Sole structure for an article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11291271-B2
Application number	US-201916581840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2019
Priority date	Sep 25, 2019
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a recess defining a first opening in the peripheral surface. The sole structure for an article of footwear also includes an insert disposed within the recess and including a first material having a first gloss unit value and a second material disposed on an outer surface of the first material and having a second gloss unit value. The second material is at least partially disposed within the first opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the bottom surface including a recess defining a first opening in the peripheral surface; and
an insert disposed within the recess and including a first member including a first material formed of a polymeric foam having a first gloss unit value and a second member including a second material attached to an outer surface of the first material and having a second gloss unit value, the second member received within a peripheral groove formed in the first member and at least partially disposed within the first opening.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first material is visible through the second material.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is disposed in a medial side of the midsole.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the recess defines a second opening in the peripheral surface, and wherein the second material is at least partially disposed within the second opening.

5. The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the first opening is disposed in a medial side of the midsole, and wherein the second opening is disposed in a lateral side of the midsole opposite the medial side.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising an outsole coupled to at least one of the midsole or the insert and defining an aperture, wherein the second material is at least partially disposed within the aperture.

7. The sole structure of claim 6 , wherein the insert includes a protrusion disposed within the aperture.

8. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the second material is disposed on the protrusion.

9. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a central member and a peripheral member, the peripheral member at least partially disposed within the first opening.

10. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the second material is disposed on the peripheral member.

11. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second gloss unit value is greater than the first gloss unit value.

12. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the midsole including a recess (i) disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface and (ii) defining a first opening in the peripheral surface; and
an insert disposed within the recess and including:
a first member including a first material formed of a polymeric foam having a first gloss unit value and including a peripheral groove extending from a first end to a second end, and
a second member including a second material having a second gloss unit value and extending from a proximal end facing the first end of the peripheral groove to a distal end facing the second end of the peripheral groove, the second material at least partially disposed within the first opening.

13. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the first material is visible through the second material.

14. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the first opening is disposed in a medial side of the midsole.

15. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the recess defines a second opening in the peripheral surface, and wherein the second material is at least partially disposed within the second opening.

16. The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the first opening is disposed in a medial side of the midsole, and wherein the second opening is disposed in a lateral side of the midsole opposite the medial side.

17. The sole structure of claim 12 , further comprising an outsole coupled to at least one of the midsole or the insert and defining an aperture, wherein the second material is at least partially disposed within the aperture.

18. The sole structure of claim 17 , wherein the insert includes a protrusion disposed within the aperture.

19. The sole structure of claim 18 , wherein the second material is disposed on the protrusion.

20. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the insert includes a central member and a peripheral member, the peripheral member at least partially disposed within the first opening.

21. The sole structure of claim 20 , wherein the second material is disposed on the peripheral member.

22. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the second gloss unit value is greater than the first gloss unit value.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Jones Michael
• Joubert Michael F
• Kuo Derek
• Lee Yong S
• Moshofsky Thea
• Wolfe Randall S

Classifications

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/40 Primary

  with cushions · CPC title

• A43B13/186 Primary

  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

• A43B13/125 Primary

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title

• A43B3/0078

  provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence) · CPC title