Footwear including heel spring support members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9241533-B2
Application number	US-201313773041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2013
Priority date	Feb 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

A shoe includes spring type support members, optionally for at least a heel area of a foot. The support member includes a primary biasing element in the form of a V-shaped spring assembly and a secondary biasing element provided at least partially within a volume defined by the primary biasing element (e.g., between its base member and its flexing member, beneath the flexing member, etc.). When the primary biasing element compresses beyond a predetermined extent, it will compress the secondary biasing element. This construction allows the degree of ground reaction force attenuation and energy absorption properties of a shoe to be dually controlled to meet the specific demands of the activity for which the footwear is intended to be used.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper; and
a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a support member for at least a heel area of the sole structure, wherein the support member includes:
a primary biasing element including a V-shaped spring assembly having a base member and a flexing member; and
a secondary biasing element located at least partially beneath the flexing member of the primary biasing element, wherein when the flexing member moves toward the base member beyond a predetermined extent, the flexing member engages and bends the secondary biasing element, the secondary biasing element including a base portion, a front portion that initially curves upwardly and forwardly from the base portion and then curves upwardly and rearwardly, and a rear portion that initially curves upwardly and rearwardly from the base portion and then curves upwardly an forwardly.

2. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary biasing element is in the shape of a C-shaped spring.

3. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary biasing element is in the shape of an oval spring.

4. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary biasing element is fixed to the base member of the primary biasing element.

5. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the primary biasing element is formed from a rigid polymeric material.

6. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary biasing element is formed from a rigid polymeric material.

7. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the primary biasing element includes a raised perimeter wall that extends around a rear heel area of the flexing member, from a medial side area of the flexing member to a lateral side area of the flexing member.

8. An article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein the raised perimeter wall is raised at its highest points between 2 mm to 35 mm.

9. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the base member is an elongate, substantially rigid plate.

10. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the base member and the flexing member are formed as a unitary, one-piece construction.

11. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the flexing member is an elongate, substantially rigid plate.

12. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the primary biasing element and the secondary biasing element are formed as a unitary, one-piece construction.

13. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary biasing element extends through an opening or groove formed in the base member of the primary biasing element.

14. An article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein each of the base member and the flexing member is an elongate, substantially rigid plate.

15. A foot support member, comprising:
a primary biasing element including a V-shaped spring assembly having a base member and a flexing member; and
a secondary biasing element engaged with one of the base member or the flexing member and located at least partially beneath the flexing member, wherein when the flexing member moves with respect to the base member beyond a predetermined extent under an applied load, motion of the flexing member bends the secondary biasing element, the secondary biasing element including a base portion, a front portion that curves upwardly and forwardly from the base portion and then upwardly and rearwardly, and a rear portion that curves upwardly and rearwardly from the base portion and then upwardly and forwardly.

16. A foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the secondary biasing element is in the shape of a C-shaped spring.

17. A foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the secondary biasing element is in the shape of an oval spring.

18. A foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the secondary biasing element is engaged with the base member of the primary biasing element via an adhesive.

19. A foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the primary biasing element includes a raised perimeter wall that extends around a free end of the flexing member, from a first side of the flexing member to a second side of the flexing member.

20. A foot support member according to claim 19 , wherein the raised perimeter wall is raised at its highest points with respect to a base surface of the flexing member between 2 mm to 35 mm.

21. A foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the base member and the flexing member are formed as a unitary, one-piece construction.

22. A foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the primary biasing element and the secondary biasing element are formed as a unitary, one-piece construction.

23. A foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein each of the base member and the flexing member is an elongate, substantially rigid plate.

24. A foot-receiving device, comprising:
a foot-covering member; and
a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes a foot support member according to claim 15 .

25. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper; and a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a foot support member according to claim 15 .

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Heard Joshua P
• Bruce Robert M

Classifications

• A43B17/023

  wedge-like (A43B17/03 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A43B13/183

  Leaf springs · CPC title

• A43B7/38

  Elevating, i.e. height increasing (with elevated heel parts inside A43B7/16; lengthening pieces for natural legs A61F3/00) · CPC title

• A43B17/02

  wedge-like or resilient · CPC title

• A43B7/144 Primary

  situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone · CPC title