Plate for footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12075880-B2
Application number	US-202017093713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2020
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A plate for an article of footwear having a sole structure includes an anterior-most point disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure, a posterior-most point disposed closer to a heel region of the sole structure than the anterior-most point, and a concave portion extending between the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point. The concave portion includes a constant radius of curvature from the anterior-most point to a metarsophalangeal (MTP) point of the sole structure. The MTP point opposes the MTP joint of a foot during use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plate for an article of footwear having a sole structure, the plate comprising:
an anterior-most point configured to be disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure;
a posterior-most point configured to be disposed within a heel region of the sole structure;
an aft point located sixty percent (60%) of a total length of the plate rearward from the anterior-most point and co-planar with the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point in a relaxed configuration;
a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point located thirty percent (30%) of the total length of the plate rearward from the anterior-most point and configured to oppose an MTP joint of a foot during use;
a concave portion configured to be disposed in the forefoot region of the sole structure, the concave portion extending continuously from a forward-most point located at the anterior-most point to a rearward-most point located at the aft point and including a constant first radius of curvature from the anterior-most point past the MTP point, a midpoint of an arc of the constant first radius of curvature located at the MTP point, the aft point disposed along a blend portion between and connecting the concave portion and a flat portion, the flat portion configured to be disposed in the heel region of the sole structure, wherein the flat portion extends from the aft point to the posterior-most point; and
a lateral edge portion extending from the anterior-most point past the MTP point along a lateral side of the plate, the lateral edge portion being continuously convex along an entire length of the concave portion.

2. The plate of claim 1 , wherein the plate is formed of a material including fibers consolidated by a resin.

3. The plate of claim 1 , wherein the posterior-most point is located within the flat portion.

4. An article of footwear incorporating the plate of claim 1 .

5. A plate for an article of footwear having a sole structure, the plate comprising:
an anterior-most point configured to be disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure;
a posterior-most point configured to be disposed within a heel region of the sole structure;
an aft point located sixty percent (60%) of a total length of the plate rearward from the anterior-most point and co-planar with the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point in a relaxed configuration;
a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point located thirty percent (30%) of the total length of the plate rearward from the anterior-most point and configured to oppose an MTP joint of a foot during use;
a concave portion configured to be disposed in the forefoot region of the sole structure, the concave portion extending continuously from a forward-most point located at the anterior-most point to a rearward-most point located at the aft point and including a constant first radius of curvature from the anterior-most point past the MTP point, a midpoint of an arc of the constant first radius of curvature located at the MTP point, the aft point disposed along a blend portion between and connecting the concave portion and a flat portion, the flat portion configured to be disposed in the heel region of the sole structure, wherein the flat portion extends from the aft point to the posterior-most point; and
a medial edge portion extending from the anterior-most point past the MTP point along a medial side of the plate, the medial edge portion being continuously convex along an entire length of the concave portion.

6. The plate of claim 5 , wherein the plate is formed of a material including fibers consolidated by a resin.

7. The plate of claim 5 , wherein the posterior-most point is located within the flat portion.

8. An article of footwear incorporating the plate of claim 5 .

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Farina Emily
• Follet Lysandre
• Luo Geng
• Suffield Rachel M
• Yetman Krissy

Classifications

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/141

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• A43B13/127

  the midsole being multilayer · CPC title

• A43B13/04

  Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre · CPC title

• A43B7/18

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