Article of footwear having an elevated plate sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016015123-A1
Application number	US-201514867885-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2011
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole disposed adjacent to the upper; a first plate attached to the midsole and including a first surface opposing the midsole and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first plate than the first surface; a leg extending from the second surface and including a distal end; a resilient member carried by the leg at the distal end; and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate and including a third surface opposing the second surface of the first plate, the resilient member being spaced apart from the third surface in a first state and engaging the third surface in a second state.

22 . The sole structure of claim 21 , wherein the leg includes a cavity at the distal end.

23 . The sole structure of claim 22 , wherein the resilient member is at least partially received within the cavity.

24 . The sole structure of claim 22 , wherein the resilient member is operable to selectively translate relative to and within the cavity.

25 . The sole structure of claim 24 , further comprising a link operable to control movement of the resilient member relative to and within the cavity.

26 . The sole structure of claim 21 , wherein a degree to which the resilient member extends from the leg is adjustable.

27 . The sole structure of claim 21 , wherein the resilient member includes an engagement surface extending from the leg and opposing the third surface of the second plate.

28 . The sole structure of claim 27 , wherein the engagement surface extends between the distal end of the leg and the third surface.

29 . The sole structure of claim 27 , wherein the engagement surface is disposed between and simultaneously contacts the distal end of the leg and the third surface when the resilient member is in the second state.

30 . The sole structure of claim 21 , wherein movement of the resilient member into the second state is caused by movement of at least one of the first plate and the second plate toward the other of the first plate and the second plate.

31 . A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole disposed adjacent to the upper; a first plate attached to the midsole and including a first surface opposing the midsole and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first plate than the first surface; a leg extending from the second surface and including a distal end; a second plate spaced apart from the first plate and including a third surface opposing the second surface of the first plate; and a resilient member disposed between the distal end of the leg and the third surface of the second plate.

32 . The sole structure of claim 31 , wherein the leg includes a cavity at the distal end.

33 . The sole structure of claim 32 , wherein the resilient member is at least partially received within the cavity.

34 . The sole structure of claim 32 , wherein the resilient member is operable to selectively translate relative to and within the cavity.

35 . The sole structure of claim 34 , further comprising a link operable to control movement of the resilient member relative to and within the cavity.

36 . The sole structure of claim 31 , wherein a degree to which the resilient member extends from the leg is adjustable.

37 . The sole structure of claim 31 , wherein the resilient member is spaced apart from the third surface in a first state and engages the third surface in a second state.

38 . The sole structure of claim 37 , wherein the resilient member simultaneously contacts the distal end of the leg and the third surface when the resilient member is in the second state.

39 . The sole structure of claim 37 , wherein movement of the resilient member into the second state is caused by movement of at least one of the first plate and the second plate toward the other of the first plate and the second plate.

40 . The sole structure of claim 31 , wherein the resilient member includes a distal end that opposes the third surface and is larger than the distal end of the leg.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Peyton Lee D
• Devoe Devonne

Classifications

• B29D35/142

  Soles · CPC title

• A43B13/187

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

• A43B13/148

  Wedged end portions · CPC title

• A43B13/189

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

• A43B13/32

  by adhesives · CPC title