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US 2011/0214313 A1Published application
Flex groove sole assembly with biasing structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsDervin James, Lee Peyton, Tobie Hatfield, John Hurd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper. The sole assembly includes a first portion and a second portion that are separated by a groove. Also, the article of footwear includes a biasing structure that is elongate and nonextendable. The biasing structure is operably coupled to the sole assembly to bias the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other.
Claims30
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper, the sole assembly including a first portion and a second portion that are separated by a groove;
- and
- a biasing structure that is elongate and nonextendable, the biasing structure operably coupled to the sole assembly to bias the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper, the sole assembly including a first portion and a second portion;
- and
- a biasing structure that includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second ends, the middle portion extending through the sole assembly, the first and second ends extending out of the sole assembly, the biasing structure biasing the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper, the sole assembly including a groove that separates the sole assembly into first and second portions;
- a biasing structure that is elongate, the biasing structure including an end and a middle portion extending across and within the groove through the sole assembly;
- and
- an adjustment device operably coupled to the end to selectively adjust a tension within the biasing structure to selectively adjust biasing of the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other.
2 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper, the sole assembly including an outsole, a midsole, and a groove that separates the sole assembly into first and second portions, the groove extending in a depth direction through the outsole and at least a portion of the midsole;
- a first reinforcing tube that is fixedly disposed within the first portion of the sole assembly, the first reinforcing tube including a projected end with a curvature;
- a second reinforcing tube that is fixedly disposed within the second portion of the sole assembly, the second reinforcing tube including a recessed end with a curvature that corresponds with the curvature of the projected end, the recessed end operable to receive the projected end;
- an anchoring projection fixed to one of the first and second reinforcing tubes to fixedly secure the one of the first and second reinforcing tubes to the sole assembly;
- an elongate, nonextendable cord that includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second ends, the middle portion moveably received within the first and second reinforcing tubes, the middle portion extending between the first and second portions, the middle portion extending through the first and second portions of the sole assembly, the middle portion extending across and within the groove, the first and second ends extending out of the sole assembly, the middle portion extending in both an anterior/posterior direction and a medial/lateral direction through the sole assembly;
- and
- an adjustment device operably coupled to at least one of the first and second ends, the cord biasing the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other, the adjustment device including a spool that selectively spools and unspools the at least one of the first and second ends to selectively adjust a tension within the cord to selectively adjust biasing of the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.