Sole structure with proprioceptive elements and method of manufacturing a sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023064197-A1
Application number	US-202217983634-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 9, 2022
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. Proprioceptive elements may extend in the hole in the midsole body, and translate toward the proximal surface in the holes upon a force directed along a central axis of the hole at a distal end of the proprioceptive elements. In various embodiments, the holes may angle relative to vertical from the proximal surface to the distal surface, the holes may be defined by perforations and the proprioceptive elements may be integral portions of the midsole body, or the midsole body may have a plurality of annular holes at the proximal surface, and a plurality of annular recesses in the distal surface, and a plurality of proprioceptive elements, each centered in a different annular hole of the plurality of annular holes. Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear are described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
forming a midsole body such that the midsole body has:
annular holes in a proximal surface of the midsole body;
annular recesses in a distal surface of the midsole body, each annular recess encircling a different one of the annular holes from below and extending beyond a lowest extent of the different one of the annular holes toward the proximal surface; and
a plurality of proprioceptive elements, each proprioceptive element centered in a different one of the annular holes.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
securing a sockliner to the proximal surface of the midsole body.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the sockliner has a plurality of holes; and
wherein securing the sockliner to the proximal surface of the midsole body includes aligning the plurality of holes of the sockliner with the plurality of proprioceptive elements such that the plurality of proprioceptive elements extends through the plurality of holes in the sockliner.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
securing an elastic sockliner top layer to the proximal surface of the sockliner, with the elastic sockliner top layer spanning across the plurality of holes of the sockliner such that the plurality of proprioceptive elements protrude through the plurality of holes of the sockliner when interfacing with the elastic sockliner top layer.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
securing a strobel to the proximal surface of the midsole body.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the strobel has through-holes; and
wherein securing the strobel to the proximal surface of the midsole body includes aligning the through-holes of the strobel with the plurality of proprioceptive elements.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
prior to securing the strobel to the proximal surface of the midsole body, securing an upper to the strobel.

8 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
securing a sockliner to the proximal surface of the strobel.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sockliner has holes, and wherein securing the sockliner to the proximal surface of the strobel includes aligning the holes of the sockliner with the plurality of proprioceptive elements.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
securing an elastic sockliner top layer to a proximal surface of the sockliner, with the elastic sockliner top layer spanning across the holes of the sockliner such that the plurality of proprioceptive elements protrudes through the holes of the strobel and the holes of the sockliner when interfacing with the elastic sockliner top layer.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
securing an outsole to the distal surface of the midsole body, wherein the outsole lines the annular recesses of the midsole body.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the outsole has through-holes, and wherein said securing the outsole includes aligning the through-holes of the outsole with the plurality of proprioceptive elements such that the plurality of proprioceptive elements is exposed at a distal surface of the outsole.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Chen Yuchung K
• Mclachlan Oliver
• Rushbrook Thomas J
• Smith Timothy J

Classifications

• A43B7/24 Primary

  Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side  {, preventing supination or pronation} · CPC title

• A43B13/187

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

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• B32B2437/02

  Gloves, shoes · CPC title

• A43B13/141 Primary

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title