Sole structure for article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12426681-B2
Application number	US-202217848670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2022
Priority date	Jun 30, 2021
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A sole structure includes a foam element extending from a forefoot region to a heel region. A bottom surface of the foam element includes a recess formed in the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a cushioning arrangement disposed in the recess of the foam element. The cushioning arrangement has a proximal end adjacent to the bottom surface of the foam element and a distal end formed on an opposite side of the cushioning arrangement than the proximal end, the cushioning arrangement including at least one medial bladder proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and at least one lateral bladder proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure. An outsole includes an anterior outsole and a posterior outsole attached to the bottom surface of the foam element and the distal end of the cushioning arrangement. The anterior outsole is spaced apart from the posterior outsole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a foam element including a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the foam element than the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a first cushion including a first surface attached to the bottom surface of the foam element, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first cushion than the first surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface; and
a support including a first portion received entirely within a groove formed in the peripheral surface of the foam element and including an elongated projection extending in a direction away from a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure and in a direction inwardly and a second, base portion extending from the first portion between the second surface of the first cushion and the ground-engaging surface of the sole structure, the second, base portion having a width that is greater than a width of the first portion, the support extending over the sidewall of the first cushion.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising an outsole defining the ground-engaging surface, the support extending between the second surface of the first cushion and the outsole.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the support extends from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the support is substantially flush with the peripheral surface of the foam element.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first cushion is a fluid-filled chamber.

6. The sole structure of claim 5 , further comprising a second cushion disposed adjacent to the first cushion.

7. The sole structure of claim 6 , wherein the first cushion is disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the sole structure and further from an anterior end of the sole structure than the second cushion.

8. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the second cushion is a fluid-filled chamber.

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

10. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a foam element including a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the foam element than the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a first cushion including a first surface attached to the bottom surface of the foam element, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first cushion than the first surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface;
an outsole defining a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure, the first cushion being disposed between the outsole and the foam element; and
a support including a first portion attached to and received entirely within a groove formed in the peripheral surface of the foam element and including an elongated projection extending in a direction away from the ground-engaging surface of the sole structure, extending in a direction from a forefoot region of the sole structure toward a heel region of the sole structure, and in a direction inwardly, the support including a second portion extending between the second surface of the first cushion and the outsole, the second portion having a width that is greater than a width of the first portion.

11. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the support includes a higher rigidity than the foam element.

12. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the support is disposed at a lateral side of the sole structure.

13. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the support extends from the forefoot region of the sole structure to the heel region of the sole structure.

14. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the support is substantially flush with the peripheral surface of the foam element.

15. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the first cushion is a fluid-filled chamber.

16. The sole structure of claim 15 , further comprising a second cushion disposed adjacent to the first cushion.

17. The sole structure of claim 16 , wherein the first cushion is disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the sole structure and further from an anterior end of the sole structure than the second cushion.

18. The sole structure of claim 17 , wherein the second cushion is a fluid-filled chamber.

19. An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 10 .

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Klein Ross

Classifications

• A43B13/125

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title

• A43B7/1495

  with arch-supports of the bracelet type · CPC title

• A43B7/14

  with foot-supporting parts · CPC title

• A43B13/189 Primary

  filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water · CPC title

• A43B13/186 Primary

  Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32) · CPC title