Sole structure for article of footwear
AssigneePuma SE
InventorChristopher Dunning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled with the upper. The sole includes an upper plate that is configured to couple with the upper and a lower plate that is spaced from and pivotably coupled with the upper by a beam. The beam is oriented along a heel-to-toe direction of the article of footwear and is configured to provide a resistive moment to control the rotation between the upper plate and the lower plate. The sole structure further includes a midsole that is configured to surround at least a portion of the beam and to extend between the upper plate and the lower plate to provide a force that resists the rotation between the upper plate and the lower plate.
Claims20
A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper and defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the sole structure comprising:
- a first plate extending from the forefoot region, through the midfoot region, to the heel region, the first plate being configured to couple to the upper;
- a second plate that is spaced from the first plate by a first gap, the second plate being disposed within the forefoot region;
- and
- a beam extending between the first plate and the second plate so that the first plate is pivotally coupled to the second plate by the beam.
A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper and defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper plate,
- a lower plate that is spaced from and pivotably coupled with the upper plate by a beam that is configured to allow the upper plate and lower plate to rotate relative to one another toward each of a lateral side and a medial side of the sole structure,
- a first midsole portion disposed on the lateral side of the beam and coupled to each of the upper plate and the lower plate, wherein the relative rotation of the upper plate and the lower plate causes the first midsole portion to deform, the deformation of the first midsole portion providing a first resistive force that opposes the relative rotation of the upper and lower plates, and
- a second midsole portion disposed on the medial side of the beam and coupled to each of the upper plate and the lower plate, wherein the relative rotation of the upper plate and the lower plate causes the second midsole portion to deform, the deformation of the second midsole portion providing a second resistive force that opposes the relative rotation of the upper and lower plates.
A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper and defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper plate extending from the forefoot region, through the midfoot region, to the heel region, the upper plate being configured to couple to the upper;
- a forefoot portion positioned predominately in the forefoot region, the forefoot portion including:
- a first lower plate that is spaced from and pivotably coupled with the upper plate by a beam that is configured to allow the upper plate and lower plate to rotate relative to one another toward each of a lateral side and a medial side of the sole structure, and
- a first midsole portion positioned between the upper plate and the first lower plate, the first midsole portion at least partially surrounding the beam, such that the first midsole portion includes a lateral midsole portion positioned along a lateral side of the beam and a medial midsole portion disposed along a medial side of the beam;
- and
- a heel portion positioned predominately in the heel region, the heel portion including:
- a second lower plate, and
- a second midsole member positioned between the upper plate and the second lower plate,
- wherein the forefoot portion and the heel portion are spaced apart from one another by a gap in the midfoot region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.