Article of footwear with self-cleaning cleats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10524543-B2
Application number	US-201415036511-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	Nov 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

An article of footwear with self-cleaning cleats and a method of making an article of footwear. The article of footwear may include a sole plate having cleats associated with resilient members. The resilient members may be disposed on the cleats. The resilient members may prevent mud from accumulating on the cleats and/or a bottom surface of the sole plate by compressing against a surface of the ground and then springing back, preventing mud from sticking to the resilient member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole plate including a bottom surface having a forefoot region, a heel region, a longitudinal axis extending through the forefoot region and heel region, a forward edge, and a rearward edge;
a first cleat disposed on the bottom surface of the sole plate, the first cleat having a shaft extending away from the bottom surface of the sole plate and a terminal end disposed opposite the bottom surface of the sole plate, the terminal end configured to directly contact a ground surface; and
a first resilient member (i) in direct contact with and extending from the bottom surface of the sole plate between a first end and a second end of the first resilient member, (ii) directly bonded to and protruding from an outer surface of the first cleat from the first end to the second end in a relaxed state and a compressed state in, and (iii) configured to be in direct contact with both the bottom surface of the sole plate and the ground surface simultaneously.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is a sheath that substantially surrounds the outer surface of the shaft of the first cleat.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member has a toroidal shape.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member has a circular cross section.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second cleat disposed on the bottom surface of the sole plate, the second cleat having a shaft extending away from the bottom surface of the sole plate and a terminal end disposed opposite the bottom surface of the sole plate; and
a second resilient member disposed on the shaft of the second cleat and protruding from an outer surface of the second cleat.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is made from at least one of silicone and rubber.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , further comprising an upper attached to the sole plate.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is disposed on the shaft of the first cleat between the bottom surface of the sole plate and the terminal end of the first cleat.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first cleat tapers from the bottom surface of the sole plate to the terminal end.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member contacts the shaft of the first cleat at a tapered surface of the first cleat.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member completely encircles the outer surface of the shaft of the first cleat.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first cleat extends through an opening in the first resilient member such that the terminal end of the first cleat is exposed.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member terminates at a point between the terminal end of the first cleat and the bottom surface of the sole plate.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member substantially surrounds the shaft of the first cleat.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is disposed along an area where the bottom surface of the sole plate and the shaft of the first cleat meet.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is a sheath having a uniform thickness.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is directly bonded to the shaft of the first cleat by an adhesive.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is directly bonded to the shaft of the first cleat by thermal bonding.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first resilient member is attached to and retained on the bottom surface of the sole plate.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19 , wherein the first resilient member is attached to and retained on the bottom surface of the sole plate by thermal bonding.

Assignees

• Baudouin Alexandre
• Rushbrook Thomas J
• Schiller Denis
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Baudouin Alexandre
• Rushbrook Thomas J
• Schiller Denis

Classifications

• A43C15/02 Primary

  attached to the sole · CPC title

• A43C15/168

  with resilient means, e.g. shock absorbing means · CPC title

• A43C15/161

  characterised by the attachment to the sole · CPC title

• A43B13/223 Primary

  Profiled soles · CPC title