Sole structure for article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11096443-B2
Application number	US-201916270279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2019
Priority date	Feb 9, 2018
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate having a first surface. The first plate includes a forefoot region at an anterior end, a heel region at a posterior end, and a mid-foot region. The sole structure further includes a second plate having a second surface opposing the first surface of the first plate. The second plate has a first end attached to the forefoot region of the first plate and a second end that is spaced apart from the first surface of the first plate. A cushion is disposed between the first plate and the second plate and has a first side attached to the first surface of the first plate and a second side attached to the second surface of second plate. The cushion extends continuously from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
a first plate having a first surface facing away from the upper, the first plate including a forefoot region at an anterior end of the first plate, a heel region at a posterior end of the first plate, and a mid-foot region intermediate the forefoot region and the heel region;
a second plate having (i) a second surface opposing the first surface of the first plate, (ii) a first end attached at the forefoot region of the first plate, and (iii) a second end tapering in a direction toward the heel region of the first plate and spaced apart from the first surface of the first plate; and
a cushion disposed between the first plate and the second plate in the forefoot region and having a first side attached to the first surface of the first plate and defining a first curved surface and a second side attached to the second surface of the second plate and defining a second curved surface having the same curvature as the first curved surface to provide the cushion with a substantially constant thickness, the cushion extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the cushion comprises a fluid-filled bladder.

3. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the fluid-filled bladder includes a tensile member disposed therein.

4. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the fluid-filled bladder is pressurized.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising a toe pad disposed between the first plate and the second plate at the anterior end of the first plate.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first plate is formed of a composite material and the second plate is formed of a polymeric material.

7. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second plate includes a third surface formed on an opposite side of the second plate than the second surface and including a plurality of traction elements protruding therefrom.

8. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the second plate is cantilevered off of a posterior end of the cushion.

9. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the second plate extends upwardly at the anterior end of the first plate and forms a toe cap.

10. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a majority of a length of the second plate is supported by the cushion, the length extending from the first end of the second plate to the second end of the second plate.

11. A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
a first plate having a first surface, the first plate including a forefoot region at an anterior end of the first plate, a heel region at a posterior end of the first plate, and a mid-foot region intermediate the forefoot region and the heel region;
a second plate having (i) a second surface opposing the first surface of the first plate, (ii) a first end attached to the forefoot region of the first plate, and (iii) a second end tapering in a direction toward the heel region of the first plate and spaced apart from the first surface of the first plate; and
a cushion having a first side attached to the first surface of the first plate and defining a first curved surface and a second side attached to the second surface of the second plate and defining a second curved surface having the same curvature as the first curved surface to provide the cushion with a substantially constant thickness, the cushion extending from a first peripheral side surface of the second plate to an opposing second peripheral side surface of the second plate.

12. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the cushion comprises a fluid-filled bladder.

13. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the fluid-filled bladder includes a tensile member disposed therein.

14. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the fluid-filled bladder is pressurized.

15. The sole structure of claim 11 , further comprising a toe pad disposed between the first plate and the second plate at the anterior end of the first plate.

16. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first plate is formed of a composite material and the second plate is formed of a polymeric material.

17. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the second plate includes a third surface formed on an opposite side of the second plate than the second surface and including a plurality of traction elements protruding therefrom.

18. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the second end of the second plate is cantilevered off of a posterior end of the cushion.

19. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first end of the second plate extends upwardly at the anterior end of the first plate and forms a toe cap.

20. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein a majority of a length of the second plate is supported by the cushion, the length extending from the first end of the second plate to the second end of the second plate.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Connell Jeremy L
• Dimoff Karen S
• Guest Stefan E
• Keller Charlie
• Lindner Troy C
• Luo Geng
• Minami Tetsuya T
• Rasca Jonathan
• Thuss Adam

Classifications

• A43B13/141

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• A43B13/125

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title

• A43B13/20

  Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} · CPC title

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B13/186

  Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32) · CPC title