# US 11,992,082 B2 · Sole including a support member

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- Number: US 11,992,082 B2
- Document ID: US11992082B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/183,919
- Filed: 2023-03-14
- Published: 2023-09-14
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-25
- Assignees: Deckers Outdoor Corporation
- Applicants: Deckers Outdoor Corporation
- Inventors: Jean-Luc Diard; Stephen Liu; Stephen Kass; Vincent Bouillard; Christophe Aubonnet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992082B2

## CPC

- A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer}
- A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form
- A43B 3/0042: {with circular or circle shaped parts}
- A43B 13/183: {Leaf springs}
- A43B 13/185: {Elasticated plates sandwiched between two interlocking components, e.g. thrustors}
- 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: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

An article of footwear including an upper, a sole attached to the upper, where the sole has a medial side and a lateral side, and a through-hole extending between the medial side and the lateral side, and a plurality of support members in the through-hole, where at least two of support members are a different size.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a sole attached to said upper, said sole including a midsole having a medial side and a lateral side, said midsole including a through-hole extending between said medial side and said lateral side, said through-hole being spaced from a bottom surface of said midsole; and
a plurality of support members in said through-hole, at least two of the plurality of support members being a different size.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said support members includes a first member and a second member, said first member and said second member being separate from each other and each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said upper ends and said lower ends of said first member and said second member at least partially overlap each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of said support members has rounded ends connected by a substantially straight portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said plurality of support members are positioned end-to-end within through-hole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said support members gradually decrease in size from a rear end to a front end of said sole.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said support members are each made of a foam material or ethylene vinyl acetate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of said support members includes a peripheral layer made with a first material and a internal area made of a second material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of said support members is hollow.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said support members are spaced from each other within said through-hole.