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US 12,685,367 B2Granted
Footwear sole structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsMarcos Bonfiglioli, John Cross, Ryan R. Larson, Shamees Mohamed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sole structure for a footwear article includes a system of support structures that are arranged in a subunit. In some examples, the subunit can be at least partially enclosed by an exoskeleton. In some instances, the system of support structures can comprise at least a portion of a cartridge that can connect to another component in the sole structure. The cartridge can, in some examples, operate to attenuate a force.
Claims20
A footwear article comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole coupled to the upper;
- the sole comprising:
- a force attenuation component comprising a cartridge:
- the cartridge comprising:
- a top plate;
- a bottom plate;
- a system of tubular support structures that is between the top plate and the bottom plate and that attenuates forces operating on at least one of the top plate or the bottom plate, wherein each tubular support structure in the system of tubular structures comprises a reference axis extending through the each tubular support structure at an angle being in a range of about 30 to about 90 degrees relative to a reference plane of the bottom plate;
- and
- an exoskeleton comprising a three-dimensional (3D) lattice of frame members comprising a network of interconnected nodes enclosing the system of tubular support structures, wherein each frame member is an elongated member interconnected to another elongated member and comprises a respective elongated member length between two nodes of the network of interconnected nodes.
7 more elements
A footwear article comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole coupled to the upper;
- the sole comprising:
- a force attenuation component comprising a cartridge:
- the cartridge comprising:
- a top plate;
- a bottom plate;
- a first system of tubular support structures that comprises a first discrete subunit enclosed within a first exoskeleton comprising a first three-dimensional (3D) lattice of first frame members, which comprises a first network of interconnected nodes enclosing the first system of tubular support structures, wherein the first frame members comprise a first average length;
- and
- a second system of tubular support structures that comprises a second discrete subunit enclosed within a second exoskeleton comprising a second 3D lattice of second frame members, which comprises a second network of interconnected nodes enclosing the second system of tubular support structures, wherein the second frame members comprise a second average length, which is shorter than the first average length,
- wherein the first discrete subunit and the second discrete subunit are positioned between the top plate and the bottom plate, wherein a first reference axis extending through the first discrete subunit and a second reference axis extending through the second discrete subunit are oriented at an angle being in a range of about 30 to about 90 degrees relative to a reference plane of the bottom plate, and wherein the first system of tubular support structures and the second system of tubular support structures attenuate forces operating on at least one of the top plate or the bottom plate.
8 more elements
A footwear article comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole coupled to the upper;
- the sole comprising:
- a first force attenuation component comprising a recess;
- a second force attenuation component comprising a cartridge nested in the recess and, the cartridge comprising:
- a top plate;
- a bottom plate;
- and
- a system of tubular support structures that is between the top plate and the bottom plate and that operates to attenuate forces operating on at least one of the top plate or the bottom plate;
- and
- an exoskeleton comprising a three-dimensional 3D lattice of elongated frame members, wherein the elongated frame members comprise a network of interconnected nodes enclosing the system of tubular support structures, wherein each tubular support structure in the system of tubular support structures comprises a reference axis extending through each tubular structure at an angle being in a range of about 30 to about 90 degrees relative to a reference plane of the bottom plate.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.