Foot support components for articles of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11490679-B2
Application number	US-202017031405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2020
Priority date	Sep 25, 2019
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

Abstract

Foot support components include plural foot support members (e.g., arched slats or other support members) forming at least a portion of a footbed for a sole structure/article of footwear. Spacings between individual foot support members enable selective activation of one or more individual members, thereby providing support where needed and enhancing overall comfort without overly stiffening the footbed. When made from sufficiently rigid/resilient materials, the foot support components may apply return energy to the wearer's foot. This may occur, for example, by vertically deflecting (e.g., flattening out) one or more foot support members under applied force, and then the deflected foot support member(s) will spring back to and/or toward its/their original shape when the force sufficiently abates/relaxes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foot support component for an article of footwear, comprising:
a lateral sidewall that extends to and forms a lateral free edge;
a medial sidewall located opposite the lateral sidewall, wherein the medial sidewall extends to and forms a medial free edge;
a base support surface that includes an exterior surface and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, wherein the base support surface includes:
a first arched foot support slat, wherein a local extrema of the first arched foot support slat is located in a central area of the first arched foot support slat between the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall, and wherein the first arched foot support slat originates at or proximate to the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall at locations spaced away from the lateral free edge and the medial free edge,
a second arched foot support slat, wherein a local extrema of the second arched foot support slat is located in a central area of the second arched foot support slat between the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall, and wherein the second arched foot support slat originates at or proximate to the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall at locations spaced away from the lateral free edge and the medial free edge,
a third arched foot support slat, wherein a local extrema of the third arched foot support slat is located in a central area of the third arched foot support slat between the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall, and wherein the third arched foot support slat originates at or proximate to the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall at locations spaced away from the lateral free edge and the medial free edge,
a first open space extending between and separating at least 90% of a rearward edge of the first arched foot support slat from at least 90% of a forward edge of the second arched foot support slat, and
a second open space extending between and separating at least 90% of a rearward edge the second arched foot support slat from at least 90% of a forward edge of the third arched foot support slat,

wherein each of the first open space and the second open space constitutes a through hole extending completely through the base support surface from the exterior surface of the base support surface to the interior surface of the base support surface; and
a connecting wall connecting the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall, wherein the connecting wall extends to and forms a connecting wall free edge that extends from the lateral free edge to the medial free edge.

2. The foot support component according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting wall includes a notched or concave portion.

3. The foot support component according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting wall is a rear heel wall.

4. The foot support component according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the base support surface includes a lateral base edge located on an opposite side of the lateral sidewall from the lateral free edge, a medial base edge located on an opposite side of the medial sidewall from the medial free edge, and a connecting base edge located on an opposite side of the connecting wall from the connecting wall free edge, and wherein the foot support component further comprises:
a first midsole system including a lateral base edge, a medial base edge, and a connecting base edge, wherein the lateral base edge of the first midsole system is engaged with the lateral base edge of the base support surface, wherein the medial base edge of the first midsole system is engaged with the medial base edge of the base support surface, and wherein the connecting base edge of the first midsole system is engaged with the connecting base edge of the base support surface.

5. The foot support component according to claim 4 , wherein the first midsole system has a U-shaped structure in which the lateral base edge of the first midsole system forms a lateral arm of the U-shaped structure, the medial base edge of the first midsole system forms a medial arm of the U-shaped structure, and the connecting base edge of the first midsole system forms a base of the U-shaped structure.

6. The foot support component according to claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the lateral sidewall, an interior surface of the medial sidewall, an interior surface of the connecting wall, and the interior surface of the base support surface define a receptacle.

7. The foot support component according to claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the lateral sidewall, an interior surface of the medial sidewall, and the interior surface of the base support surface define a receptacle.

8. The foot support component according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a midsole component received in the receptacle.

9. A foot support component for an article of footwear, comprising:
a lateral sidewall that extends to and forms a lateral free edge;
a medial sidewall located opposite the lateral sidewall, wherein the medial sidewall extends to and forms a medial free edge;
a base support surface that includes an exterior surface and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, wherein the base support surface includes:
a first arched foot support slat, wherein a local extrema of the first arched foot support slat is located in a central area of the first arched foot support slat between the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall, and wherein the first arched foot support slat originates at or proximate to the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall at locations spaced away from the lateral free edge and the medial free edge,
a second arched foot support slat, wherein a local extrema of the second arched foot support slat is located in a central area of the second arched foot support slat between the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall, and wherein the second arched foot support slat originates at or proximate to the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall at locations spaced away from the lateral free edge and the medial free edge,
a third arched foot support slat, wherein a local extrema of the third arched foot support slat is located in a central area of the third arched foot support slat between the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall, and wherein the third arched foot support slat originates at or proximate to the lateral sidewall and the medial sidewall at locations spaced away from the lateral free edge and the medial free edge,
a first open space extending between and separating at least 90% of a rearward edge of the first arched foot support slat from at least 90% of a forward edge of the second arched foot support slat, and
a second open space extending between and separating at least 90% of a rearward edge the second arched foot support slat from at least 90% of a forward edge of the third arched foot support slat,

wherein each of the first open space and the second open space constitutes a through hole extending completely through the base support surface from the exterior surface of the base support surface to the interior surface of the base support surface, wherein an interior surface of the lateral sidewall, an interior surface of the medial sidewall, and the interior surface of the base support surface define a receptacle, wherein the exterior surface of the base support surface includes a lateral base edge located on an opposite side of the lateral sidewall from the lateral free edge and a medial base edge located on an opposite side of the medial sidewall from the medial free edge;
a midsole component received in the receptacle; and
a first midsole system including a lateral base edge and a medial base edge, wherein the lateral base edge of the first midsole system is engaged with the lateral base edge of the base

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Maselino Gabriel T
• Stephens Alexander

Classifications

• A43B13/183

  Leaf springs · CPC title

• A43B7/141 Primary

  having an anatomical or curved form · CPC title

• A43B7/18

  Joint supports, e.g. instep supports · CPC title

• A43B21/32

  Resilient supports for the heel of the foot · CPC title

• A43B7/1495

  with arch-supports of the bracelet type · CPC title