Article of footwear incorporating particulate matter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11284671-B2
Application number	US-201816497053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2018
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Mar 29, 2022
Grant date	Mar 29, 2022

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided and includes a midsole having a first surface, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface, a first cavity formed in the first surface and tapering in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface, and a second cavity formed in the second surface and tapering in a direction from the second surface toward the first surface. A first quantity of particulate matter is disposed within the first cavity and a second quantity of particulate matter is disposed within the second cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole including a first surface, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface, a first cavity formed in the first surface and tapering in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface, and a second cavity formed in the second surface and tapering in a direction from the second surface toward the first surface;
a first cushioning member formed from a first barrier member and a second barrier member joined together to define a first inner void, the first cushioning member received within the first cavity;
a second cushioning member formed from a third barrier member and a fourth barrier member joined together to define a second inner void, the second cushioning member received within the second cavity;
a first quantity of particulate matter disposed within the first inner void; and
a second quantity of particulate matter disposed within the second inner void.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity include substantially the same shape.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are spaced apart from one another in a direction extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the midsole.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity overlap one another in a direction extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the midsole.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity include one of the shapes selected from a group consisting of a semi-spherical shape, an oval shape, and a trapezoidal shape.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity includes a first passageway in fluid communication with the first cavity and extending from the first cavity to the second surface.

7. The sole structure of claim 6 , wherein the second cavity includes a second passageway in fluid communication with the second cavity and extending from the second cavity to the first surface.

8. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the first passageway includes a different shape than the first cavity and the second passageway includes a different shape than the second cavity.

9. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first quantity of particulate matter and the second quantity of particulate matter includes foam beads.

10. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole including a first surface, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface, a first cavity formed in the first surface and including a first shape, and a second cavity formed in the second surface and including the first shape, the second cavity being inverted relative to the first cavity;
a first cushioning member formed from a first barrier member and a second barrier member joined together to define a first inner void, the first cushioning member received within the first cavity;
a second cushioning member formed from a third barrier member and a fourth barrier member joined together to define a second inner void, the second cushioning member received within the second cavity;
a first quantity of particulate matter disposed within the first inner void; and
a second quantity of particulate matter disposed within the second inner void.

11. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the first cavity tapers in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface and the second cavity tapers in a direction from the second surface toward the first surface.

12. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are spaced apart from one another in a direction extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the midsole.

13. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity overlap one another in a direction extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the midsole.

14. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the first cavity and the second cavity include one of the shapes selected from a group consisting of a semi-spherical shape, an oval shape, and a trapezoidal shape.

15. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the first cavity includes a first passageway in fluid communication with the first cavity and extending from the first cavity to the second surface.

16. The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the second cavity includes a second passageway in fluid communication with the second cavity and extending from the second cavity to the first surface.

17. The sole structure of claim 16 , wherein the first passageway includes a different shape than the first cavity and the second passageway includes a different shape than the second cavity.

18. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first quantity of particulate matter and the second quantity of particulate matter includes foam beads.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hurd John
• Levy Cassidy R
• Minami Tetsuya T

Classifications

• A43B7/1485

  Recesses or holes, traversing partially or completely the thickness of the pad · CPC title

• A43B1/0072

  made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials · CPC title

• A43B7/145

  situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges · CPC title

• A43B7/149

  Pads, e.g. protruding on the foot-facing surface · CPC title

• A43B7/148

  Recesses or holes filled with supports or pads · CPC title