Article of footwear comprising a sole member with geometric patterns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11553756-B2
Application number	US-202117201581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2021
Priority date	May 27, 2015
Publication date	Jan 17, 2023
Grant date	Jan 17, 2023

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A customized cushioning sole system for an article of footwear, comprising:
a sole member including: (a) an outer surface, the outer surface comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and (b) an interior portion disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface,
wherein a first set of apertures is formed in the sole member, the first set of apertures forming a first pattern based on information obtained about a pressure distribution of a wearer's foot;
wherein the first set of apertures is disposed along a portion of the outer surface of the sole member,
wherein the first set of apertures includes more than 100 apertures formed as a plurality of rings of apertures, with each ring of apertures in the first set of apertures being arranged along the outer surface of the sole member in a generally round and circular first pattern around a first center,
wherein the plurality of rings of apertures includes: (a) a first ring of apertures located a first radial distance from the first center and (b) a second ring of apertures located a second radial distance from the first center, and
wherein the first radial distance differs from the second radial distance.

2. The customized cushioning sole system of claim 1 , wherein the sole member includes a foam material, and wherein the first set of apertures is cut or drilled into the foam material.

3. The customized cushioning sole system of claim 1 , wherein a second set of apertures is formed in the sole member, the second set of apertures forming a second pattern based on the pressure distribution, wherein the second set of apertures is formed along a portion of the outer surface of the sole member in a generally round and circular second pattern, and wherein the generally round and circular second pattern is spaced apart from the generally round and circular first pattern.

4. The customized cushioning sole system of claim 3 , wherein apertures in the first set of apertures are spaced apart at regular intervals around the generally round and circular first pattern, and wherein apertures in the second set of apertures are spaced apart at regular intervals around the generally round and circular second pattern.

5. The customized cushioning sole system of claim 3 , wherein a third set of apertures is formed in the sole member, the third set of apertures forming a third pattern based on the pressure distribution, wherein the third set of apertures is formed along a portion of the outer surface of the sole member in a generally round and circular third pattern, and wherein the generally round and circular third pattern is spaced apart from the generally round and circular first pattern and from the generally round and circular second pattern.

6. The customized cushioning sole system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rings of apertures further includes a third ring of apertures located a third radial distance from the first center, and wherein the third radial distance differs from the first radial distance and the second radial distance.

7. The customized cushioning sole system of claim 1 , wherein a second set of apertures is formed in the sole member, the second set of apertures forming a second pattern based on the pressure distribution, wherein the second set of apertures is formed along a portion of the outer surface of the sole member, and wherein the second pattern is spaced apart from the first pattern.

8. The customized cushioning sole system of claim 7 , wherein a third set of apertures is formed in the sole member, the third set of apertures forming a third pattern based on the pressure distribution, wherein the third set of apertures is formed along a portion of the outer surface of the sole member, and wherein the third pattern is spaced apart from the first pattern and from the second pattern.

9. A customized sole member for an article of footwear, comprising:
an outer surface comprising an upper surface and a lower surface; and
an interior portion disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface,
wherein a first set of apertures is formed in the customized sole member in a first pattern based on information obtained about a pressure distribution of a wearer's foot,
wherein the first set of apertures includes more than 100 apertures formed as a plurality of rings of apertures, with each ring of apertures in the first set of apertures being arranged along the outer surface in a generally round and circular first pattern around a first center,
wherein the plurality of rings of apertures includes: (a) a first ring of apertures located a first radial distance from the first center and (b) a second ring of apertures located a second radial distance from the first center, and
wherein the first radial distance differs from the second radial distance.

10. The customized sole member of claim 9 , wherein a second set of apertures is formed in the customized sole member, the second set of apertures forming a second pattern based on the pressure distribution, wherein the second set of apertures is formed along a portion of the outer surface in a generally round and circular second pattern, and wherein the generally round and circular second pattern is spaced apart from the generally round and circular first pattern.

11. The customized sole member of claim 10 , wherein apertures in the first set of apertures are spaced apart at regular intervals around the generally round and circular first pattern.

12. The customized sole member of claim 11 , wherein apertures in the second set of apertures are spaced apart at regular intervals around the generally round and circular second pattern.

13. The customized sole member of claim 10 , wherein the first set of apertures and the second set of apertures are laser cut in a foam material included as the customized sole member.

14. The customized sole member of claim 10 , wherein the first center is located in a heel region of the customized sole member, and wherein the generally round and circular second pattern has a second center located in a midfoot region of the customized sole member.

15. The customized sole member of claim 10 , wherein the first center is located in a heel region of the customized sole member, and wherein the generally round and circular second pattern has a second center located in a forefoot region of the customized sole member.

16. The customized sole member of claim 10 , wherein the first center is located in a midfoot region of the customized sole member, and wherein the generally round and circular second pattern has a second center located in a forefoot region of the customized sole member.

17. The customized sole member of claim 10 , wherein a third set of apertures is formed in the customized sole member, the third set of apertures forming a third pattern based on the pressure distribution, wherein the third set of apertures is formed along a portion of the outer surface in a generally round and circular third pattern, and wherein the generally round and circular third pattern is spaced apart from the generally round and circular first pattern and from the generally round and circular second pattern.

18. The customized sole member of claim 17 , wherein the first center is located in a heel region of the customized sole member, wherein the generally round and circular second pattern has a second center located in a midfoot region of the customized sole member, and wherein the generally round and circular third pattern has a third center located in a forefoot region of the customized sole member.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Kohatsu Shane S
• Cook Christopher S
• Schoolmeester Bret

Classifications

• A43D1/025

  comprising optical means, e.g. mirrors, photo-electric cells, for measuring or inspecting feet · CPC title

• A43D1/02

  Foot-measuring devices (measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107) · CPC title

• A61B5/1036

  Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies · CPC title

• A43B7/1485

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