# US 11,304,475 B2 · Particulate foam with partial restriction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,475 B2 - Document ID: US11304475B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/327,344 - Filed: 2016-09-23 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-24 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer; Scott C. Holt; Jeffrey L. Johnson; Cassidy R. Levy; Nicholas R. Long; Matthew C. Palmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304475B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - A43B 1/0072: {made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials} - A43B 5/00: Footwear for sporting purposes (non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00) - A43B 7/141: {having an anatomical or curved form} - A43B 7/32: with shock-absorbing means (resilient soles A43B13/18) - A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre - A43B 13/122: {characterised by the outsole or external layer} - A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer} - A43B 13/127: {the midsole being multilayer} - A43B 13/16: Pieced soles (with several layers of different material A43B13/12) - A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole} - 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 13/187: {Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials} - A43B 13/188: {Differential cushioning regions} - A43B 13/189: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water} - A43B 13/20: Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} - A43B 13/206: {provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members} - B32B 5/16: characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder {or granules (layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02)} - B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material - B32B 25/047: {of particles} - B32B 25/14: comprising {synthetic rubber copolymers (B32B25/18 and B32B25/20 take precedence)} - B32B 2264/02: Synthetic macromolecular particles - B32B 2437/02: Gloves, shoes - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract An article of footwear includes an upper, an outsole, and a midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole. The outsole is attached to the upper and has a ground-engaging surface. The midsole has a series of walls that define a series of channels extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the midsole and along an entire length of the midsole. The series of channels are isolated from one another and each channel receives a quantity of particulate matter therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear comprising: an upper; an outsole attached to the upper and including a ground-engaging surface; and a midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole and including a first surface, a second surface, and a series of walls each formed separately from the first surface and the second surface and including a first end fastened to the first surface and a second end opposite the first end and fastened to the second surface to define a series of channels extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the midsole and along an entire length of the midsole, adjacent ones of the channels (i) overlapping one another along both the length and a width of the midsole, (ii) being isolated from one another, and (iii) each receiving a quantity of particulate matter therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the particulate matter is permitted to move along a longitudinal axis of each channel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the midsole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the particulate matter is restricted from moving between channels in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the midsole by the walls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the channels include a substantially triangular cross-section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the particulate matter includes foam beads. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the foam beads include a substantially spherical shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the foam beads include approximately the same size and shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the foam beads include at least one of a different size and shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first ends of adjacent walls in the series of walls are joined together and the second ends of adjacent walls in the series of walls are joined together. ### Claim 10 An article of footwear comprising: an upper; an outsole attached to the upper and including a ground-engaging surface; and a midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole and including a first surface, a second surface, and a series of walls, each wall of the series of walls formed separately from and fastened to both of the first surface and the second surface to define a series of channels extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the midsole, the series of channels overlapping one another in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and along a width of the midsole and each receiving a quantity of particulate matter therein. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the particulate matter is permitted to move along a longitudinal axis of each channel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the midsole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the particulate matter is restricted from moving between channels in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the midsole by the walls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the channels include a substantially triangular cross-section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein at least one of the series of channels overlaps an adjacent pair of the series of channels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the series of channels is disposed between the pair of the series of channels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the particulate matter includes foam beads. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the foam beads include a substantially spherical shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the foam beads include approximately the same size and shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the foam beads include at least one of a different size and shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein first ends of adjacent walls in the series of walls are joined together and second ends of adjacent walls in the series of walls are joined together.