 is an enlarged partial bottom plan view of a sole ‘assembly having an abrasion resistant portion in aecordance ‘with an embodiment of the new technology. FIG, 3 san isometric view of fast-roper Wearing a boot having a sole assembly with an abrasion gesistant portion ia ‘acconiance with sn embodiment of the disclosure, 0 o 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION ‘The present disclosure is directed toward Footwear with sole assemblies that include abrasion resistant portions at a ‘medial arch region ofthe sole assembly and associated meth- fds of manufacture, Several specific details ofthe new tech- ‘ology are set forth in the following description and the Figures to provide # thorough understanding of certain ‘embodiments ofthe technology. Additionally, many of the dimensions, angles, and other features shown inthe Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the tech- nology. One skilled inthe ar, however, will understand that the new technology may have ational embodiments, and that other embodiments of the technology may be practiced ‘without several a the specie features described below. Embodiments of the new technology are directed to foot- ‘wear having an upper attached toa sole assembly. FIG. Lisa medial side view ofa boot assembly 100 in accordance with ‘an embodiment ofthe new technology. Although the follow ing description of the embodiments refers 1 boot, the preset chology aps fo the upper of thr ps "As shosen in FIG, 1 the illustrated hoot 100 asa upper 102 attached to a sole assembly 104 via sitehing, gluing. iret ataching, and/or other suitable fastening methods. The upper 102 can inelude leather, nylon, cloth, and/or other ‘materialsor combination of materials suitable for uppers 102 and associated liners “The sole assembly 104 ofthe illustrated embodiment can include a primary portion 106 made ofa first material and a dlferent secondary portion 108 made ofa second material. The secondary portion 108 can cover mesial arch region 110, of the sole assembly 104, while the primary portion 106 can cover the remainder ofthe sole assembly 104, including the fareas ofthe sole that engage the ground while walking, rane ning, hiking, climbing et. The fist material atthe primary portion 106 can havea first durometer andthe second material atthe secondary portion 108 can have a second durometer higher than the first durometer Forexample, the is material «an bea rubber compound tt provides god traction forthe primary ground-engaging surface ofthe sole, while the sec- ‘ond material can be made from a highly abrasion resistant rubber compound configured for engagement with « rope ‘during fst oping, The secondary portion 108 can, therefore, provide a substantially abrasion resistant surface that ean ‘withstand high levels of fetion and heat. A fasteoper, for ‘example, can use the secondary portion 108 forbraking when descending a rope without degrading the secondary portion 108 and without leaving reside on the rope or degrading the rope overtime. ‘As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the secondary portion 108 can extend upward along medial side fof the upper 102. The extended secondary portion 108 can provide a large area around the arch portion fr eantactng the rope and reduce the Fikelihood that other portions ofthe boot assembly 100 (e.g. the upper 102) will contact the rope ‘during fstroping descent. Accordingly, the secondary por ‘ion 108 is configured the engage the ope ancl to isolate the upper or other portions ofthe Boot from engaging the rope during fastroping. ‘This construction can allow leather, faylon, or other materials to be used for the upper that other: ‘wise would not be suitable for wse in fastroping boot. Adkliionally, the secondary portion 108 can be shaped to {orm a contact region 112 between a bottom surface 114 of the sole assembly 104 and the upper 102. The contact region 112 can include a relatively sharp edge (e.g, 90") between bottom surfee and asidewallsurlace that can engage the ropeUS 9,215,907 B2 3 to help provide the fast-oper with better contol of the descent Tn other embodiments the contact region 112 ean include a relatively smooth recess or other contoured area shaped and sized to receive the rope and provide a greater surlace ara for engagement with the rope t Fclitate descent down the rope. In another embodiment, the contact region {112can include arounded transition area between thebottom surface andthe sidewall surface of the sole assembly, such thatthe rounded transition area can glide over the rope, andor ‘another suitable configuration that eaa sid vertieal inset ‘ofthe rope during descent FIG. 2 a partial bottom plan view of the sole assembly 104 shown in FIG. 1 and configored in accordance with an ‘emboviment ofthe new technology. The primary portion 106 ‘ofthe sole assembly 104.can extend aeros the majority ofthe shoe. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the primary portion 106 can extend over a lateral region 116, forefoot region 118, and/or heel region 120. The secondary portion 108 can ‘extend across the medial arch region 110, In some embod ‘ments, the primary portion 106 can make up approximately 90M% ofthe sole assembly 104 and the secondary portion 108 ‘can make up approximately 10%. ln other embodiments, the secondary portion 108 can extend beyond the medial arch region 110, across a greater portion of the sole assembly 104 to provide a larger surface area for contacting the rope. For ‘example, inthe embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the second ‘ary portion 108 extends rearwardly from the medial arch region 110 and into part of the heel region 120. In this ‘embodiment, the heel wpion hasan elevated heel, a portion of Which forms the rear part ofthe secondary portion. This art ‘ofthe elevated heel inthe secondary portion 108 provides a structure extending from the medial arch region 110 (eg. approximately perpendictlar to the medial arch region) that the wearer ean use to engage the rope during fast roping. ln ‘other embodiments, the secondary portion 108 can extend parially into the forefoot portion just forward of the medial arch region 110. As discussed above, the primary and secondary portions 106and 108 aremade From materials having dierent durom- ‘eters. The primary portion 106 can be made from one or more materials thot provide beneficial traction properties. Por ‘example, the primary portion 106 can be a synthetic rubber ‘compound andor another material that provides adequate tesction and support. In some embostiments, the primary por tion 106 include a plurality of materials located a diferent parts of the sole assembly 104, For example, the primary Portion 106 can include one material a the lateral region 116 and a different material tthe frefoot and hool regions 118 and 120. ‘The secondary portion 168 is made froma materia that has ‘higher durometer than the material atthe primary portion 106, such that the secondary portion 108 can withstand fric= tion and facilitate the use of the person’s feet while fast- roping. Suitable materials forthe secondary portion 108 can have a Shore A value between approximately $5 and 75, inclusive, but the secondary portion 108 can also include materials having a Shore A valve above 90, For example, the secondary portion 108 can be made from a robber compound with a low carbon component, synthetic neoprene, a V4 ‘compound, andor other suitable materials with sufficient hardness and abrasion resistance for fast-roping. Addition- ally the materials used for the seondary portion 108 ean also withstand high temperatures such that the secondary portion 108 will not substantively degrade when fiction increase the temperature ofthe material during descent. The material of 0 o 4 the secondary portion 108s also configured so that twill ot excessively wear, fay, cul, or othenvise degrade the rope uring fast-coping, TInembodiments of the preseat technology, the sole assem bly 104 caa be an outsole made up of the primary aad sec- ondary portions 106 and 108 discussed above. In other embodiments, the sole assembly 104 ean have s multipart construction with an outsole, # midsole andr an insole, ‘wherein the outsole comprises the primary and secondary portions 196 and 108, The outsole is coupled 10 a conven: ‘ional midsole and/or insole. Ia other embodiments, primary andor secondary portions can be formed by one o more portions ofthe outsole and the midsole In the illustrated embodiment, the sole assembly 104 is formed by eo-molding the primary portion 106 ancl the sec- ‘ondary portion 108, For example, both the fist and second ‘materials ean be placed in a selected mold that ean then be lose, and heat and pressure ean be applied to the materials i the mold, causing the (wo materials to co-mold aad fo the sole assembly 104 described above. In some emboli ‘ments, thesole assembly 104 canbe vuleanized after molding to make the sole assembly 104 more dumble. In other embodiments, the materials of the primary and secondary portions 106 and 198 canbe injection molded, bonded, and/or btherwise joined together using other suitable methods for ‘orming sole assemblies. Tn the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, he sole assembly 104 further includes a dam 122 separating the primary and secondary portions 106 and 108 of the sole assembly 104. The dam 122 can have sidewalls 124 that form a cess 126 sepa- rating the different materials i the primary and sooondary portions 106 and 108, The dam 122 can help prevent the ‘materials from mixing together along the exterior surface of the sole assembly 104 during manufacture. For example, the ‘dun 122 can prevent compound migration when the primary portion 106 is c-mnolded with the secondary portion 108 ‘Asshown i FIG. 2, the sole assembly 104 can also inehude 1 plurality of lugs 128 spaced apart from one another across the primary portion 106 to increase tection during we o the boot before oF after fast-rping. In the illustrated embodi- ‘ment, the lg 128 are pentagonal-shaped protrusions extend- ing Irom the bottom surface 114 of the sole assembly 104, la ‘other embodiments, the Iugs 128 can have a different shape ‘andlor extend from other surfaoes ofthe sole assembly 104. ‘The lugs 128 canbe integrally formed withthe primary por ‘ion 106 during molding ofthe sole assembly 104 and can be ‘made from the same material asthe primary portion 106. In ‘other embodiments, the ngs 128 can be joined with the pe- ‘mary portion 106 after molding andor mad from different ‘materials than the primary portion 106 eg, metal). Infurher embodiments, the vole assembly 104 an include oer trac tion elements (eg, studs, grooves) tha ean increase traction of the sole assembly 104 ‘The sole assembly 104 can provide the boot assembly 100 shown in FIG. [and other footwear assemblies with an al purpose soe that can he used inthe fied (eg, dlaing combat, ‘work, ete.) ane while performing specialized activites that require abrasion resistant sole portions, sueh as fast-roping, The material and shape ofthe primary portion 106 ean pro- vide good tration for general use, and the high durometer ‘material tthe secondary portion 108 can provide a highly brasion-rsistant surface For contacting a rope during fast roping. Aditionally the dam 122 can maintain the integrity fof the materials at the interface between the primary and secondary portions 106 and 108, such as when the primary and secondary portions are co-moldedUS 9,215,907 B2 5 FIG, 3 isan isometie view ofa fast-roper 330 using a pa ‘of boots 300 (identified individually a. first boot 3000 and 3 second boot 3005) in accordance with an embadiment ofthe disclosure. The boots 300 can include generally similar fea turesasthe ootassembly 100 described in FIGS. f and 2 For ‘example, the boots 300 can inclade a sole assembly 304 having a primary portion 306 and a secondary portion 308 at medial arch region M0 of the sole assembly 304, The Secondary portion 308 ean be made from a high durometer ‘material that does not degrade during fast-roping. As shown in FIG. 3, the Iast-roper 330 ean grip a ope 332 with his tloves aad the boots 300 to suspend himsel Irom aelicopter and above ground. The secondary portions 308 of each sole assembly 304 can contact the rope 332 as the fast-oper 330 descends 19 the ground. The abrasion-resistant secondary portion 308 can withstand the high fition and temperature ‘of descent without leaving residue onthe rope 332. Thus, the sole assembly 304 allows the fs-roper to use the boots to ‘engage the rope and help control descent spood long. the rope, substantially without degrading the boots or the ope From the foregoing, it will he appreciated that specific ‘embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustraton, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the invention. Additionally, aspects ofthe invention desrited inthe context ofparticulae ‘embodiments or examples may be combined or eliminate in ciher embodiments. Although advantages associated with ‘erin embodiment ofthe invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodinents may also exhibit such advantages. Additionally, not all embod ‘ments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fll within the seope of the invention. Accondingly the invention is not Timited exeept as by the appended examples The invention claimed is 1A footwear assembly configured for use when fist rop- ing on a rope, comprising: ‘as upper aad ‘sole astembly configured for use when fist roping on 9 ‘ops, the sole assembly havingan upper surfaceattached to the upper, a bottom surface opposite the upper sur- face, and a sidewall surface between the upper ad bo tom surfaces, the sole assembly comprising! ‘primary portion extending across lateral region ofthe sole assembly, the primary portion comprising a first rubber compound having a fist durometer, 1 secondary portion at'a medial arch rogion of the sole assembly, the secondary portion being molded with the primary portion and comprising a second rubber com> pound having a second durometer greater than the Fist ‘dorometer and being abrasion resistant, wherein the sec= ‘ondary portion is configured to engage the rope during fast roping without leaving rubbercompound residue on the rope, the secondary portion having a smooth, con- fave rope engaging surface configured 10 directly ‘engage the rope and provide braking wad speed control daring fast roping, and wherein a lateral edge of the secondary portion is spaced from a lateral edge of the boom sirface ofthe sole assembly, the secondary pore tion forms the rope engaging surface between the bot- tom surface and the upper surface, wherein the rope engaging surface includes a generally sharp edge between the bottom surface and the sidewall surface: and 0 o 6 ‘dam portion spaced between the primary and secondary portions, the dam portion having sidewalls, wherein the Sidewalls forma recess that separates the frstcompound frm the second compound wherein the dam portion prevents compound migration betwen the frstand see- ‘ond robber compounds when the primary portion is ‘molded with the secondary portion. 2. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the second rubber compound comprises a low-carbon compound, 3. The sole assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary portion and secondary portion are co-molded, 44. The sole assembly of eaim 1 wherein the second rubber ‘compound has a Shore A value from about $5 to about 75 '5. The ole assembly of claim I wherein the secon rubber compound has # Shore A value of approximately 90 oF areater. 6. sole assembly for anarticleof footwear configured for vse when fist roping ona rope, comprising: ‘opposing upperand bottom surfaces and sidewall surface ‘exteing between the upper and bottom surfaces 4 primary portion extending aeross lateral, toe, and heel regions of the sole assembly, the primary portion com- peisinga fist compound having a first durometer: 4 secondary portion at 2 medial arch region of the sole assembly, the secondary portion comprising a second ‘compound having a second durometer greater than the firs¢ durometerand being abrasion resistant, wherein the secondary portion is configured to engage the rope dar- ing fost roping without leaving rubber compound re dae on the rope, wherein the primary portion and the secondary portion are e0-molded, the secondary portion having a smooth, concave rope engaging surface conlig- ured to directly engage the rope and provide braking and speed control daring and speed control during fast rop= ing, wherein the rope engaging surface inludes a gen craly sharp edge between the bottom surface and the sidewall surface; and iam portion spaced between the primary and secondary portions, the dam portion defining recess configured 0 Sepa the ist compound from the second compound ng prevents compound migration between the fist and Second rubber compounds whe the primary portion is molded with the secondary portion 7. Thesole assembly of claim 6 whereia the frst compound isa synthetic rubber and the second compound is a highly ibrasion-resistant rubber. '8. The sole assembly ofelsim 6 wherein the second com- potind has Shore A value fom shout 5S to about 75. ‘9. The sole assembly ofelaim 6 wherein the second com- pound has Shore A value of spproximately 90 or greater 10. Thesole assembly of claim 6 wherein the second com- pound comprises a synthetic neoprene 1. The sole assembly of elamt 6 wherein the second com- pound comprises a highly heat-resistant rubber. 12. The sole assembly of claim 6 wherein the primary portion comprises approximately 90% ofthe sole assembly and the secondary portion comprises approximately 10% of soe assembly. 13. The sole assembly of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of lugs eoupled tothe primary portion and eonlig- ‘ured to provide traction against contacted surfaces, wherein the individual lugs are spaced apart from one another across the primary portion