Article of footwear having a sole plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12225968-B2
Application number	US-202117218353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Jan 20, 2021
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear with an upper and a top portion attached to the upper. The sole structure can include an outsole with a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion. The front portion and the middle portion of the outsole can be attached to the top portion. A front spacing can be defined between the front portion of the outsole and the top portion, and a rear spacing can be defined between the rear portion of the outsole and the top portion. Further, the sole structure can include at least one of a spike, a tooth, or a barb extending from a bottom surface of the outsole.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear with an upper and a strobel board attached to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
an outsole with a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion, the front portion and the middle portion of the outsole attached to the strobel board at a forefoot coupling point and a midfoot coupling point, respectively;
a front spacing defined between the front portion of the outsole and the strobel board, between the forefoot coupling point and the midfoot coupling point, and between a medial side and a lateral side, the front spacing defining a front curved length that follows a line positioned halfway between the outsole and the strobel board that extends between the forefoot coupling point and the midfoot coupling point, and further defining a front gap height between the outsole and the strobel board along the front curved length;
a front cushioning member comprising a foam material and located within the front spacing, extending along the front curved length;
a rear spacing defined between the rear portion of the outsole and the strobel board, between the midfoot coupling point and a terminal end of the rear portion, and between the medial side and the lateral side, the rear spacing defining a rear curved length that follows a line positioned halfway between the outsole and the strobel board that extends between the midfoot coupling point and the terminal end of the rear portion, and further defining a rear gap height between the outsole and the strobel board along the rear curved length;
a rear cushioning member comprising a foam material and located within the rear spacing, extending along the rear curved length; and
at least one ground engaging member extending from a bottom surface of the outsole,
wherein the outsole is a deformable rigid plate, and the combination of the outsole and the front and rear spacings can absorb downward forces induced by a user in the respective front and rear portions and the outsole can provide a spring effect as the downward forces are removed during use of the article of footwear, and
wherein the rear curved length is curved along an entire length thereof.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the front gap height varies along the front curved length, first increasing from the forefoot coupling point to a maximum front gap height and then decreasing from the maximum front gap height toward the midfoot coupling point.

3. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein a maximum gap height of the front spacing is configured to be located beneath the ball of a user's foot.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the rear gap height increases from the midfoot coupling point toward to a maximum rear gap height.

5. The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the maximum rear gap height of the rear spacing is configured to be located beneath the heel of a user's foot.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the front cushioning member defines a front spacing pocket extending longitudinally between the forefoot coupling point and the front cushioning member, latitudinally between the medial side and the lateral side, and vertically between the strobel board and the outsole.

7. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the front cushioning member defines a front spacing pocket extending longitudinally between the front cushioning member and the midfoot coupling point, latitudinally between the medial side and the lateral side, and vertically between the strobel board and the outsole.

8. An article of footwear with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a strobel board attached to the upper; and
a sole structure with an outsole having a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion,
wherein the front portion of the outsole is attached to the strobel board at a forefoot coupling point in the forefoot region and at a midfoot coupling point in the midfoot region,
wherein the outsole is spaced from the strobel board between the forefoot coupling point and the midfoot coupling point and defines a front spacing, the front spacing defining a front curved length that follows a line positioned halfway between the outsole and the strobel board that extends between the forefoot coupling point and the midfoot coupling point, and further defining a first gap height between the outsole and the strobel board along the front curved length,
a front cushioning member comprising a foam material and located within the front spacing, extending along the front curved length and having a thickness equivalent to the first gap height therealong,
wherein the rear portion of the outsole is spaced away from the strobel board and defines a second gap height and a rear spacing between the midfoot coupling point and a terminal end of the rear portion, the rear spacing defining a rear curved length along the outsole that follows a line positioned halfway between the outsole and the strobel board that extends between the midfoot coupling point and the terminal end of the rear portion,
wherein a rear cushioning member comprises a foam material and is located within the rear spacing, extending along the rear curved length,
wherein the outsole is a deformable rigid plate, and the combination of the outsole and the front and rear spacings can absorb downward forces induced by a user in the respective front and rear portions and the outsole can provide a spring effect as the downward forces are removed during use of the article of footwear, and
wherein the rear curved length is curved along an entire length thereof.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the first gap height varies between the forefoot coupling point and the midfoot coupling point, with a maximum first gap height configured to be located beneath a ball of a user's foot.

10. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the second gap height increases from the midfoot coupling point to a maximum second gap height, wherein the maximum second gap height is configured to be located beneath a heel of a user's foot.

11. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the front spacing has a front spacing volume and the front cushioning member is sized to occupy about 35 percent to about 50 percent of the front spacing volume.

12. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the rear cushioning member is located within the rear spacing and configured to be located beneath a heel of a user's foot.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the rear spacing has a rear spacing volume and the rear cushioning member is sized to occupy about 35 percent to about 50 percent of the rear spacing volume.

14. An article of footwear with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a strobel board attached to the upper; and
a sole structure with an outsole having a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion,
wherein the front portion of the outsole is attached to the strobel board at a forefoot coupling point in the forefoot region and at a midfoot coupling point in the midfoot region,
wherein the outsole is spaced from the strobel board between the forefoot coupling point and the midfoot coupling point and defines a front spacing, the front spacing defining a first longitudinal length and a front curved length that follows a line positioned halfway between the outsole and the strobel board that extends between the forefoot coupling point and the midfoot coupling point, and further defining a first gap height between the outsole and the strobel board along the front curved length,
where

Assignees

• Puma SE

Inventors

• Bonin Mauro
• Siegismund Andreas
• Redon Arnaud

Classifications

• A43B13/26

  projecting beyond the sole surface · CPC title

• A43B13/183 Primary

  Leaf springs · CPC title

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/026

  Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite · CPC title

• A43B13/145

  Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes · CPC title