Article of footwear having a sole plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12426678-B2
Application number	US-202418623566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2024
Priority date	Jan 20, 2021
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A sole structure that includes an outsole having an upper outsole and a lower outsole that is directly coupled with the upper outsole such that the outsole defines a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion. The sole structure further includes a front cushioning member that is disposed within a front spacing that is defined between the upper outsole and the lower outsole, a plurality of first ground engaging members that extend from a bottom surface of the upper outsole member, and a plurality of second ground engaging members that extend from a bottom surface of the lower outsole member. The upper outsole and the lower outsole are each configured to engage with a ground surface. The front spacing is provided in the front portion of the outsole.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, and comprising:
an outsole having an upper outsole and a lower outsole that is directly coupled with the upper outsole, the outsole defining a front portion within the forefoot region, a middle portion within the midfoot region, and a rear portion within the heel region;
a front cushioning member that is disposed within a front spacing that is defined between the upper outsole and the lower outsole;
a plurality of first ground engaging members that extend from a bottom surface of the upper outsole; and
a plurality of second ground engaging members that extend from a bottom surface of the lower outsole,
wherein the upper outsole and the lower outsole are each configured to engage with a ground surface within the forefoot region,
wherein the lower outsole extends from the heel region through the midfoot region and terminates in the forefoot region,
wherein the plurality of first ground engaging members is located within only the forefoot region, and
wherein the front spacing is provided in the front portion of the outsole.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the front spacing defines a front spacing volume, and
wherein a volume of the front cushioning member is in a range of between 85% and 100% of the front spacing volume.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a maximum gap height of the front spacing is configured to be located beneath a ball of a user's foot during an in-use configuration of the article of footwear.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first ground engaging members define a first cross-sectional shape at an intersection with the upper outsole and the plurality of second ground engaging members define a second cross-sectional shape at an intersection with the lower outsole, and
wherein the second cross-sectional shape is different than the first cross-sectional shape.

5. The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the lower outsole further includes a plurality of third ground engaging members that define a third cross-sectional shape at an intersection with the lower outsole,
wherein the third cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape.

6. The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is triangular and the second cross-sectional shape is circular.

7. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second ground engaging members are disposed directly below the front cushioning member.

8. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a tooth extends from a toe end of the outsole.

9. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the front cushion is visible from a lateral side of the article of footwear.

10. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the front cushioning member is configured as a dampening structure during a use configuration.

11. A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, and comprising:
an outsole having an upper outsole and a lower outsole that is directly coupled with the upper outsole, the outsole defining a front portion within the forefoot region, a middle portion within the midfoot region, and a rear portion within the heel region;
a front cushioning member that is disposed within a front spacing that is defined between the upper outsole and the lower outsole;
a plurality of first ground engaging members that extend from a bottom surface of the upper outsole; and
a plurality of second ground engaging members that extend from a bottom surface of the lower outsole,
wherein the upper outsole and the lower outsole are each configured to engage with a ground surface within the forefoot region,
wherein the lower outsole extends from the heel region through the midfoot region and terminates in the forefoot region,
wherein the plurality of first ground engaging members is located within only the forefoot region, and
wherein the plurality of second ground engaging members are disposed directly below the front cushioning member.

12. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the front spacing defines a front spacing volume, and
wherein a volume of the front cushioning member is in a range of between 85% and 100% of the front spacing volume.

13. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the front spacing volume is configured to be reduced by between 5% and about 10% relative an uncompressed volume of the front spacing volume.

14. The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the lower outsole is configured to move toward the upper outsole to reduce the front spacing volume and compress the front cushioning member between the lower outsole and the upper outsole.

15. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first ground engaging members define a first cross-sectional shape at an intersection with the upper outsole and the plurality of second ground engaging members define a second cross-sectional shape at an intersection with the lower outsole, and
wherein the second cross-sectional shape is different than the first cross-sectional shape.

16. The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the lower outsole further includes a plurality of third ground engaging members that define a third cross-sectional shape at an intersection with the lower outsole,
wherein the third cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape.

17. The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is triangular and the second cross-sectional shape is circular.

18. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the front cushion is visible from a lateral side of the article of footwear.

19. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal length of the front spacing increases when a compressive force is applied to the sole structure.

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