Article of footwear having a sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9480301-B2
Application number	US-201314049920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2013
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper secured to the sole structure for receiving a foot. The sole structure includes a lasting board and sole plate construction. One of the lasting board and sole plate may have an opening along the center such that there is little to no overlap, or lamination, between the lasting board and the sole plate along the center of the article of footwear. Such a construction may eliminate weight while maintaining the support provided by the layers of the sole. Additionally, such a construction may enhance flexibility. In some embodiments, the article of footwear may include an insole. In some embodiments, the sole structure of the article of footwear may consist of an insole, a lasting board, and a sole plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear including a forefoot region, a heel region opposite the forefoot region, a midfoot region disposed between forefoot region and heel region, and a longitudinal axis extending between a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:
a lasting board including a ground side surface, a foot side surface opposite the ground side surface, an outer peripheral edge, and an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, wherein the lasting board extends from a forefoot edge of the article of footwear to a point disposed in the midfoot region of the article of footwear, the lasting board terminating at the point disposed in the midfoot region, wherein the lasting board extends from a medial edge of the article of footwear to a lateral edge of the article of footwear;
an upper having a top portion configured to receive a foot and a lower portion that is stretched around the outer peripheral edge of the lasting board;
a sole plate having a ground side surface and a foot side surface opposite the ground side surface, wherein the sole plate overlies the lasting board such that the ground side surface of the sole plate is a ground-engaging surface and a peripheral edge of the sole plate extends up a medial side and a lateral side of the upper.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the sole plate extends continuously from a forward edge of the article of footwear to a rearward edge of the article of footwear and the sole plate extends continuously from a medial edge of the article of footwear to a lateral edge of the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising an insole disposed inside a cavity of the article of footwear, the insole having a foot side surface, a ground side surface opposite the foot side surface and disposed adjacent the foot side of the lasting board, wherein the insole has a protrusion sized and shaped to fit within the opening of the lasting board such that the ground side surface of the insole that is formed by the protrusion is substantially flush with the ground side surface of the lasting board.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a lower portion disposed between the lasting board and the sole plate, wherein the lasting board imparts shape to a portion of the upper.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the inner peripheral edge of the lasting board comprises an inner forward edge spaced from an inner rearward edge by the opening.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the inner peripheral edge comprises an inner medial edge spaced from an inner lateral edge by the opening.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the ground side surface of the sole plate includes a plurality of protrusions, and wherein at least one of the protrusions is disposed in a central area of the sole plate and is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the footwear.

8. An article of footwear including a forefoot region, a heel region opposite the forefoot region, a midfoot region disposed between the forefoot region and heel region, a ground facing surface, and a longitudinal axis extending between a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:
a lasting board including a ground side surface and a foot side surface opposite the ground side surface, wherein the ground side surface includes an outer peripheral edge and an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, wherein the lasting board extends from a forefoot edge of the article of footwear to a point disposed in the midfoot region of the article of footwear, the lasting board terminating at the point disposed in the midfoot region, and wherein the lasting board extends from a medial edge of the article of footwear to a lateral edge of the article of footwear;
a sole plate having a ground side surface and a foot side surface opposite the ground side surface, wherein the sole plate overlies the lasting board and wherein the sole plate covers the entire ground facing surface of the article of footwear; and
an upper having a lower portion, wherein:
the lower portion of the upper is disposed between the ground side surface of the lasting board and the sole plate in the forefoot region, and the inner peripheral edge of the lasting board is substantially flush with a peripheral edge of the lower portion of the upper in the forefoot region; and
a medial edge and a lateral edge of the lower portion of the upper form a seam in an area rearward from the lasting board towards the heel region.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , further comprising an insole disposed inside a cavity of the article of footwear, the insole having a foot side surface and a ground side surface opposite the foot side surface, wherein, in the assembled condition, the insole is disposed adjacent the foot side surface of the lasting board and the foot side surface of the sole plate contacts the ground side surface of the insole in an area bounded by the inner peripheral edge of the opening of the lasting board.

10. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the outer peripheral edge of the lasting board comprises an outer forward edge in the forefoot region, and wherein the outer forward edge of the lasting board substantially aligns with a forward edge of the sole plate.

11. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the insole has a protrusion sized and shaped to fit within the opening of the lasting board such that the ground side surface of the insole that is formed by the protrusion is substantially flush with the ground side surface of the lasting board.

12. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein a width of the lasting board defined between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge is substantially constant along the entire lasting board.

13. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the inner peripheral edge of the lasting board directly contacts the protrusion and the peripheral edge of the lower portion of the upper is separated from the protrusion.

14. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the ground side surface of the sole plate includes at least one protrusion.

15. An article of footwear including a forefoot region, a heel region opposite the forefoot region, a midfoot region disposed between the forefoot region and heel region, and a longitudinal axis extending between a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:
a lasting board including a ground side surface, a foot side surface opposite the ground side surface, an outer peripheral edge, and an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, wherein the lasting board extends from a forefoot edge of the article of footwear to a point disposed in the midfoot region of the article of footwear, the lasting board terminating at the point disposed in the midfoot region, wherein the lasting board extends from a medial edge of the article of footwear to a lateral edge of the article of footwear;
an insole disposed inside a cavity of the article of footwear, the insole having a foot side surface, a ground side surface opposite the foot side surface and disposed adjacent the foot side of the lasting board, wherein the insole includes a protrusion having a perimeter that is defined by the inner peripheral edge of the lasting board such that the ground side surface of the insole that is formed by the protrusion is substantially flush with the ground side surface of the lasting board;
an upper, the upper having a top portion configured to receive a foo

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Cavaliere Sergio
• Adami Giovanni
• Smith Timothy J

Classifications

• A43B13/26

  projecting beyond the sole surface · CPC title

• A43B5/02

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

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B7/14

  with foot-supporting parts · CPC title

• A43B9/12

  Stuck or cemented footwear · CPC title