# US 10,863,798 B2 · Support features for footwear ground engaging members > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,798 B2 - Document ID: US10863798B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/167,118 - Filed: 2018-10-22 - Published: 2019-02-21 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-30 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Morgan Stauffer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863798B2 ## CPC - A43C 15/167: {frusto-conical or cylindrical} - A43B 5/001: {Golf shoes} - A43B 5/002: {Mountain boots or shoes} - A43B 5/02: Football boots {or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby} - A43B 13/026: {Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite} - A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre - A43B 13/122: {characterised by the outsole or external layer} - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - A43B 13/184: {the structure protruding from the outsole} - A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)} - A43B 13/188: {Differential cushioning regions} - A43B 13/22: Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer - A43B 13/223: {Profiled soles} - A43B 13/26: projecting beyond the sole surface - A43B 17/02: wedge-like or resilient - A43B 17/14: made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials - A43B 23/22: Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers - A43C 15/00: Non-skid devices or attachments (apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like A63B27/00) - A43C 15/162: {characterised by the shape} - A43C 15/164: {having a circular cross section} - A43C 15/165: {pointed or conical, e.g. calks, spikes, pins} - B29D 35/122: {Soles} - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) ## Abstract An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper. The sole structure may include a sole component including a baseplate having a bottom surface and at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the first ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. In addition, the sole structure may also include a tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and partially surrounding the first ground engaging member such that a portion of the first ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the tapered support structure. Also, the tapered support structure may extend downward from the baseplate less than the first ground engaging member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a baseplate having a bottom surface; a first support member extending along the bottom surface between a first distal end a second distal end; a second support member extending along the bottom surface between a third distal end and fourth distal end, the second support member crossing the first support member at a junction; a first ground-engaging member extending from a base disposed proximate to one of the first distal end and the second distal end, the base of the first ground-engaging member including an outer edge that is flush and continuous with an outer edge of the first support member; and a second ground-engaging member extending from the second support member proximate to one of the third distal end and the fourth distal end and including a substantially planar edge located at a base of the second ground-engaging member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the junction is disposed at a midfoot region of the baseplate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first support member is elongate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sole structure of claim 3, wherein the second support member is elongate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first support member and the second support member cooperate to form an X-shape on the bottom surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, further comprising a third ground-engaging member disposed at the other of the first distal end and the second distal end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sole structure of claim 6, further comprising a fourth ground-engaging member disposed at the other of the third distal end and the fourth distal end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the first ground-engaging member and the second ground-engaging member are disposed between a midfoot region of the baseplate and a forefoot end of the baseplate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sole structure of claim 8, wherein the third ground-engaging member and the fourth ground-engaging member are disposed between the midfoot region of the baseplate and a heel end of the baseplate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 1. ### Claim 11 A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a baseplate having a bottom surface; a first support member extending along the bottom surface between a first distal end a second distal end; a second support member extending along the bottom surface between a third distal end and fourth distal end, the second support member cooperating with the first support member to form an X-shape on the bottom surface of the baseplate; a first ground-engaging member extending from a base disposed proximate to the first distal end, the base of the first ground-engaging member including an outer edge that is flush and continuous with an outer edge of the first support member; and a second ground-engaging member integrally formed with and extending from the second support member proximate to one of the third distal end and the fourth distal end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein a junction of the first support member and the second support member is disposed at a midfoot region of the baseplate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the first support member is elongate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sole structure of claim 13, wherein the second support member is elongate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein (i) the first distal end is disposed proximate to a medial side of the baseplate, (ii) the second distal end is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the baseplate, (iii) the third distal end is disposed proximate to the medial side of the baseplate, and (iv) the fourth distal end is disposed proximate to the lateral side of the baseplate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, further comprising a third ground-engaging member disposed at the second distal end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sole structure of claim 16, further comprising a fourth ground-engaging member disposed at the other of the third distal end and the fourth distal end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sole structure of claim 17, wherein the first ground-engaging member and the second ground-engaging member are disposed between a midfoot region of the baseplate and a forefoot end of the baseplate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sole structure of claim 18, wherein the third ground-engaging member and the fourth ground-engaging member are disposed between the midfoot region of the baseplate and a heel end of the baseplate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 11.