# US 11,896,086 B2 · Article of footwear with external support member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,086 B2 - Document ID: US11896086B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/341,542 - Filed: 2021-06-08 - Published: 2021-09-23 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-07 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: DeVonne DeVoe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896086B2 ## CPC - A43B 7/141: {having an anatomical or curved form} - A43B 7/142: situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones - A43B 7/1425: situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange - A43B 7/143: situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone - A43B 7/144: situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone - A43B 7/1445: situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal - A43B 7/1495: {with arch-supports of the bracelet type} - A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials - A43B 13/22: Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer - A43B 23/22: Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract An article of footwear includes a dynamic support member that provides support to a foot. The support member is external to the article. The support member provides dynamic support by tightening around the foot when a user applies a strong enough force against a base portion of the support member. The support member includes several lateral gaps that facilitate increased flexibility for some portions of the support member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear comprising: an upper having an outer surface; and a support member including (i) a base portion extending from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper and defining a convex surface facing the outer surface of the upper in a forefoot region of the upper when the base portion is in an unloaded state, (ii) a first side portion extending around the upper and defining a first side axis extending from the base portion to a first side upper edge at the medial side, and (iii) a second side portion extending around the upper and defining a second side axis extending from the base portion to a second side upper edge at the lateral side, the first side axis and the second side axis being continuously convergent with one another in a direction extending away from the base portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion opposes the base portion to define an opening between the base portion and the at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the upper is disposed within the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed from a material having a higher rigidity than a material forming the upper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the support member defines a first gap extending along the base portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the first gap extends into at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the first gap tapers to a distal end at the at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the support member defines a second gap extending along the base portion, the second gap being spaced apart from the first gap in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the second gap extends into at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion. ### Claim 10 An article of footwear comprising: an upper having an outer surface; and a support member including (i) a base portion extending from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper and defining a concave surface facing away from the outer surface of the upper in a forefoot region of the upper when the base portion is in an unloaded state, (ii) a first side portion defining a first side axis extending from the base portion to a first side upper edge at the medial side, and (iii) a second side portion defining a second side axis extending from the base portion to a second side upper edge at the lateral side, the first side axis and the second side axis extending continuously toward one another in a direction extending away from the base portion and over the forefoot region of the upper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion opposes the base portion to define an opening between the base portion and the at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the upper is disposed within the opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the support member is formed from a material having a higher rigidity than a material forming the upper. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the base portion extends along an underfoot surface of the article of footwear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the support member defines a first gap extending along the base portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the first gap extends into at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the first gap tapers to a distal end at the at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the support member defines a second gap extending along the base portion, the second gap being spaced apart from the first gap in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the second gap extends into at least one of the first side portion and the second side portion.