# US 11,998,081 B2 · Foot support systems including tiltable forefoot components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,081 B2 - Document ID: US11998081B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/176,706 - Filed: 2023-03-01 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-21 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Austin Orand - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998081B2 ## CPC - A43B 3/0047: {parts having a male and corresponding female profile to fit together, e.g. form-fit} - A43B 13/184: {the structure protruding from the outsole} - A43B 3/246: {characterised by the sole} - A43B 7/087: {in the bottom of the sole} - A43B 7/24: Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side {, preventing supination or pronation} - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - 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 13/28: characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract Sole structures, foot support systems, articles of footwear, and/or other foot-receiving devices include: (a) a first footwear component having a ground-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the ground-facing surface includes arched medial and lateral surfaces and (b) a second footwear component having an upper-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the upper-facing surface includes arched medial and lateral surfaces that face (and optionally contact) the respective arched medial and lateral surfaces of the first footwear component. The first and second footwear components are movably engaged together such that: (a) the arched medial surface of the first footwear component moves with respect to and along the arched medial surface of the second footwear component and (b) the arched lateral surface of the first footwear component moves with respect to and along the arched lateral surface of the second footwear component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising: a first footwear component including a ground-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the ground-facing surface includes: (a) an arched medial surface arching downward from a medial side edge of the sole structure toward a central region of the first footwear component, and (b) an arched lateral surface arching downward from a lateral side edge of the sole structure toward the central region of the first footwear component, wherein the first footwear component includes one of a first track or a first channel; and a second footwear component including an upper-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the upper-facing surface includes: (a) an arched medial surface arching downward from a medial side edge of the second footwear component toward a central region of the second footwear component and facing the arched medial surface of the first footwear component, and (b) an arched lateral surface arching downward from a lateral side edge of the second footwear component toward the central region of the second footwear component and facing the arched lateral surface of the first footwear component, wherein the second footwear component includes the other of the first track or the first channel, and wherein the first track is slidably engaged with the first channel to slide, tilt, and/or rotate the first footwear component with respect to the second footwear component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a midsole component including a ground-facing surface having a recess defined therein, wherein the first footwear component is a separate part fixedly engaged with the ground-facing surface of the midsole component in the recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of golf spikes or track spikes are integrally formed or engaged with the ground-facing surface of the first footwear component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sole structure according to claim 1, further comprising: an outsole component engaged with at least one of the ground-facing surface of the first footwear component or a ground-facing surface of the second footwear component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sole structure according to claim 4, wherein an opening is defined through the outsole component, and wherein a portion of the ground-facing surface of the second footwear component is exposed through the opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The sole structure according to claim 4, wherein the outsole component is a first outsole component located forward of the second footwear component, and wherein the sole structure further comprises: a second outsole component located rearward of the second footwear component and separated from the first outsole component by the second footwear component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sole structure according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of golf spikes or track spikes are integrally formed or engaged with the ground-facing surface of the first outsole component, and wherein a plurality of golf spikes or track spikes are integrally formed or engaged with a ground-facing surface of the second outsold component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of golf spikes or track spikes are integrally formed or engaged with a ground-facing surface of the second footwear component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sole structure according to claim 1, further comprising: an outsole component engaged with the ground-facing surface of the first footwear component and with a ground-facing surface of the second footwear component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sole structure according to claim 9, wherein an opening is defined through the outsole component, and wherein a portion of the ground-facing surface of the second footwear component is exposed through the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sole structure according to claim 10, wherein the opening defined through the outsole component changes shape when the first footwear component slides, tilts, and/or rotates with respect to the second footwear component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The sole structure according to claim 10, wherein the opening includes a forward open region, a rearward open region, and a continuous channel connecting the forward open region and the rearward open region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sole structure according to claim 12, wherein a lateral edge of the forward open region and a lateral edge of the rearward open region are located closer to a lateral side edge of the sole structure than is the continuous channel. ### Claim 14 An article of footwear, comprising: an upper; and a sole structure engaged with the upper, the sole structure including: (i) a first footwear component including a ground-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the ground-facing surface includes: (a) an arched medial surface arching downward from a medial side edge of the article of footwear toward a central region of the first footwear component, and (b) an arched lateral surface arching downward from a lateral side edge of the article of footwear toward the central region of the first footwear component, wherein the first footwear component includes one of a first track or a first channel; and (ii) a second footwear component including an upper-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the upper-facing surface includes: (a) an arched medial surface arching downward from a medial side edge of the second footwear component toward a central region of the second footwear component and facing the arched medial surface of the first footwear component, and (b) an arched lateral surface arching downward from a lateral side edge of the second footwear component toward the central region of the second footwear component and facing the arched lateral surface of the first footwear component, wherein the second footwear component includes the other of the first track or the first channel, and wherein the first track is slidably engaged with the first channel to slide, tilt, and/or rotate the first footwear component with respect to the second footwear component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The article of footwear according to claim 14, further comprising: a midsole component including a ground-facing surface having a recess defined therein, wherein the first footwear component is a separate part fixedly engaged with the ground-facing surface of the midsole component in the recess. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The article of footwear according to claim 14, further comprising: an outsole component engaged with at least one of the ground-facing surface of the first footwear component or a ground-facing surface of the second footwear component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the outsole component is a first outsole component located forward of the second footwear component, and wherein the article of footwear further comprises: a second outsole component located rearward of the second footwear component and separated from the first outsole component by the second footwear component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The article of footwear according to claim 14, further comprising: an outsole component engaged with the ground-facing surface of the first footwear component and with a ground-facing surface of the second footwear component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein an opening is defined through the outsole component, wherein a portion of the ground-facing surface of the second footwear component is exposed through the opening, and wherein the opening defined through the outsole component changes shape when the first footwear component slides, tilts, and/or rotates with respect to the second footwear component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the opening includes a forward open region, a rearward open region, and a continuous channel connecting the forward open region and the rearward open region, and wherein a lateral edge of the forward open region and a lateral edge of the rearward open region are located closer to a lateral side edge of the sole structure than is the continuous channel.