Sole system having movable protruding members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019090584-A1
Application number	US-201816204236-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 29, 2018
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Mar 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation. Some embodiments can include an inner member that is configured to accommodate the movement of a protruding member. Other embodiments can include a plurality of recessed portions or nub portions formed along an outwardly facing surface of the sole member.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole member having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface disposed opposite the outwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface including a base portion extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear; the outwardly facing surface of the sole member including a plurality of recessed portions, wherein the outwardly facing surface associated with each of the plurality of recessed portions is disposed closer to the inwardly facing surface relative to the outwardly facing surface that is associated with the base portion; and a protruding member assembly positioned proximal to the inwardly facing surface of the sole member, wherein the sole member includes a first hole and a second hole, wherein the protruding member assembly includes a first protruding member and a second protruding member, and wherein the first protruding member extends outward through the first hole and the second protruding member extends outward through the second hole.

2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of protruding members is disposed adjacent to a respective one of the plurality of recessed portions.

3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed portions includes a first recessed portion, wherein the first recessed portion has a rounded inner surface.

4 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed portions are arranged over the forefoot region, a midfoot region, and the heel region of the sole member.

5 . The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of recessed portions disposed in the midfoot region are more shallow than the plurality of recessed portions disposed in the heel region.

6 . The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of recessed portions include a first recessed portion disposed in the midfoot region have a greater cross-sectional area in a horizontal plane relative to the plurality of recessed portions disposed in the forefoot region.

7 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the protruding member assembly includes a plurality of protruding members connected together by a plurality of connecting portions.

8 . The article of footwear of claim 7 , the first protruding member being joined to the second protruding member by a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion having a substantially elongated, strip-like shape.

9 . The article of footwear of claim 7 , further comprising an inner member having a proximal side and a distal side disposed opposite the proximal side, wherein the inner member is disposed proximate the inward facing surface of the sole member, and wherein the distal side of the inner member is configured to elastically deform when the first protruding member is compressed inward.

10 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recessed portions are configured to provide traction to the article of footwear.

11 . An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole member having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface disposed opposite the outwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface including a base portion extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear; the outwardly facing surface of the sole member including a plurality of recessed portions, wherein the outwardly facing surface associated with each of the plurality of recessed portions is disposed closer to the inwardly facing surface relative to the outwardly facing surface that is associated with the base portion; and a plurality of protruding members that extend away from the outwardly facing surface of the sole member, the plurality of protruding members including a first protruding member and a second protruding member; wherein each of the first and second protruding members is disposed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of recessed portions.

12 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second protruding members is adjacent to at least two of the plurality of recessed portions.

13 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of recessed portions includes a first recessed portion adjacent to the first protruding member and a second recessed portion adjacent to the second protruding member, and wherein the first and second recessed portions have rounded inner surfaces.

14 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of recessed portions are arranged over the forefoot region, a midfoot region, and the heel region of the sole member.

15 . The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of recessed portions disposed in the midfoot region are more shallow than the plurality of recessed portions disposed in the heel region.

16 . The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein at least some of the plurality of recessed portions disposed in the midfoot region have a greater cross-sectional area in a horizontal plane relative to at least some of the plurality of recessed portions disposed in the forefoot region.

17 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the sole member comprises a plurality of holes and the plurality of protruding members extend through respective ones of the plurality of holes in the sole member.

18 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein all of the plurality of recessed portions are disposed adjacent a respective one of the plurality of protruding members.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hoffer Kevin W
• Langvin Elizabeth
• Meschter James C
• Minami Tetsuya T
• Rasmussen Jeff

Classifications

• A43B13/185

  Elasticated plates sandwiched between two interlocking components, e.g. thrustors · CPC title

• A43C15/14

  with outwardly-movable spikes · CPC title

• A43B13/18

  Resilient soles {(skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658)} · CPC title

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/184 Primary

  the structure protruding from the outsole · CPC title