Cleated footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9414642-B2
Application number	US-201414159078-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2014
Priority date	Jan 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

Cleat structures, e.g., for football shoes, may include: (a) a cleat base; (b) a cleat free end; and (c) a concave side edge and at least two additional side edges extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end. Such cleats may be incorporated into sole structures (e.g., outsole components) that have one or more of: a base plate having a V-shaped support structure with lateral and medial support members extending forward from a base support area located in a heel or rear midfoot area of the outsole component; a base plate having a matrix structure with recesses or openings formed between rib elements that make up the matrix structure; and/or a base plate having a rear heel support. The cleats and base plates may be made, at least in part, as unitary, one-piece constructions, using selective laser sintering or other three-dimensional printing and/or rapid manufacturing additive fabrication techniques.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cleat, comprising:
a cleat base;
a cleat free end;
a first side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, wherein the first side edge has a first concave exterior surface over at least 50% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
a second side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
a third side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
a first junction region joining the first side edge and the second side edge;
a second junction region joining the first side edge and the third side edge; and
a third junction region joining the second side edge and the third side edge,
wherein at least 90% of a perimeter length around the cleat at a first cleat height location between the cleat base and the cleat free end is made up of the first, second, and third side edges, wherein a remainder of the perimeter length around the cleat at the first cleat height location constitutes length associated with the first, second, and third junction regions, and wherein the first cleat height location is located between 0.1H and 0.9H, wherein H is a cleat height dimension in a direction from the cleat base to the cleat free end.

2. A cleat according to claim 1 , wherein the second side edge is flat or concave over at least 50% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end, and wherein the third side edge is flat or concave over at least 50% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end.

3. A cleat according to claim 2 , wherein at least 95% of a perimeter length around the cleat base is made up of the first, second, and third side edges.

4. A cleat according to claim 2 , wherein at least 95% of a perimeter length around the cleat free end is made up of the first, second, and third side edges.

5. A cleat according to claim 1 , wherein the first concave exterior surface of the first side edge extends over at least 75% of the first side edge height dimension.

6. A cleat according to claim 1 , wherein the first concave exterior surface of the first side edge extends over at least 90% of the first side edge height dimension.

7. A cleat according to claim 6 , wherein the second side edge is flat or concave over at least 75% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end, and wherein the third side edge is flat or concave over at least 75% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end.

8. A cleat according to claim 1 , wherein an opening is defined extending through the cleat from the second side edge to the third side edge.

9. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
an outsole base member; and
a first cleat extending from the outsole base member, wherein the first cleat includes: (a) a cleat base; (b) a cleat free end; (c) a first side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, wherein the first side edge has a first concave exterior surface over at least 50% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end; (d) a second side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end; (e) a third side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end; (f) a first junction region joining the first side edge and the second side edge; (g) a second junction region joining the first side edge and the third side edge; and (h) a third junction region joining the second side edge and the third side edge,
wherein at least 90% of a perimeter length around the first cleat at a first cleat height location between the cleat base and the cleat free end is made up of the first, second, and third side edges, wherein a remainder of the perimeter length around the first cleat at the first cleat height location constitutes length associated with the first, second, and third junction regions, and wherein the first cleat height location is located between 0.1H and 0.9H, wherein H is a height dimension of the first cleat in a direction from the cleat base to the cleat free end.

10. A sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein the first cleat is located in a forefoot area of the outsole base member.

11. A sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein the outsole base member further includes a second cleat that is separate from the first cleat, wherein the second cleat includes: (a) a cleat base; (b) a cleat free end; (c) a first side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, wherein the first side edge has a first concave exterior surface over at least 50% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end; (d) a second side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end; (e) a third side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end; (f) a first junction region joining the first side edge and the second side edge; (g) a second junction region joining the first side edge and the third side edge; and (h) a third junction region joining the second side edge and the third side edge,
wherein at least 90% of a perimeter length around the second cleat at a second cleat height location between the cleat base of the second cleat and the cleat free end of the second cleat is made up of the first, second, and third side edges of the second cleat, wherein a remainder of the perimeter length around the second cleat at the second cleat height location constitutes length associated with the first, second, and third junction regions of the second cleat, and wherein the second cleat height location is located between 0.1H 2 and 0.9H 2 , wherein H 2 is a height dimension of the second cleat in a direction from the cleat base of the second cleat to the cleat free end of the second cleat.

12. A sole structure according to claim 11 , wherein each of the first cleat and the second cleat is located in a forefoot area of the outsole base member.

13. A sole structure according to claim 12 , wherein each of the first side edges of the first cleat and the second cleat is oriented so that it faces a rear heel area of the outsole base member.

14. A sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein the first cleat is oriented so that the first side edge faces a rear heel area of the outsole base member.

15. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
an outsole component that includes:
a first lateral perimeter cleat located along a lateral side of a forefoot area or a midfoot area of the outsole component, wherein the first lateral perimeter cleat includes a concave rear edge that faces a rear heel direction of the sole structure, and wherein the first lateral perimeter cleat has a three-sided shape including two side edges engaged with and extending forward from the concave rear edge of the first lateral perimeter cleat,
a second lateral perimeter cleat located along the lateral side of the outsole component and forward of the first lateral perimeter cleat, wherein the second lateral perimeter cleat includes a concave rear edge that faces the rear heel direction of the sole structure, and wherein the second lateral perimeter cleat has a three-sided shape including two side edges engaged with and extending forward from the concave rear edge of the second lateral perimeter cleat,
a first medial perimeter cleat located along a medial side of a forefoot area or a midfoot area of the outsole component, wherein the first medial perimeter cleat includes a concave rear edge that faces the rear heel direction of the sole structure, and wherein the first medial perimeter cleat has a three-sided shape including two side edges engaged with and ext

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Berend Thomas
• Francis Paul J
• Kohatsu Shane S
• Larson Ryan R
• Lashmore Dov Michael
• Lindner Troy C
• Link Kenneth
• Wolfe Randall S

Classifications

• A43C15/162

  characterised by the shape · CPC title

• A43C15/168

  with resilient means, e.g. shock absorbing means · CPC title

• A43C15/02

  attached to the sole · CPC title

• A43B5/02

  Football boots {or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby} · CPC title

• A43B13/141 Primary

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