Uppers and sole structures for articles of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833039-B2
Application number	US-201314040021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2013
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

Sole structures and uppers for articles of footwear are described that includes features to enhance footwear flexibility, dexterity, natural motion feel, and/or tackiness. Such articles of footwear may provide enhanced properties and feel for use in skateboarding and other activities.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
a first sole portion including a first exposed bottom surface area;
a second sole portion including a second exposed bottom surface area;
an elongated double curved channel located between the first exposed bottom surface area and the second exposed bottom surface area, wherein the elongated double curved channel has a first intersection portion that intersects a first flexion channel and a second intersection portion that intersects a second flexion channel, the elongated double curved channel further having a remaining portion, wherein the first and second intersection portions and the remaining portion collectively form an entire length of the elongated double curved channel, wherein the remaining portion of the elongated double curved channel has a constant width and extends continuously laterally from a medial-side end at a central portion of a medial side of a forefoot region of the sole structure to a lateral-side end at or near a midfoot region of the sole structure and continuously in a direction that extends from a heel toward a toe of the sole structure, wherein a forward portion of the elongated double curved channel has a concave portion facing a medial edge of the sole structure and a rearward portion of the elongated double curved channel has a concave portion facing a lateral edge of the sole structure, and wherein the elongated double curved channel has a depth of at least 3 mm over at least 50% of its length; and the first flexion channel extending from the lateral edge of the sole structure to the medial edge of the sole structure, being linear, and opening into the elongated double curved channel; wherein the lateral-side end of the elongated double curved channel extends through a lateral sidewall of the sole structure, and wherein the medial-side end of the elongated double curved channel extends through a medial sidewall of the sole structure.

2. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein, along at least 50% of the entire length of the elongated double curved channel, the depth of the elongated double curved channel is at least 80% of a thickness of the sole structure.

3. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated double curved channel has a width of 2 to 2.5 mm along at least 50% of the entire length of the elongated double curved channel.

4. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated double curved channel has a width of 1 mm to 3.5 mm over at least 75% of the entire length of the elongated double curved channel.

5. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the medial-side end of the elongated double curved channel is located proximate to a phalange-to-first metatarsal joint support region of the sole structure, and wherein the lateral-side end of the elongated double curved channel is located proximate to a cuboid-to-metatarsal joint support region of the sole structure.

6. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein on a medial side of the sole structure, the elongated double curved channel extends beneath a region for supporting a joint between the first proximal phalange and the first metatarsal, and wherein on a lateral side of the sole structure, the elongated double curved channel extends beneath a region for supporting proximal halves of fourth and fifth metatarsals.

7. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated double curved channel extends beneath a region for supporting a middle region of a third metatarsal.

8. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first sole portion is provided beneath a phalange support region of the sole structure.

9. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated double curved channel transitions from the concave portion facing the medial edge of the sole structure to the concave portion facing the lateral edge of the sole structure beneath a region for supporting a third metatarsal.

10. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexion channel has a depth of at least 3 mm over at least 50% of a length of the first flexion channel.

11. A sole structure according to claim 10 , wherein, along at least 50% of the length of the first flexion channel, the depth of the first flexion channel is at least 80% of a thickness of the sole structure.

12. A sole structure according to claim 10 , wherein a lateral-side end of the first flexion channel extends through a lateral sidewall of the sole structure, and wherein a medial-side end of the first flexion channel extends through a medial sidewall of the sole structure.

13. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first sole portion includes: (a) the second flexion channel extending from the lateral edge of the sole structure to the elongated double curved channel, and (b) a third flexion channel extending from the lateral edge of the sole structure to the medial edge of the sole structure, wherein each of the first, second, and third flexion channels has a depth of at least 3 mm over at least 50% of a respective length of the first, second, and third flexion channels.

14. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein a unitary plantar support surface connects the first and second sole portions.

15. A sole structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: a third sole portion including a third exposed bottom surface area; and an elongated heel channel located between the second exposed bottom surface area and the third exposed bottom surface area, wherein the elongated heel channel extends from a heel edge to the medial edge of the sole structure, and wherein the elongated heel channel has a depth of at least 3 mm over at least 50% of a length of the elongated heel channel.

16. A sole structure according to claim 15 , wherein a unitary plantar support surface connects the first, second, and third sole portions.

17. A sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first sole portion includes a longitudinal flexion channel extending from a first end located proximate a lateral side of the elongated double curved channel and a second end located proximate a forward toe support region of the sole structure, wherein the longitudinal flexion channel has a depth that is at least 3 mm over at least 50% of a length of the longitudinal flexion channel.

18. A sole structure according to claim 17 , wherein the first sole portion further includes: (a) the second flexion channel extending from the lateral edge of the sole structure to the elongated double curved channel, and (b) a third flexion channel extending from the lateral edge of the sole structure to the medial edge of the sole structure, and wherein each of the second, and third flexion channels intersects the longitudinal flexion channel.

19. A sole structure according to claim 18 , wherein the first sole portion further includes: (a) a first secondary flexion groove located between the first and second flexion channels and (b) a second secondary flexion groove located between the second and third flexion channels.

20. A sole structure according to claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second secondary flexion channels terminates within the first sole portion without extending to an edge of the sole structure.

21. A sole structure according to claim 15 , wherein the elongated heel channel includes a first portion extending longitudinally from a center of the heel edge and a second portion extending at an oblique angle from the first portion to the medial edge of the sole s

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Smaldone Patricia L
• Vanatta Dylan S

Classifications

• A43B13/223

  Profiled soles · CPC title

• A43B13/141

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

• A43B23/042

  Uppers made of one piece (one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124) · CPC title

• A43B3/0057 Primary

  S-shaped · CPC title

• A43B23/027

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