# US 12,004,591 B2 · Footwear ground engaging members having concave portions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,591 B2 - Document ID: US12004591B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/344,304 - Filed: 2021-06-10 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-31 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Bryant Russell Klug; Tetsuya T. Minami; James Molyneux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004591B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/26: projecting beyond the sole surface - A43B 5/00: Footwear for sporting purposes (non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00) - A43B 13/223: {Profiled soles} - A43C 15/161: {characterised by the attachment to the sole} - A43C 15/162: {characterised by the shape} - A43C 15/167: {frusto-conical or cylindrical} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An article of footwear may include a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from a baseplate, the first ground engaging member may have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in a substantially horizontal plane, the first ground engaging member having a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, and a third sidewall edge forming vertices of the substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. In addition, a first sidewall may have a concave portion that is concave in the substantially horizontal plane. Further, the first ground engaging member may be disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the outer member with the first sidewall edge disposed opposite the concave portion of the sidewall, and the first sidewall edge oriented facing toward the peripheral edge. Also, the concave portion of the first sidewall may be oriented in a substantially lateral direction, facing away from the peripheral edge of the outer member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a baseplate; a first ground-engaging member including a first concave sidewall facing away from a peripheral edge of the baseplate; a second ground-engaging member including a second concave sidewall facing away from the peripheral edge of the baseplate; and a third ground-engaging member including a third concave sidewall facing away from the peripheral edge of the baseplate, the third concave sidewall opposing at least one of the first concave sidewall and the second concave sidewall across a width of the baseplate, wherein the first, second, and third ground-engaging members have a substantially triangular shape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first concave sidewall, the second concave sidewall, and the third concave sidewall extends from the baseplate to a distal end of the respective first ground-engaging member, second ground-engaging member, and third ground-engaging member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first ground-engaging member, the second ground-engaging member, and the third ground-engaging member includes a rearward-facing sidewall that opposes a heel region of the sole structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sole structure of claim 3, wherein the rearward-facing sidewall is concave. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first ground-engaging member, the second ground-engaging member, and the third ground-engaging member includes a lobe extending in a direction toward the peripheral edge of the baseplate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sole structure of claim 5, wherein the lobe extends substantially perpendicular to the peripheral edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first concave sidewall, the second concave sidewall, and the third concave sidewall face a central portion of the baseplate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the first ground-engaging member, the second ground-engaging member, and the third ground-engaging member are disposed in a heel region of the baseplate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first concave sidewall, the second concave sidewall, and the third concave sidewall extend around an arc in a heel region 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; a first ground-engaging member including a first concave sidewall facing away from a peripheral edge of the baseplate; a second ground-engaging member including a second concave sidewall facing away from the peripheral edge of the baseplate; and a third ground-engaging member including a third concave sidewall facing away from the peripheral edge of the baseplate, the third concave sidewall aligned with the first concave sidewall and the second concave sidewall around a common arc, wherein the first, second, and third ground-engaging members have a substantially triangular shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first concave sidewall, the second concave sidewall, and the third concave sidewall extends from the baseplate to a distal end of the respective first ground-engaging member, second ground-engaging member, and third ground-engaging member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first ground-engaging member, the second ground-engaging member, and the third ground-engaging member includes a rearward-facing sidewall that opposes a heel region of the sole structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sole structure of claim 13, wherein the rearward-facing sidewall is concave. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first ground-engaging member, the second ground-engaging member, and the third ground-engaging member includes a lobe extending in a direction toward the peripheral edge of the baseplate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the lobe extends substantially perpendicular to the peripheral edge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the first concave sidewall, the second concave sidewall, and the third concave sidewall face a central portion of the baseplate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sole structure of claim 17, wherein the first ground-engaging member, the second ground-engaging member, and the third ground-engaging member are disposed in a heel region of the baseplate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the first concave sidewall, the second concave sidewall, and the third concave sidewall taper in a direction toward a distal end of the respective first ground-engaging member, second ground-engaging member, and third ground-engaging member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 11.