Sole structure for article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsCailee M. Caldwell, Yuchung K. Chen, Gregory Scott, Dolores S. Thompson, Nikita A. Troufanov, Jeremy W. Webber, Jay T. Worobets
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper cushioning element including a first material having a first durometer, a lower cushioning element including a second material having a second durometer and defining a plurality of first engagement elements, and a plate disposed between the upper cushioning element and the lower cushioning element, the plate including a plurality of second engagement elements cooperating with the first engagement elements to position the plate with respect to the lower cushioning element.
Claims18
A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper cushioning element including a first material having a first durometer and defining a first peripheral side surface including a cutout extending inwardly from the first peripheral side surface;
- a lower cushioning element attached to the upper cushioning element and including a second material having a second durometer, the lower cushioning element defining a second peripheral side surface aligned with the first peripheral side surface, including a plurality of openings formed through a thickness of the lower cushioning element, and defining a plurality of first engagement elements, the plurality of first engagement elements defining raised elements positioned proximate to the second peripheral side surface of the lower cushioning element, the cutout of the upper cushioning element mating with a contour of the lower cushioning element to define a continuous groove;
- a plate disposed between the upper cushioning element and the lower cushioning element and including a first portion that extends outwardly from the first peripheral side surface and the second peripheral side surface and bisects the continuous groove, the plate defined by a top surface and an opposing bottom surface exposed through each of the plurality of openings, a distance between the top surface and the bottom surface defining a thickness of the plate, the plate including a plurality of second engagement elements formed as recesses each extending inwardly from a third peripheral side surface of the plate to define inner edge surfaces and extending through the thickness of the plate, the inner edge surfaces cooperating with the first engagement elements to position the plate with respect to the lower cushioning element;
- and
- an outsole forming a ground-contacting surface of the sole structure and including a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures aligned with a respective opening in the plurality of openings and being larger than the respective opening.
A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
- a first cushioning element defining a first peripheral side surface including a cutout extending inwardly from the first peripheral side surface;
- a second cushioning element attached to the first cushioning element, defining a second peripheral side surface aligned with the first peripheral side surface, and including a plurality of openings formed through a thickness of the second cushioning element, the cutout of the first cushioning element mating with a contour of the second cushioning element to define a continuous groove;
- a plate disposed between the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element and including a first portion that extends outwardly from the first peripheral side surface and the second peripheral side surface and bisects the continuous groove, a bottom surface of the plate exposed through each of the plurality of openings;
- and
- an outsole forming a ground-contacting surface of the sole structure and including a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures aligned with a respective opening in the plurality of openings and being larger than the respective opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.