Sole structure with proprioceptive elements and method of manufacturing a sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12201185-B2
Application number	US-202217983623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2022
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. Proprioceptive elements may extend in holes in the midsole body. The midsole body has an interior portion having a first density and an outer skin covering the interior portion. The outer skin has a second density that is greater than the first density, extends along each of the holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface, and forms a cylinder around each of the perforated holes. The midsole body has a greater compressive stiffness under loading along each central axis than under loading transverse or oblique to each central axis. A first set of proprioceptive elements have a third density different from a fourth density of a second set.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
a midsole body with a proximal surface and a distal surface and having a forefoot region and a heel region; wherein the midsole body has a vertical axis extending perpendicular to the proximal surface and the distal surface, a medial sidewall portion extending away from the proximal surface, and a lateral sidewall portion extending away from the proximal surface and spaced apart from the medial sidewall portion across the vertical axis; wherein the midsole body has an interior portion having a first density and an outer skin covering the interior portion, separated from the interior portion by a boundary, and having a second density that is greater than the first density; wherein the midsole body has perforated holes established by perforations through the midsole body; wherein the outer skin extends along each of the perforated holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface and forms a cylinder around each of the perforated holes; and
a plurality of proprioceptive elements, wherein each proprioceptive element is disposed in a different one of the perforated holes as an integral portion of the midsole body surrounded by the perforations and is movable along a central axis of the respective proprioceptive element in a direction toward the proximal surface under a force along the respective central axis at the distal surface;
wherein the outer skin is most resistant to compression along a length of the cylinder such that the midsole body has a greater compressive stiffness under loading along each central axis than under loading transverse to each central axis, or than under loading at an oblique angle to each central axis;
wherein a first set of the plurality of proprioceptive elements are disposed in the forefoot region, and have a third density that is different than the first density and the second density;
wherein a second set of the plurality of proprioceptive elements are disposed in the heel region, and have a fourth density that is different than the first density, the second density, and the third density; and wherein a third set of the plurality of proprioceptive elements are disposed in the medial sidewall portion and in the lateral sidewall portion; and
wherein each central axis of the plurality of proprioceptive elements disposed in the medial sidewall portion and the lateral sidewall portion is angled relative to the vertical axis and is configured to align with a direction of a lateral loading force on the midsole body at a location of the respective proprioceptive element such that as each proprioceptive element moves along the respective central axis toward the proximal surface under the lateral loading force at the distal surface, the respective proprioceptive element protrudes further at the proximal surface than when not under the lateral loading force and is thereby configured to provide tactile feedback to a wearer of the sole structure at the medial sidewall portion and the lateral sidewall portion.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the midsole body includes multiple flexible arms extending from each of the plurality of proprioceptive elements between the perforations.

3. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the perforated holes are disposed in one or both of a bottom portion or a sidewall portion of the midsole body, and in at least one of the forefoot region, a midfoot region, or the heel region of the midsole body.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of proprioceptive elements is discoid.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least some punched holes extending through the midsole body from the proximal surface to the distal surface; and
wherein at least some of the punched holes are empty.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein:
at least some of the perforated holes have different diameters.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole structure including:
a midsole body with a proximal surface and a distal surface and having a forefoot region and a heel region; wherein the midsole body has a vertical axis extending perpendicular to the proximal surface and the distal surface, a medial sidewall portion extending away from the proximal surface, and a lateral sidewall portion extending away from the proximal surface and spaced apart from the medial sidewall portion across the vertical axis; wherein the midsole body has an interior portion having a first density and an outer skin covering the interior portion, separated from the interior portion by a boundary, and having a second density that is greater than the first density; wherein the midsole body has perforated holes established by perforations through the midsole body; wherein the outer skin extends along each of the perforated holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface and forms an annular cylinder around each of the perforated holes; and
a plurality of proprioceptive elements, wherein each proprioceptive element is disposed in a different one of the perforated holes as an integral portion of the midsole body surrounded by the perforations and is movable along a central axis of the respective proprioceptive element in a direction toward the proximal surface under a force along the respective central axis at the distal surface;
wherein the outer skin is most resistant to compression along a length of the cylinder such that the midsole body has a greater compressive stiffness under loading along each central axis than under loading transverse to each central axis, or than under loading at an oblique angle to each central axis;
wherein a first set of the plurality of proprioceptive elements are disposed in the forefoot region, and have a third density that is different than the first density and the second density;
wherein a second set of the plurality of proprioceptive elements are disposed in the heel region, and have a fourth density that is different than the first density and the second density and the third density; and wherein a third set of the plurality of proprioceptive elements are disposed in the medial sidewall portion and in the lateral sidewall portion; and
wherein each central axis of the plurality of proprioceptive elements disposed in the medial sidewall portion and the lateral sidewall portion is angled relative to the vertical axis and is configured to align with a direction of a lateral loading force on the midsole body at a location of the respective proprioceptive element such that as each proprioceptive element moves along the respective central axis toward the proximal surface under the lateral loading force at the distal surface, the respective proprioceptive element protrudes further at the proximal surface than when not under the lateral loading force and is thereby configured to provide tactile feedback to a wearer of the article of footwear at the medial sidewall portion and the lateral sidewall portion;

an outer sock; and
an inner sock disposed inside of the outer sock;
wherein the midsole body is disposed inside of the outer sock, and between the inner sock and the outer sock, with the proximal surface of the midsole body secured to a distal surface of the inner sock, and the distal surface of the midsole body secured to a proximal surface of the outer sock.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Chen Yuchung K
• Mclachlan Oliver
• Rushbrook Thomas J
• Smith Timothy J

Classifications

• A43B13/226

  the profile being made in the foot facing surface · CPC title

• A43B7/24 Primary

  Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side  {, preventing supination or pronation} · CPC title

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/12

  Soles with several layers of different materials · CPC title

• A43B13/141 Primary

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