Footwear with jointed sole structure for ease of access
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsElizabeth Langvin, MiYoung Ma, YeonGon Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a front midsole component and a rear midsole component. A hinge connects the front midsole component to the rear midsole component and is disposed in a groove defined between the front and rear midsole components at a lower. The front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position, with the groove relatively open in the use position, and the groove relatively closed in the access position.
Claims15
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole structure including:
- a front midsole component and a rear midsole component, the front midsole component and the rear midsole component together defining a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component;
- and
- a divided footwear upper secured to the sole structure to define a foot-receiving cavity;
- wherein:
- the divided footwear upper includes a front upper portion secured to the front midsole component, and a rear upper portion secured to the rear midsole component;
- the front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position with the groove relatively open in the use position and relatively closed in the access position;
- the front midsole component includes a heel footbed that extends over the groove and overlays the rear midsole component in the use position, and is spaced apart from the rear midsole component in the access position;
- the heel footbed and the rear midsole component include complementary interlocking features that secure the heel footbed in the use position;
- and
- the sole structure is characterized by an absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the front upper portion and the rear upper portion, and the absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the front midsole component and the rear midsole component, and the absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the front upper portion and the rear midsole component, and the absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the rear upper portion and the front midsole component.
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole structure including:
- a front midsole component and a rear midsole component, the front midsole component and the rear midsole component together defining a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component;
- and
- a resilient band suspended over and extending transversely across the rear midsole component;
- wherein:
- the front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position with the groove relatively open in the use position and relatively closed in the access position;
- the front midsole component includes a heel footbed that extends over the groove and overlays the rear midsole component in the use position, and is spaced apart from the rear midsole component in the access position;
- in the access position, the heel footbed rests on the resilient band;
- and
- in the use position, the resilient band stretches under load and the heel footbed rests on the rear midsole component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.