Sole structure with tiered plate assembly for an article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11259593-B2
Application number	US-201916527282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2019
Priority date	Jul 31, 2019
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A sole structure may have a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate. The first plate may extend from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure. Stated differently, the first plate may be a full-length plate that extends the full length of the sole structure. The second plate may be joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and may diverge from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region. Heel cushioning units may be stacked in the heel region, with a first heel cushioning unit disposed in the first heel gap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure comprising:
a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate;
the first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;
the second plate directly joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and diverging from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region; and
wherein a rear portion of the first plate and the rear portion of the second plate ascend together in a proximal direction at the rear of the heel region.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first heel cushioning unit disposed in the first heel gap and contacting a distal side of the first plate and a proximal side of the second plate; and
a second heel cushioning unit stacked on the proximal side of the first plate in the heel region and opposite from the first heel cushioning unit.

3. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the first heel cushioning unit and the second heel cushioning unit are fluid-filled bladders.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cushioning layer extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and contacting a proximal side of the first plate at a front of the first plate in the forefoot region and at the midfoot region, the cushioning layer defining a forefoot gap at a distal side of the cushioning layer between the front of the forefoot region and the midfoot region and defining a second heel gap at the distal side of the cushioning layer rearward of the midfoot region.

5. The sole structure of claim 4 , further comprising:
at least one forefoot cushioning unit disposed in the forefoot gap; and
a heel cushioning unit disposed in the second heel gap.

6. A sole structure comprising:
a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate;
the first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure; wherein a rear portion of the first plate has a ledge;
the second plate directly joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and diverging from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region; and
a peripheral heel clip disposed above a proximal side of the first plate and having a rear segment, a medial segment, and a lateral segment, with the rear segment supported on the ledge, the medial segment extending forward from the rear segment along a medial side of the sole structure and spaced apart from the first plate, and the lateral segment extending forward from the rear segment along a lateral side of the sole structure and spaced apart from the first plate.

7. A sole structure comprising:
a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate;
the first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;
the second plate directly joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and diverging from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region; and
wherein a rear portion of the first plate defines a first heel through hole and the rear portion of the second plate defines a second heel through hole in communication with the first heel through hole.

8. A sole structure comprising:
a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate;
the first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;
the second plate directly joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and diverging from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region; and
wherein the first plate has a medial notch in a medial edge of the first plate in the forefoot region and a lateral notch in a lateral edge of the first plate in the forefoot region.

9. The sole structure of claim 8 , wherein the first plate is bifurcated forward of the medial notch and the lateral notch.

10. The sole structure of claim 8 , further comprising:
a medial forefoot cushioning unit disposed at the medial notch; and
a lateral forefoot cushioning unit disposed at the lateral notch alongside with medial forefoot cushioning unit.

11. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the medial forefoot cushioning unit and the lateral forefoot cushioning unit are fluid-filled bladders.

12. The sole structure of claim 10 , further comprising:
an outsole disposed at a distal side of the first plate in the forefoot region; and
wherein a distal side of the medial forefoot cushioning unit and a distal side of the lateral forefoot cushioning unit contact the outsole.

13. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the outsole extends from the forefoot region to the heel region and is disposed at a distal side of the second plate in the heel region.

14. A sole structure comprising:
a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate;
the first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;
the second plate directly joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and diverging from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region;
a cushioning layer extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and contacting a proximal side of the first plate at a front of the first plate in the forefoot region and at the midfoot region, the cushioning layer defining a forefoot gap at a distal side of the cushioning layer between the front of the forefoot region and the midfoot region and defining a second heel gap at the distal side of the cushioning layer rearward of the midfoot region; and
a peripheral heel clip having a rear segment contacting a rear wall of the cushioning layer and supported on a rear portion of the first plate, a medial segment extending forward from the rear segment along a medial side wall of the cushioning layer and spaced apart from the first plate, and a lateral segment extending forward from the rear segment along a lateral side wall of the cushioning layer and spaced apart from the first plate.

15. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper; and
a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure including:
a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate;
the first plate being a one-piece, continuous plate and extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;
the second plate having a forward portion joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure, a rear portion joined with the first plate at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and a midportion diverging from the first plate between the forward portion and the rear portion to define a first heel gap between a distal side of the first plate a

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Amoako Lawrence K
• Dieudonne Melusine
• Schulze Tim Steffen

Classifications

• A43B13/125 Primary

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title

• A43B3/02

  Boots covering the lower leg · CPC title

• A43B3/101

  Slippers, e.g. flip-flops or thong sandals · CPC title

• A43B3/12

  Sandals; Strap guides thereon · CPC title

• A43B13/189

  filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water · CPC title