Footwear sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317600-A1
Application number	US-201615776004-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sole structure for a footwear article includes round shell components. Each round shell component includes a network of ligaments that mechanically shift under load to attenuate a force or impact and that return to a resting state when the load is removed.

First claim

1 . A sole for a footwear article, the sole comprising:
a plurality of round shell components, each round shell component in the plurality of round shell components including:
ligaments that are connected at ligament junctions in a networked manner to collectively form a round three-dimensional body having a cavity, each ligament including an interior surface facing towards the cavity and an exterior surface facing away from the cavity and each ligament including a ligament thickness extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface; and
an array of voids positioned between the ligaments, each void in the array of voids extending entirely from the exterior surface to the interior surface and including a first void size at the exterior surface and a second void size at the interior surface.

2 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the array of voids includes a multiple of six voids and the round three-dimensional body comprises octahedral symmetry.

3 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the first void size is larger than the second void size.

4 . The sole of claim 3 , wherein the voids comprise circular voids and the first void size includes a first diameter and the second void size includes a second diameter.

5 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the first void size and the second void size are substantially similar.

6 . The sole of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of round shell component includes a first set of round shell components and a second set of round shell components, wherein each round shell component in the first set of round shell components includes a respective round three-dimensional body having a first volume, and wherein each round shell component in the second set of round shell components includes a respective round three-dimensional body having a second volume that is smaller than the first volume.

7 . The sole of claim 6 , wherein the second set of round shell elements are arranged in a crystal structure having a cubic-lattice structure.

8 . The sole of claim 7 , wherein the first set of round shell elements are positioned in a heel portion of the sole, and wherein the second set of round shell elements are arranged in a forefoot region of the sole.

9 . The sole of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of round shell component includes a first set of round shell components and a second set of round shell components, wherein each round shell component in the first set of round shell components includes a first array of voids having a first quantity of voids, and wherein each round shell component in the second set of round shell components includes a second array of voids having a second quantity of voids, which is greater than the first quantity and is a multiple of the first quantity.

10 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the sole includes a heel portion, a mid-foot portion, and a forefoot portion, and wherein the plurality of round shell components are positioned in the heel portion, the mid-foot portion, the forefoot portion, or any combination thereof.

11 . The sole of claim 10 ,
wherein the plurality of round shell components are positioned within the heel portion, wherein the plurality of round shell component positioned within the heel portion includes a first set of round shell components and a second set of round shell components, wherein each round shell component in the first set of round shell components includes a first set of characteristics, and wherein each round shell component in the second set of round shell components includes a second set of characteristics, which is different than the first set of characteristics.

12 . The sole of claim 10 ,
wherein the plurality of round shell components are positioned within the mid-foot portion, wherein the plurality of round shell component positioned within the mid-foot portion includes a first set of round shell components and a second set of round shell components, wherein each round shell component in the first set of round shell components includes a first set of characteristics, and wherein each round shell component in the second set of round shell components includes a second set of characteristics, which is different than the first set of characteristics.

13 . The sole of claim 10 ,
wherein the plurality of round shell components are positioned within the forefoot portion, wherein the plurality of round shell component positioned within the forefoot portion includes a first set of round shell components and a second set of round shell components, wherein each round shell component in the first set of round shell components includes a first set of characteristics, and wherein each round shell component in the second set of round shell components includes a second set of characteristics, which is different than the first set of characteristics.

14 . The sole of claim 10 ,
wherein the plurality of round shell component are positioned within the heel portion, the mid-foot portion, and the forefoot portion and includes at least a first set of round shell components and a second set of round shell components, wherein each round shell component in the first set of round shell components includes a first set of characteristics, and wherein each round shell component in the second set of round shell components includes a second set of characteristics, which is different than the first set of characteristics.

15 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is filled with another cushioning structure, and wherein the other cushioning structure includes a foamed material, a fluid-filled bladder, or any combination thereof.

16 . A cushioning system for a footwear midsole, the cushioning system comprising:
a first set of round shell components and a second set of round shell components, each round shell component in the first and second set comprising:
ligaments that are connected at ligament junctions in a networked manner to collectively form a round three-dimensional body having a cavity, each ligament including an interior surface facing towards the cavity and an exterior surface facing away from the cavity and each ligament including a ligament thickness extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface; and
an array of voids positioned between the ligaments, each void in the array of voids extending entirely from the exterior surface to the interior surface, wherein each round shell component in the first set of round shell components includes a first set of characteristics, and wherein each round shell component in the second set of round shell components includes a second set of characteristics, which is different than the first set of characteristics.

17 . A cushioning component for a footwear midsole, the cushioning component comprising:
a reversibly collapsible shell wall comprised of:
ligaments that are connected at ligament junctions in a networked manner to collectively form a round three-dimensional body, the ligaments at least partially enclosing a cushioning-component core, each ligament including an exterior surface facing away from the core; and
an array of voids positioned between the ligaments, each void in the array of voids extending from the exterior surface towards the cushioning-component core.

18 . The cushioning component of claim 17 , wherein the cushioning-component core is hollow.

19 . The cushioning component of claim 17 , wherein the cushioning-component core comprises a foamed material.

20 . The cushioning component of claim 19 , wherein the

Assignees

• Nike Inc
• Nike Innovate Cv

Inventors

• Campos Fidencio
• Czech Christopher D
• Elder Zachary M

Classifications

• A43B13/189

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

• A43B13/125 Primary

  characterised by the midsole or middle layer · CPC title

• A43B13/20

  Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} · CPC title

• A43B13/187

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

• A43B13/181

  Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole · CPC title