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US 10,477,910 B2Granted
Flexible sole and upper for an article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorAaron A C Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A midsole for an article of footwear is strategically incised or scored to produce various straight and arcuate lines. Straight lines are integrated widthwise between edges on an arch side on an outer side. Arcuate lines are integrated into various places at the top of a toe portion, with at least one extending down through a midpoint in a heel portion. The latter arcuate line maintains curvatures that parallel curvatures on the outer side at some places and the arch side at other places. Also crossing at the midpoint in the heel portion are intersecting lines.
Claims16
A midsole for an article of footwear, the midsole comprising:
- a midsole body comprising a toe portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion;
- a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the midsole body extending between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- a plurality of sipes extending from the first surface into the midsole body, the plurality of sipes comprising:
- a plurality of arcuate sipes extending longitudinally, wherein the plurality of arcuate sipes comprises a first arcuate sipe having a first length extending from the toe portion to the heel portion, an intermediate arcuate sipe having a second length that is shorter than the first length, and a plurality of shorter arcuate sipes each having a third length that is shorter than the second length, and
- a first diagonal sipe and a second diagonal sipe, the first diagonal sipe intersecting the second diagonal sipe,
- wherein the first arcuate sipe intersects the first diagonal sipe and the second diagonal sipe at a location in which the first diagonal sipe intersects with the second sipe,
- wherein the intermediate arcuate sipe, the plurality of shorter arcuate sipes, and at least a portion of the first arcuate sipe are parallel to a curvature of a lateral edge of the midsole.
5 more elements
A midsole for an article of footwear, the midsole comprising:
- a midsole body comprising a toe portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion;
- a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the midsole body extending between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- a plurality of sipes extending from the first surface into the midsole body, the plurality of sipes comprising:
- a plurality of arcuate sipes extending longitudinally, wherein the plurality of arcuate sipes comprises a first arcuate sipe having a first length extending from the toe portion to the heel portion, an intermediate arcuate sipe having a second length that is shorter than the first length, and a plurality of shorter arcuate sipes each having a third length that is shorter than the second length,
- a plurality of lateral sipes extending laterally across the midsole, and
- a first diagonal sipe and a second diagonal sipe, the first diagonal sipe intersecting the second diagonal sipe,
- wherein the plurality of lateral sipes includes a first lateral sipe that intersects the first diagonal sipe and the second diagonal sipe at a location in which the first diagonal sipe intersects with the second diagonal sipe,
- wherein the intermediate arcuate sipe, the plurality of shorter arcuate sipes, and at least a portion of the first arcuate sipe are parallel to a curvature of a lateral edge of the midsole.
6 more elements
A sole assembly for an article of footwear, the sole assembly comprising:
- a midsole comprising:
- a midsole body comprising a toe portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion;
- a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the midsole body extending between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- a plurality of sipes extending from the first surface into the midsole body, the plurality of sipes comprising:
- a first diagonal sipe and a second diagonal sipe, the first diagonal sipe intersecting the second diagonal sipe, and
- a plurality of arcuate sipes extending longitudinally, wherein the plurality of arcuate sipes comprises a first arcuate sipe having a first length extending from the toe portion to the heel portion, an intermediate arcuate sipe having a second length that is shorter than the first length, and a plurality of shorter arcuate sipes each having a third length that is shorter than the second length,
- wherein the first arcuate sipe intersects the first diagonal sipe and the second diagonal sipe at a location in which the first diagonal sipe intersects with the second diagonal sipe;
- and an outsole coupled to the midsole,
- wherein the intermediate arcuate sipe, the plurality of shorter arcuate sipes, and at least a portion of the first arcuate sipe are parallel to a curvature of a lateral edge of the midsole.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.