Articles of footwear including a multi-part sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10856607-B2
Application number	US-201815948069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2018
Priority date	Apr 11, 2017
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

Sole structures and/or articles of footwear include: (a) a frame with a first sidewall that has an opening defined through it; and (b) an interior midsole component including a second sidewall that extends along the first sidewall of the frame. The interior midsole component includes an outwardly extending stem projecting sideways and into the opening. This stem: (a) may extend at least to a location at or adjacent an outer surface of the first sidewall, (b) may be complementary shaped with respect to an interior surface of the opening over at least 25% of an axial length of the opening, and/or (c) may extend beyond an outermost extent of the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
a frame including a first sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein a first opening is defined through the first sidewall, and wherein the first opening includes a first interior surface extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; and
an interior midsole component directly attached to the frame by an adhesive or cement, wherein the interior midsole component includes a plantar support surface and a second sidewall that extends downwardly from the plantar support surface and along the inner surface of the first sidewall, wherein the interior midsole component further includes a first outwardly extending stem projecting sideways away from a base surface of the second sidewall, wherein the first outwardly extending stem extends into the first opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall toward the outer surface of the first sidewall, wherein the first outwardly extending stem includes a first exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of an axial length of the first exterior surface of the first outwardly extending stem extends along, is unfixed to, and is movable with respect to the first interior surface of the first opening, and wherein the first outwardly extending stem has at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:
(a) the first outwardly extending stem extends into the first opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall at least to a location at or adjacent the outer surface of the first sidewall;
(b) the first exterior surface of the first outwardly extending stem is complementary shaped with respect to the first interior surface of the first opening over at least 25% of an axial length of the first opening; or
(c) a free end of the first outwardly extending stem extends outward beyond an outermost extent of the first opening.

2. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the frame further includes a second opening defined through the first sidewall, wherein the second opening includes a second interior surface extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; and
the interior midsole component further includes a second outwardly extending stem projecting sideways away from the base surface of the second sidewall, wherein the second outwardly extending stem extends into the second opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall toward the outer surface of the first sidewall, wherein the second outwardly extending stem includes a second exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of an axial length of the second exterior surface of the second outwardly extending stem extends along, is unfixed to, and is movable with respect to the second interior surface of the second opening, and wherein the second outwardly extending stem has at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:
(a) the second outwardly extending stem extends into the second opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall at least to a location at or adjacent the outer surface of the first sidewall;
(b) the second exterior surface of the second outwardly extending stem is complementary shaped with respect to the second interior surface of the second opening over at least 25% of an axial length of the second opening; or
(c) a free end of the second outwardly extending stem extends outward beyond an outermost extent of the second opening.

3. The sole structure according to claim 2 , wherein:
the frame further includes a third opening defined through the first sidewall, wherein the third opening includes a third interior surface extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; and
the interior midsole component further includes a third outwardly extending stem projecting sideways away from the base surface of the second sidewall, wherein the third outwardly extending stem extends into the third opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall, wherein the third outwardly extending stem includes a third exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of an axial length of the third exterior surface of the third outwardly extending stem extends along, is unfixed to, and is movable with respect to the third interior surface of the third opening, and wherein the third outwardly extending stem has at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:
(a) the third outwardly extending stem extends into the third opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall at least to a location at or adjacent the outer surface of the first sidewall;
(b) the third exterior surface of the third outwardly extending stem is complementary shaped with respect to the third interior surface of the third opening over at least 25% of an axial length of the third opening; or
(c) a free end of the third outwardly extending stem extends outward beyond an outermost extent of the third opening.

4. The sole structure according to claim 2 , wherein the interior midsole component is a multi-part component that includes: (a) a medial side part including the first outwardly extending stem and (b) a lateral side part including the second outwardly extending stem, wherein the lateral side part is an independent part from the medial side part.

5. The sole structure according to claim 4 , wherein the interior midsole component further includes a central part formed as an independent part from the lateral side part and the medial side part, wherein the central part extends between the lateral side part and the medial side part.

6. The sole structure according to claim 1 :
wherein the frame, including the outer surface and the inner surface thereof, is formed of a first polymer foam material;
wherein the interior midsole component, including the first outwardly extending stem thereof, is formed of a second polymer foam material; and
wherein the first polymer foam material has a first density, wherein the second polymer foam material has a second density, and wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

7. The sole structure according to claim 6 , wherein:
the frame further includes a second opening defined through the first sidewall, wherein the second opening includes a second interior surface extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; and
the interior midsole component further includes a second outwardly extending stem formed of the second polymer foam material and projecting sideways away from the base surface of the second sidewall, wherein the second outwardly extending stem extends into the second opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall, wherein the second outwardly extending stem includes a second exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of an axial length of the second exterior surface of the second outwardly extending stem extends along, is unfixed to, and is movable with respect to the second interior surface of the second opening, and wherein the second outwardly extending stem has at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:
(a) the second outwardly extending stem extends into the second opening beyond the inner surface of the first sidewall at least to a location at or adjacent the outer surface of the first sidewall;
(b) the second exterior surface of the second outwardly extending stem is complementary shaped with respect to the second interior surface of the second opening over at least 25% of an axial length of the second opening; or
(c) a free end of the second outwardly extending stem extends outward beyond an outermost extent of the second opening.

8. The sole structure according to claim 7 , wherein the first opening and the first outwardly extending stem are located on a medial side of the sole structure

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hatfield Tinker L
• Beers Tiffany A

Classifications

• A43B13/125 Primary

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title

• A43B7/1405

  with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form · CPC title

• A43B7/223

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B13/14 Primary

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B7/16

  with elevated heel parts inside · CPC title