Sole structure for article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12167767-B2
Application number	US-202318295640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2023
Priority date	Sep 24, 2019
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a medial edge and a lateral edge. The sole structure also include a first lower rib extending from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the midsole. The first lower rib includes a portion spaced from the midsole between the medial edge and the lateral edge. The sole structure further includes a medial flex member disposed between the midsole and the first lower rib near the medial edge and a lateral flex member disposed between the midsole and the first lower rib near the lateral edge. The medial flex member and the lateral flex member are configured to flex the first lower rib relative to the midsole in response to a force of a predetermined magnitude.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole having a medial edge and a lateral edge;
a bottom plate secured to the midsole; and
a first lower rib extending from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the midsole, the first lower rib including a first lateral portion extending at least to the lateral edge and a first medial portion extending at least to the medial edge, wherein the first lower rib is coupled to the bottom plate by only two linking members and wherein an entirety of the first lower rib is spaced apart from a bottom surface of the bottom plate by the two linking members.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , further including:
a second lower rib spaced from the first lower rib along an axis extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear, the second lower rib including a second lateral portion extending at least to the lateral edge and a second medial portion extending at least to the medial edge.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the two linking members include:
a first medial flex member disposed between the bottom surface of the bottom plate and the first lower rib near the medial edge; and
a first lateral flex member disposed between the bottom surface of the bottom plate and the first lower rib near the lateral edge,
wherein the first medial flex member and the first lateral flex member are configured to flex the first lower rib between a compressed state and an uncompressed state relative to the midsole.

4. The sole structure of claim 3 , wherein the first medial flex member and the first lateral flex member are one of foam members or fluid-filled chambers.

5. The sole structure of claim 3 , further comprising:
a second lower rib spaced from the first lower rib along an axis extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear, the second lower rib including a second lateral portion extending at least to the lateral edge and a second medial portion extending at least to the medial edge; and
wherein the two linking members further include:
a second medial flex member disposed between the bottom surface of the bottom plate and the second lower rib near the medial edge; and
a second lateral flex member disposed between the bottom surface of the bottom plate and the second lower rib near the lateral edge,
wherein the second medial flex member and the second lateral flex member configured to flex the second lower rib relative to the midsole.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first lower rib is disposed in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

7. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first lower rib is concave relative to the midsole.

8. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate defines a gap exposing the midsole between the first lower rib and the second lower rib.

9. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first lower rib further includes one or more traction elements extending from the first lower rib between the first lateral portion and the first medial portion, wherein each of the one or more traction elements are configured to be spaced apart from the level ground surface in the uncompressed state, and wherein each of the one or more traction elements contact the ground surface in a compressed state of the first lower rib relative to the midsole.

10. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first lower rib includes a first medial end and a first lateral end, and wherein the first medial end extends beyond the medial edge of the midsole and the first lateral end extends beyond the lateral edge of the midsole.

11. An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 1 .

12. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole having a medial edge and a lateral edge;
a bottom plate having a top surface secured to a bottom surface of the midsole and extending from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the midsole;
a first lower rib extending from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the midsole, wherein the first lower rib is configured to flex between a compressed state and an uncompressed state relative to the bottom plate; and
a second lower rib extending from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the midsole, wherein the second lower rib is configured to flex between a compressed state and an uncompressed state relative to the bottom plate,
wherein the bottom plate further includes a central spine extending from and along the bottom surface of the midsole, the central spine being coupled to both the first lower rib and the second lower rib.

13. The sole structure of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first medial flex member disposed between the midsole and the first lower rib near the medial edge; and
a first lateral flex member disposed between the midsole and the first lower rib near the lateral edge,
wherein the first medial flex member and the first lateral flex member are configured to flex the first lower rib between the compressed state and the uncompressed state relative to the bottom plate.

14. The sole structure of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second medial flex member extending from the bottom plate to the second lower rib near the medial edge; and
a second lateral flex member extending from the bottom plate to the second lower rib near the lateral edge,
wherein the second medial flex member and the second lateral flex member are configured to flex the second lower rib relative to the bottom plate.

15. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the second lower rib is spaced from the first lower rib along an axis extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

16. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the bottom plate defines a gap exposing the midsole between the first lower rib and the second lower rib.

17. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the first lower rib is disposed in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

18. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the first lower rib is convex relative to the bottom plate.

19. An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 12 .

20. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole having a medial edge, a lateral edge, and an anterior edge;
a plurality of lower ribs arranged in series along an axis extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear and extending from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the midsole, each lower rib of the plurality of lower ribs including a first lateral portion extending at least to the lateral edge and a first medial portion extending at least to the medial edge, wherein each lower rib of the plurality of lower ribs is spaced apart from the midsole by only two linking members; and
a toe plate configured to articulate relative to the midsole, wherein the toe plate is spaced apart from and disposed entirely anterior the plurality of lower ribs along the axis extending from the heel region to the forefoot region of the article of footwear, wherein the toe plate extends from the medial edge to the lateral edge and extends around an entirety of the anterior edge, and wherein the toe plate includes an exposed inner surface spaced apart from the midsole.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Chen Yuchung K
• Greenspan Joël Ryp
• Mclachlan Oliver
• Reinhardt Stuart
• Rushbrook Thomas J

Classifications

• A43B5/02

  Football boots {or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby} · CPC title

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B13/187 Primary

  Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials · CPC title

• A43B13/185

  Elasticated plates sandwiched between two interlocking components, e.g. thrustors · CPC title

• A43B13/146

  Concave end portions, e.g. with a cavity or cut-out portion · CPC title