US 12,402,690 B2Granted

Shoe with foam pods and chassis

AssigneePuma SE

InventorsSidney Fauconnier, Romain Girard

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Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure coupled with an upper that defines a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The sole structure includes a plurality of pods that each have a pod body formed from a foam material that optionally has a coating disposed on an outer surface of the pod body. The sole structure includes a chassis attached to a bottom surface of each of the plurality of pods. The chassis includes a plurality of ground contacting regions and an elongated fork structure. The elongated fork structure includes a chassis stem, a first chassis leg, and a second chassis leg that each extend from the chassis stem through the heel region, the midfoot region, and the forefoot region of the sole structure. A continuous elongated groove is positioned between and extends along substantially the entire length of the first and second chassis leg.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;
and
a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region that corresponds with a portion of the article of footwear that is configured to encase an arch of a foot, and a heel region that is proximate and adjoining the midfoot region, the sole structure comprising:
a plurality of pods, each pod having a pod body and optionally having a coating disposed on an outer surface of the pod body;
and
a chassis attached to a bottom surface of each pod in the plurality of pods,
wherein the pod body of each pod in the plurality of pods comprises a foam material,
wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of ground contacting regions, and
wherein the chassis has an elongated fork structure, the elongated fork structure comprising:
a chassis stem;
a first chassis leg extending from the chassis stem through the heel region, the midfoot region, and the forefoot region of the sole structure;
a second chassis leg extending from the chassis stem through the heel region, the midfoot region, and the forefoot region of the sole structure;
and
a continuous elongated groove positioned between the first chassis leg and the second chassis leg, the continuous elongated groove extending along substantially the entire length of the first chassis leg and the second chassis leg,
wherein the upper has a bottom surface that defines a bottom surface area and each pod in the plurality of pods has a top surface, wherein a portion of the top surface of each pod in the plurality of pods is attached to a portion of the bottom surface of the upper, and wherein in a majority of the bottom surface area, the bottom surface of the upper contacts the top surface of a pod in the plurality of pods.

12 more elements

An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;
and
a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the sole structure comprising:
a plurality of pods, each pod having a pod body and optionally having a coating disposed on an outer surface of the pod body;
and
a chassis attached to a bottom surface of each pod in the plurality of pods,
wherein the pod body of each pod in the plurality of pods comprises a foam material,
wherein the foam material in the pod body of at least one pod in the plurality of pods has a density that is different than a density of the foam material in the pod body of at least one other pod in the plurality of pods,
wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of ground contacting regions,
wherein the chassis is a single unitary piece that is integrally formed from a single material, and
wherein the chassis comprises a heel support plate extending upward from a chassis stem.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/963,482Filed 11 Oct 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 Oct 2021
Published: US 2023/0123301 A120 Apr 2023
Granted: 2 Sep 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A43B 13/187
Resilient soles: resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
A43B 13/188
Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials: differential cushioning regions
A43B 7/223
With fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like: characterised by the constructive form
A43B 13/122
Soles with several layers of different materials: characterised by the outsole or external layer