US 2020/0260819 A1Published application

Midsole system with graded response

AssigneeNIKE, Inc.

InventorsPatrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole system with a plurality of cushioning units, each having multiple cushioning layers configured to work together as a system to absorb a compressive load, such as a dynamic compressive load due to impact with the ground, in stages of progressive cushioning according to the relative stiffness values of the layers. Various midsole systems disclosed include isolated cushioning units, linked cushioning units, sole layers having stanchions interfacing with the midsole system, midsole systems with sole layers having keyed and unkeyed portions overlying a bladder, and midsole systems with vertically-stacked cushioning units disposed in inverted relationship to one another.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprising:

a midsole system including a plurality of interconnected cushioning units and a linking chamber, each interconnected cushioning unit including:
a first cushioning layer comprising a first sealed chamber;
and
a second cushioning layer comprising a second sealed chamber, the first sealed chamber and the second sealed chamber each retaining gas in isolation from one another;
wherein the first cushioning layer underlies the second cushioning layer and has a domed lower surface extending away from the second cushioning layer, and the second cushioning layer is annular and borders a central portion of the first cushioning layer above the domed lower surface;
and
wherein at least some of the interconnected cushioning units laterally surround the linking chamber, and the second sealed chamber of each of the interconnected cushioning units laterally surrounding the linking chamber is in fluid communication with the linking chamber.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/866,809Filed 5 May 2020
Priority: 23 May 2017
Published: 20 Aug 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

A43B 13/20
Resilient soles: pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas
A43B 1/0009
Footwear characterised by the material: made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
A43B 3/0042
Characterised by a special shape or design: with circular or circle shaped parts
A43B 3/0057
Characterised by a special shape or design: s-shaped

Family

Application62/510,002Us provisional application · filed 23 May 2017
Application15/983,539Division · filed 18 May 2018
Application16/866,809Division
US 10,645,996 B2Related patent
US 11,259,596 B2Related patent
US 2018/0338577 A1Published application
US 2020/0260819 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.