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US 10,206,456 B2Granted
Article of footwear comprising a sole member with geometric patterns
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsShane S. Kohatsu, Christopher S. Cook, Bret Schoolmeester
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.
Claims20
A sole member for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole member, the sole member including an outer surface, the outer surface comprising an upper surface and a lower surface;
- the sole member having an interior portion, wherein the interior portion is disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- the sole member including at least a first set of apertures, wherein at least one of the apertures of the first set of apertures is a blind-hole aperture;
- wherein the first set of apertures is disposed along a portion of the outer surface of the sole member;
- wherein each aperture of the first set of apertures has a length extending through a portion of the interior portion of the sole member;
- and
- wherein the first set of apertures includes more than 100 apertures formed as a plurality of rings of apertures, with each ring of apertures in the first set of apertures being arranged along the outer surface of the sole member in a generally round and circular first pattern around a first center, wherein the plurality of rings of apertures includes:
- (a) a first ring of apertures located a first radial distance from the first center of the plurality of rings, the first ring of apertures having a first length into the sole member and (b) a second ring of apertures located a second radial distance from the first center, the second ring of apertures having a second length into the sole member, wherein the first radial distance differs from the second radial distance, and wherein the first length differs from the second length.
5 more elements
A sole member for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a foot support member made from a foam material, wherein the foot support member includes an outer surface having an upper surface and a lower surface and an interior portion disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- a first set of apertures extending from the outer surface into the interior portion of the foot support member, wherein at least one aperture of the first set of apertures is a blind-hole aperture, wherein the first set of apertures includes more than 100 apertures formed as a first plurality of rings of apertures in a generally round and circular first pattern around a first center, wherein the first set of apertures is located in one of a heel region, a forefoot region, or a midfoot region of the foot support member, wherein the first plurality of rings of apertures includes:
- (a) a first ring of apertures located a first radial distance from the first center, the first ring of apertures having a first length into the sole member and (b) a second ring of apertures located a second radial distance from the first center, the second ring of apertures having a second length into the sole member, wherein the first radial distance differs from the second radial distance, and wherein the first length differs from the second length;
- and
- a second set of apertures extending from the outer surface into the interior portion of the foot support member, wherein at least one aperture of the second set of apertures is a blind-hole aperture, wherein the second set of apertures includes a second plurality of rings of apertures formed in a generally round and circular second pattern around a second center, wherein the second set of apertures is located in a different region from the first set of apertures and in one of the heel region, the forefoot region, or the midfoot region of the foot support member, wherein the second plurality of rings of apertures includes:
- (a) a third ring of apertures located a third radial distance from the second center, the third ring of apertures having a third length into the sole member and (b) a fourth ring of apertures located a fourth radial distance from the second center, the fourth ring of apertures having a fourth length into the sole member, wherein the third radial distance differs from the fourth radial distance, and wherein the third length differs from the fourth length.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.