Stacked cushioning arrangement for sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12004589-B2
Application number	US-202016879209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2020
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a longitudinal axis extending from an anterior end to a posterior end and comprising:
a midsole including (i) an anterior segment defining a first portion of a ground-facing surface of the sole structure extending from the anterior end of the sole structure to a first sidewall disposed in a forefoot region and facing a heel region of the sole structure and (ii) a posterior segment defining a second portion of a ground-facing surface of the sole structure extending from the posterior end of the sole structure to a second sidewall disposed in a mid-foot region and facing the forefoot region of the sole structure;
a first cushion depending from the midsole between the first sidewall of the anterior segment and the second sidewall of the posterior segment and defining a third portion of the ground-facing surface of the sole structure, extending from a first end located within the forefoot region of the sole structure to an opposite second end located in one of the forefoot region or the mid-foot region of the sole structure, disposed adjacent a medial side of the sole structure, and including a first cushion sidewall providing the first cushion with a substantially oval shape having a first major axis extending along a direction of the longitudinal axis of the sole structure;
a second cushion depending from the midsole between the first sidewall of the anterior segment and the second sidewall of the posterior segment and defining a fourth portion of the ground-facing surface of the sole structure, extending from a third end located within the forefoot region of the sole structure to an opposite fourth end disposed in one of the forefoot region or the mid-foot region of the sole structure, disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the sole structure, and including a second cushion sidewall providing the second cushion with a substantially oval shape having a second major axis extending along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sole structure, wherein the second cushion sidewall of the second cushion opposes and is laterally spaced apart from the first cushion sidewall of the first cushion by a gap and the second cushion has the same size and shape as the first cushion; and
an outsole having (i) a first ground-engaging portion attached to the first portion of the ground-facing surface, (ii) a second ground-engaging portion attached to the second portion of the ground-facing surface, (iii) a third ground-engaging portion attached to the third portion of the ground-facing surface, and (iv) a fourth ground-engaging portion attached to the fourth portion of the ground-facing surface.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first cushion and the second cushion comprises a fluid-filled chamber.

3. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is pressurized within a range of 15-30 pounds per square inch.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising a plate disposed between the midsole and the first cushion and between the midsole and the second cushion.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the outsole extends across the gap between the first cushion and the second cushion.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the midsole extends within the gap between the first cushion and the second cushion.

7. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a length extending from an anterior end to a posterior end and comprising:
a midsole upper portion;
a plate secured to the midsole upper portion;
a first cushion secured to the plate opposite from the midsole upper portion at a first location adjacent to a medial side of the sole structure and including a first cushion sidewall providing the first cushion with a substantially oval shape having a first major axis extending along a lengthwise direction of the sole structure from a first end disposed within a forefoot region of the sole structure to an opposite second end disposed in one of the forefoot region or a mid-foot region of the sole structure;
a second cushion secured to the plate opposite from the midsole upper portion at a second location adjacent to a lateral side of the sole structure and including a second cushion sidewall providing the second cushion with a substantially oval shape having a second major axis extending along the lengthwise direction of the sole structure from a third end disposed within the forefoot region of the sole structure to an opposite fourth end disposed in one of the forefoot region or the mid-foot region of the sole structure, the second cushion having the same size and shape as the first cushion and laterally spaced apart from the first cushion, wherein the plate is exposed between the first cushion sidewall of the first cushion and the second cushion sidewall of the second cushion;
a midsole lower portion secured to the plate opposite the midsole upper portion and including (i) an anterior segment extending from the anterior end of the sole structure to a first midsole sidewall disposed in a forefoot region and facing a heel region and both of the first cushion and the second cushion and (ii) a posterior segment extending from the posterior end of the sole structure to a second midsole sidewall disposed in a mid-foot region and facing the forefoot region of the sole structure and both of the first cushion and the second cushion, wherein the anterior segment, the posterior segment, the first cushion, and the second cushion cooperate to define a ground-facing surface of the sole structure; and
an outsole defining a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure and including (i) a first outsole portion including the ground-engaging surface and attached a portion of the ground-facing surface defined by the anterior segment, (ii) a second outsole portion including the ground-engaging surface and attached to a portion of the ground-facing surface defined by the posterior segment, (iii) a third outsole portion including the ground-engaging surface and attached to a portion of the ground-facing surface defined by the first cushion, and (iv) a fourth outsole portion including the ground-engaging surface and attached to a portion of the ground-facing surface defined by the second cushion.

8. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the midsole lower portion comprises a polymer foam.

9. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first cushion and the second cushion comprises a fluid-filled chamber.

10. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is pressurized within a range of 15-30 pounds per square inch.

11. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber comprises a tensile member.

12. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the first cushion sidewall is spaced apart from and opposes the second cushion sidewall.

13. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the midsole upper portion comprises a polymer foam.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Connell Jeremy L
• Dimoff Karen S
• Farina Emily
• Greenspan Joël Ryp
• Guest Stefan E
• Haight Derek
• Henrichot Olivier
• Hutchinson Helene
• Luo Geng
• Yetman Krissy

Classifications

• A43B13/32

  by adhesives · CPC title

• A43B13/183

  Leaf springs · CPC title

• A43B13/148

  Wedged end portions · CPC title

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/125

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title